PLENARY INDULGENCE FOR THE YEAR OF PRIESTS
VATICAN CITY, 12 MAY 2009 (VIS) - According to a decree made public today and signed by Cardinal James
Francis Stafford and Bishop Gianfranco Girotti, O.F.M. Conv., respectively penitentiary major and regent of the
Apostolic Penitentiary, Benedict XVI will grant priests and faithful Plenary Indulgence for the occasion of the Year
for Priests, which is due to run from 19 June 2009 to 19 June 2010 and has been called in honour of St. Jean Marie
Vianney.
The period will begin with the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, "a day of priestly sanctification", says the text,
when the Pope will celebrate Vespers before the relics of the saint, brought to Rome for the occasion by the bishop
of the French diocese of Belley-Ars. The Year will end in St. Peter's Square, in the presence of priests from all over
the world "who will renew their faithfulness to Christ and their bonds of fraternity".
The means to obtain the Plenary Indulgence are as follows:
(A) All truly penitent priests who, on any day, devotedly pray Lauds or Vespers before the Blessed Sacrament
exposed to public adoration or in the tabernacle, and ... offer themselves with a ready and generous heart for the
celebration of the Sacraments, especially the Sacrament of Penance, will be granted Plenary Indulgence, which
they can also apply to their deceased confreres, if in accordance with current norms they take Sacramental
Confession and the Eucharist and pray in accordance with the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff. Priests are
furthermore granted Partial Indulgence, also applicable to deceased confreres, every time they devotedly recite the
prayers duly approved to lead a saintly life and to carry out the duties entrusted to them.
(B) All truly penitent Christian faithful who, in church or oratory, devotedly attend Holy Mass and offer prayers
to Jesus Christ, supreme and eternal Priest, for the priests of the Church, or perform any good work to sanctify and
mould them to His Heart, are granted Plenary Indulgence, on the condition that they have expiated their sins
through Sacramental Confession and prayed in accordance with the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff. This may be
done on the opening and closing days of the Year of Priests, on the 150th anniversary of the death of St. Jean
Marie Vianney, on the first Thursday of the month, or on any other day established by the ordinaries of particular
places for the good of the faithful.
The elderly, the sick and all those who for any legitimate reason are unable to leave their homes, may still obtain
Plenary Indulgence if, with the soul completely removed from attachment to any form of sin and with the intention of
observing, as soon as they can, the usual three conditions, "on the days concerned, they pray for the sanctification
of priests and offer their sickness and suffering to God through Mary, Queen of the Apostles".
Partial Indulgence is offered to all faithful each time they pray five Our Father, Ave Maria and Gloria Patri, or any
other duly approved prayer "in honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to ask that priests maintain purity and sanctity
of life".
PENT/DECREE INDULGENCES/...VIS 090512 (540)
VATICAN CITY, 12 MAY 2009 (VIS) - According to a decree made public today and signed by Cardinal James
Francis Stafford and Bishop Gianfranco Girotti, O.F.M. Conv., respectively penitentiary major and regent of the
Apostolic Penitentiary, Benedict XVI will grant priests and faithful Plenary Indulgence for the occasion of the Year
for Priests, which is due to run from 19 June 2009 to 19 June 2010 and has been called in honour of St. Jean Marie
Vianney.
The period will begin with the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, "a day of priestly sanctification", says the text,
when the Pope will celebrate Vespers before the relics of the saint, brought to Rome for the occasion by the bishop
of the French diocese of Belley-Ars. The Year will end in St. Peter's Square, in the presence of priests from all over
the world "who will renew their faithfulness to Christ and their bonds of fraternity".
The means to obtain the Plenary Indulgence are as follows:
(A) All truly penitent priests who, on any day, devotedly pray Lauds or Vespers before the Blessed Sacrament
exposed to public adoration or in the tabernacle, and ... offer themselves with a ready and generous heart for the
celebration of the Sacraments, especially the Sacrament of Penance, will be granted Plenary Indulgence, which
they can also apply to their deceased confreres, if in accordance with current norms they take Sacramental
Confession and the Eucharist and pray in accordance with the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff. Priests are
furthermore granted Partial Indulgence, also applicable to deceased confreres, every time they devotedly recite the
prayers duly approved to lead a saintly life and to carry out the duties entrusted to them.
(B) All truly penitent Christian faithful who, in church or oratory, devotedly attend Holy Mass and offer prayers
to Jesus Christ, supreme and eternal Priest, for the priests of the Church, or perform any good work to sanctify and
mould them to His Heart, are granted Plenary Indulgence, on the condition that they have expiated their sins
through Sacramental Confession and prayed in accordance with the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff. This may be
done on the opening and closing days of the Year of Priests, on the 150th anniversary of the death of St. Jean
Marie Vianney, on the first Thursday of the month, or on any other day established by the ordinaries of particular
places for the good of the faithful.
The elderly, the sick and all those who for any legitimate reason are unable to leave their homes, may still obtain
Plenary Indulgence if, with the soul completely removed from attachment to any form of sin and with the intention of
observing, as soon as they can, the usual three conditions, "on the days concerned, they pray for the sanctification
of priests and offer their sickness and suffering to God through Mary, Queen of the Apostles".
Partial Indulgence is offered to all faithful each time they pray five Our Father, Ave Maria and Gloria Patri, or any
other duly approved prayer "in honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to ask that priests maintain purity and sanctity
of life".
PENT/DECREE INDULGENCES/...VIS 090512 (540)
St. John Vianney
Incorrupt Relic
(1786-1859)
Called the "Cure of Ars", St. John Vianney was the son of a poor farmer in Dardilly, France. He worked as a
shepherd and didn't begin his education until he was 20 years old. While an ecclesiastical student he was called for
military service, and became a "delinquent conscript" more or less because of illness, and hid to escape Napoleon's
police.
He had difficulty learning Latin, and twice failed the examinations required before ordination. He was finally
ordained at the age of 30, but was thought to be so incompetent he was placed under the direction of Fr. Balley, a
holy priest in a neighboring village, for further training.
St. John lived an austere life, ate potatoes he boiled, and learned to keep suspended by a rope from the ceiling,
so the rats wouldn't get to them. He allowed himself 2 hours of sleep each night and was frequently interrupted by
the devil, who assaulted him with deafening noises, insulting conversation, and physical abuse. These diabolical
visitations were occasionally witnessed with alarm by the men of the parish, but the pious Cure accepted the
attacks as a matter of course and often joked about them.
St. John was given many spiritual gifts, such as the power of healing and the ability to read the hearts of his
penitents. It was this latter gift which caused his fame to spread throughout France, and created large crowds
seeking guidance from him.
The frail Cure began hearing confessions at 1 o'clock in the morning, and it has been reported that he spent from
13 to 17 hours a day in the cramped confessional.
St. John died peacefully on August 4, 1859. His body was exhumed because of his impending beatification, and
was found dried and darkened, but perfectly entire.
St. John Vianney, who as a student had difficulties being accepted for the priesthood, was canonized in 1925 and
was named later the Patron of Parish Priests throughout the world.
More information on St. John Vianney can be obtained from The Cure of Ars, by Fr. O'Brien, or The Incorruptibles,
Joan Carroll Cruz.
Photo courtesy Sarah Gildea. Text (abridged) from The Incorruptibles ©1977.
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| DIOCESE SCHEDULES JULY VENERATION OF ST. JOHN VIANNEY RELIC In commemoration of The Year for Priests, a relic of the patron saint of priests, the heart of St. John Vianney, is being brought to the U.S. for only a second time ever. The relic will be venerated at three locations: July 16 St. John Vianney Parish, Walnut Creek 7:00 P.M. – Vespers 8:00 P.M. – Talk on the Life of St. John Vianney with Adoration until Midnight July 17 8:30am – Mass in the Presence of the Relic July 17 Holy Spirit Parish, Fremont 12:00 P.M. – Midday Prayer; 3:30 P.M. – Confessions 5:00 P.M. – Mass in the Presence of the Heart 6:30 P.M. – Talk on the Relic of the Heart with Adoration until Midnight July 18 Cathedral of Christ the Light 8:00 A.M.; 10:00 A.M.; 12:00 Noon; 2:00 P.M. Mass in the Presence of the Relic (10:00am Mass, Principal Celebrant, Bishop Cummins) 7:00 P.M. – Talk on the Priesthood with Adoration until Midnight |