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Offering Indulgences for The Poor Souls

We can draw indulgences from the treasury of the Church to help The Poor Souls. 1

Plenary Indulgences

  1. Adoration for 30 minutes.
  2. Stations of the Cross.
  3. Rosary inside a church/chapel or with another person.
  4. Reading Scripture for 30 minutes.

Conditions for Plenary Indulgence:

  1. Receive Holy Communion.
  2. Confession (about 20 days before or after).
  3. Pray for the intentions of the Holy Father.
    (Our Father, hail Mary, Glory Be).
  4. Have no attachment to sin, even venial. (Difficult!)

These conditions may be fulfilled several days before or after the visit to the Church. A plenary indulgence can only be acquired once in the course of the day; it is, however, fitting that Holy Communion be received and the prayer for the intention of the Holy Father be said on the same day the work is performed.

Partial Indulgences

  1. Making the Sing of the Cross.
  2. Praying the Rosary (not in common with others)
  3. Raising one’s thoughts to God in a pious way.
  4. Teaching or attending a catechism class.
  5. Fasting.
  6. Venerating a saint on his or her feast day.
  7. Giving alms (helping the poor or homeless).
  8. Visit a cemetery and pray for the dead.
  9. Recite lauds and vespers from the Office for the Dead or the prayer:

The Octave of All Saints

These indulgences are applicable only to the Poor Souls in Purgatory during the Octave of All Saints, (November 1-8).

Plenary Indulgences

  1. On any and each day from November 1 to 8 (Octave of All Saints), devoutly visit a cemetery and pray, if only mentally, for the departed; or
  2. On All Souls’ Day, devoutly visit a church or oratory and recite an Our Father and Creed.

References

  1. Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska (Page, 1226)
    “All these souls in Purgatory are greatly loved by Me. They are making retribution to My Justice. It is in your power to bring them relief. Draw all the indulgences from the treasury of My Church…“