Plenary Indulgences

What is a Plenary Indulgence? 

  • Plenary indulgences are gifts that God gives to us to grow in our spiritual purification. They are rooted in the belief of God’s boundless mercy, plenary indulgences hold immense significance for believers seeking to deepen their faith and draw closer to their Creator. 
  • An indulgence is a remission of temporal punishment due to sins that have already been forgiven through the sacrament of confession. Plenary indulgences go beyond partial remissions and offer complete purification, wiping away all temporal punishment for past sins, making the soul as pure as a newly baptized infant.

Why do we do Plenary Indulgences? 

  • Plenary indulgences offer the gift of divine mercy, give us liberation from temporal punishment, strengthen the bond we have with the church, and enroute penance and the conversion of sinners. 

  • God calls us to experience grace, plenary indulgences emphasize the abundant mercy of God and gives assurance to us that God forgives sins and invites us to experience this spiritual renewal and grace. 

  • When we sin and go to confession temporal punishment is what remains, plenary indulgences free the soul from this temporal punishment.
    • To better understand this concept think of this example: Dorothy kicks Rachel in the leg and a bruise forms on Rachel’s leg. Rachel is hurt both emotionally and physically by this action, Dorothy and Rachel’s relationship is damaged. A few days later Dorothy and Rachel have a conversation where they talk about their feelings and Rachel forgives Dorothy for kicking her in the leg, their relationship is healed but Rachel still has a bruise on her leg. In this metaphor the healing of the relationship between Rachel and Dorothy is the act of confession, they are reconciling. A plenary indulgence would heal Rachel’s leg of the bruise and she would no longer be in physical pain from Dorothy kicking her in the leg. 

  • Plenary indulgences also remind believers of our unity with the universal Church that we are part of and the communion of saints, encouraging people to be active members in their Church.

What does the Catechism say?

  • This is how an indulgence is defined in the Code of Canon Law (can. 992) and in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (n. 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”.

How to Receive a Plenary Indulgence 

  • A plenary indulgence can only be gained once a day and can be applied either to yourself or to the soul of a deceased. They cannot be applied to other living people on Earth. 
  • In order to obtain a  plenary indulgence a person must fulfill the following conditions:
    1. Have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin, even venial sin.
    2. Have the intention to gain indulgence.
    3. Be in the state of grace, having confessed any mortal sins.
    4. Perform the prescribed actions (below) with genuine devotion and love for God.
    5. Complete all the requirements within the designated timeframe set by the Church.

Actions to obtain a plenary indulgence:

  1. Receive the sacrament of reconciliation. Confess your sins with genuine control and a desire to amend your life. 
  2. Receive the Holy Eucharist. (It is recommended to receive it while participating in Mass, but for the indulgence only Holy Communion is required.) 
  3. Pray for the intentions of the Pope. Prayer for the Pope’s intentions is left to the choice of the faithful, but an “Our Father” and a “Hail Mary” are suggested.
  4. Perform and act/work of mercy. This can look like engaging in acts of charity and mercy such as feeding the hungry, assisting the homeless, or comforting the sorrowful. 
  5. Go on pilgrimage or visit a Holy Site. The Catholic Center at UGA is a pilgrimage site so participating in a designated pilgrimage to our chapel and reflecting on the spiritual significance of your journey will suffice. 

*It is important to note that one sacramental Confession suffices for several plenary indulgences, but a separate Holy Communion and a separate prayer for the Holy Father’s intentions are required for each plenary indulgence.

For more information on plenary indulges you can read the Vatican’s Bulletin on plenary indulgences. Decree on the Granting of Indulgence during the Ordinary Jubilee Year 2025 called by His Holiness Pope Francis