In a note published on May 13, 2024, the Holy See explained how to obtain the Jubilee indulgence, granted during Holy Year 2025, which opened last Dec. 24 and will end on Jan. 6, 2026.
Indulgences designate the remission before God of the temporal penalty due to sins already forgiven as to guilt, a remission that is granted by the Church outside the sacrament of penance.
There are two types of indulgences: plenary indulgence, which remits all the temporal penalty due to sin, and partial indulgence, which remits only part of it.
It is the Supreme Pontiff, to whom Our Lord has entrusted the power to dispense all the spiritual treasure of the Church, who can grant and distribute indulgences, as well as all those to whom the Supreme Pontiff has granted this power.
To obtain an indulgence, one must be baptized and not be excommunicated, have the intention to obtain it by performing the prescribed work, be in a state of grace and detached from all venial sin. Indulgences are obtained for oneself or for the souls in purgatory.
The note published by the Apostolic Penitentiary recalls the usual conditions: “The truly repentant faithful, devoid of any attachment to sin and animated by a spirit of charity, who, during the Holy Year, purified by the sacrament of penance and nourished by Holy Communion, pray according to the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff, will obtain a plenary indulgence from the treasure of the Church.”
To obtain an indulgence, the faithful will have to make a pilgrimage or an act of penance or mercy. A pilgrimage to Rome is recommended. The Penitentiary recommends visiting the seven churches dear to St. Philip Neri, but also the Iter Europaeum, or European national churches in Rome.
An itinerary dedicated to the great saints is also suggested, including Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Santa Brigida in Campo de’ Fiori, Santa Maria della Vittoria, Trinità dei Monti, Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, and Sant’Agostino in Campo Marzio.
Visits to the Sanctuary of Divine Love, the church of Santo Spirito in Sassia, shrine of Divine Mercy, the church of St. Paul alle Tre Fontane, site of St. Paul’s martyrdom, and the Christian catacombs are also recommended.
The faithful are invited to follow Christ’s example and command to rediscover corporal works of mercy, such as feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing those who are naked, welcoming strangers, caring for the sick, visiting prisoners and burying the dead.
Likewise, they are encouraged to practice works of spiritual mercy, such as counseling those in doubt, teaching the ignorant, admonishing sinners, consoling the afflicted, forgiving offenses, patiently enduring troublesome people, and praying to God for the living and the dead.
To mark the Holy Year, the SSPX will organize an international pilgrimage to Rome on August 20, 2025.
Source: FSSPX News
