On all the days from 1–8 November 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.

Conditions:

1. Only one plenary indulgence may be gained per day;
2. It is necessary to be in the state of grace, at least by completion of the work;
3. Freedom from attachment to sin, even venial sin, is necessary, otherwise the indulgence is only partial;
4. Holy Communion must be received each time the indulgence is sought;
5. Prayers must be recited for the intentions of the Holy Father on each day the indulgence is sought;
6. A sacramental confession must be made within a week of completion of the prescribed work.

The Holy Father Benedict XVI has established a special Year for Priests on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John Mary Vianney, the holy Curé d’Ars, a shining model of a pastor totally dedicated to the service of the people of God. During the Year for Priests, the gift of special Indulgences is granted as described in the Decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary, published on May 12, 2009, which was sent to all priests in the Archdiocese of Vancouver earlier this year. In conformity with the provisions of the Apostolic Penitentiary, I declare that the Christian faithful of the Archdiocese of Vancouver, having fulfilled the required conditions (sacramental Confession, Eucharistic Communion, prayers for the Holy Father’s intentions) and in a spirit of total detachment from any inclination to sin, may benefit from the Plenary Indulgence if they partake devoutly in a sacred function or in a public pious exercise offered on the first Friday of every month beginning in October, 2009, and concluding on the first Friday of June 2010. I designate all Parish Churches, Catholic Schools and Hospital Chapels in the Archdiocese of Vancouver for the exercise of the aforesaid sacred functions. Lastly, the faithful prevented by illness or another legitimate and important cause, always in a spirit of detachment from any inclination to sin, with the intention of fulfilling the usual conditions as soon as possible, can also obtain the Plenary Indulgence, as long as they spiritually join in a celebration for the Year for Priests. This decree is effective from Friday, October 2, 2009, to Friday, June 4, 2010, inclusive.

Given in the Office of the Archbishop of Vancouver, 9 September, in the Year of the Incarnation of the Lord 2009.

Most Reverend J. Michael Miller, C.S.B.
Archbishop of Vancouver

An indulgence is a remission of temporal punishment due to sin, which would merit expiation in Purgatory. An indulgence is either plenary (complete) or partial. From 19 June 2009 to 19 June 2010, a plenary indulgence is granted to all the penitent faithful who, in a Church or Oratory, devoutly assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and offer prayers to Jesus Christ Supreme and Eternal Priest, for the Priests of the Church as well as any good work accomplished on that day, so that He may sanctify them and conform them to His Heart, if they have sanctified their own sins in sacramental Confession and raised prayers for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff.

The plenary indulgence is available on the days in which the Priestly Year is opened and closed, on the day of the 150th anniversary of the pious death of Saint John Mary Vianney (4 Uagust 2009), on the first Thursday of every month, or on any other special days established by the local Ordinary.

To the aged, the infirm, and all those who, for legitimate reason, cannot leave their house, if they reject every sin and have the intention of fulfilling the conditions as soon as possible, will also be granted a plenary indulgence if, on the aforementioned days, they recite prayers for the sanctification of Priests and offer the infirmities and discomforts of their lives faithfully to God through Our Lady, Queen of the Apostles. A Partial Indulgence is also granted to all the faithful every time they devoutly recite five times the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be, or other approved prayers in honour of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, to obtain that Priests may keep themselves in purity and sanctify of life.

Sunday 25 January marks the conversion of Saint Paul in the Roman Martyrology. A plenary indulgence is available under the usual conditions of Confession, Holy Communion, and prayers for the intentions of the Pope.

To mark this day we will pray the Litany of Saint Paul after Mass:

Lord have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord have mercy.

Christ hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.
Queen conceived without original sin, pray for us.

Saint Paul, pray for us.
Apostle of the Gentiles, pray for us.
Vessel of Election, pray for us.
Saint Paul, who wast rapt to the third heaven, pray for us.
Saint Paul, who heard things not given to man to utter, pray for us.
Saint Paul, who knew nothing but Christ, and Him crucified, pray for us.
Saint Paul, whose love for Christ was stronger than death, pray for us.
Saint Paul, who wished to be dissolved and be with Christ, pray for us.
Saint Paul, whose zeal knew no bounds, pray for us.
Saint Paul, who made thyself all to all, to gain all to Christ, pray for us.
Saint Paul, who called thyself prisoner of Christ for us, pray for us.
Saint Paul, who wast jealous of us, with the jealousy of God, pray for us.
Saint Paul, who glories only in the Cross of Christ, pray for us.
Saint Paul, who bore in thy body the mortification of Christ, pray for us.
Saint Paul, who exclaimed: With Christ I am nailed to the cross! pray for us.
Saint Paul, that we may awake and sin no more, pray for us.

That we may not receive the grace of God in vain, pray for us.
That we may walk in newness of life, pray for us.
That we may work out our salvation with fear and trembling, pray for us.
That we may put on the armor of God, pray for us.
That we may stand against the deceits of the wicked one, pray for us.
That we may stand fast to the last, pray for us.
That we may press forward to the mark, pray for us.
That we may win the crown, pray for us.

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world:
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world:
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world:
Have mercy on us.

Let us pray: O God, Who hast taught the whole world by the preaching of blessed Paul the Apostle: grant that we, who celebrate his memory, may by following his example be drawn unto Thee. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who with Thee livest and reignest in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end.
Amen.

[The image above shows the statue of Saint Paul that stands before his basilica fuori le mura (outside the walls), Rome. Public license image.]