What is a Plenary Indulgence?

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 (can.992) . Indulgences can also be applied either to the individual themselves, or for the souls of the deceased, to aid in their entrance to heaven but cannot be applied to another living person. A Plenary Indulgence can be earned once a day for oneself, and two additional times that day for others. 

In order to obtain a Plenary Indulgence, the faithful must, in addition to being in a state of grace:

•  have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin, even venial sin; 
•  have sacramentally confessed their sins; 
•  receive the Holy Eucharist (it is certainly better to receive it while participating in Holy Mass, but for the indulgence only Holy Communion is required); 
•  pray for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff. 

A Catholic Pilgrimage is a wonderful time to obtain a Plenary Indulgence as the actions to gain one will be taken while you are on pilgrimage, such as: Celebrating Mass daily, taking part in the Way of the Cross, Public and Private recitation of the Rosary etc.

Selected Opportunities: 
1. Patriarchal Basilicas in Rome 
-Available any time throughout the year.