Indulgences for the Poor Souls
An indulgence is the remission before God of the temporal punishment due for sins already forgiven in sacramental confession. The faithful if well disposed and within certain specified conditions, receives the indulgence by virtue of the Church which, as minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints.
On all the days from November 1 through November 8 inclusive, a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Poor Souls, is granted to those who visit a cemetery and pray even if only mentally for the departed.
Also, on All Souls’ Day (Nov. 2) a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Poor Souls, is granted to those who visit any parish church or public oratory and there recite one Our Father and one Credo.
[Note: Because of the current COVID 19 pandemic, the Plenary Indulgence applicable to the poor souls (obtained by those who visit a cemetery and pray for the deceased, even if only mentally), and which is normally established only on the individual days from 1 to 8 November, may be transferred to other days of the same month, until its end. These days, freely chosen by the individual believers, may also be separate from each other]
Conditions for both indulgences:
- Only one plenary indulgence can be granted per day.
- It is necessary to be in the state of grace, at least by completion of the work.
- Freedom from attachment to sin, even venial sin, is necessary; otherwise the indulgence is only partial.
- Holy Communion must be received each time the indulgence is sought.
- Prayers must he recited for the intentions of the Holy Father on each day the indulgence is sought.
- A sacramental confession must he made within a week of completion of the prescribed work. (One confession made during the week, made with the intention of gaining all the indulgences, suffices.)