Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1471
"An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints."
"An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin." Indulgences may be applied to the living or the dead.
A plenary indulgence is granted under the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion, and prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father) to the faithful who, with a heart free from all attachment to sin, participate in the Year of St. Joseph by any of the following ways:
Given the present circumstances, the gift of a plenary indulgence is especially imparted to the elderly, the sick, the suffering and all who are not able to leave their homes for legitimate reasons if, detesting each of their sins and with the intention of fulfilling, as soon as possible the three usual conditions, either at home or wherever they are detained, offer pious prayers in honor of St. Joseph, the solace of the sick and the patron of a happy death, with the sorrows and inconveniences of their life confidently offered to our merciful God.
Please contact the
Knights of Columbus News Bureau
news@kofc.org, 475-255-0097