Vatican Grants Plenary Indulgence for World Day Celebrations Honoring Grandparents and the Elderly

In commemoration of the third World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly on July 23, the Vatican has announced the offering of a plenary indulgence to Catholics who actively participate in the events organized by Pope Francis or engage in acts of charity towards the elderly. The indulgence is also extended to grandparents, the elderly themselves, and anyone motivated by penance and charity, as stated by the Vatican.

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Highlights

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
7/5/2023 (9 months ago)

Published in Living Faith

Keywords: Vatican, indulgence, plenary, decree, grandparents

The theme chosen by Pope Francis for this year's Grandparents' Day, derived from the Gospel of Luke, emphasizes the timeless nature of God's mercy: "His mercy is from age to age." The celebration coincides with the Sunday preceding the Feast of Saints Anne and Joachim, who were the grandparents of Jesus.

The decision to grant a plenary indulgence for Grandparents' Day 2023 was issued through a decree on July 5 by Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, the head of the Vatican's Apostolic Penitentiary, the tribunal responsible for matters concerning indulgences and the absolution of grave sins.

In Catholic doctrine, an indulgence refers to the remission of temporal punishment for sins that have already been forgiven. To qualify for a plenary indulgence, individuals must fulfill certain conditions, including being in a state of grace, having genuine detachment from sin, and offering prayers for the intentions of the Pope.

Additionally, the person must receive the Sacrament of Penance and receive Holy Communion, ideally within a time frame of 20 days before or after the prescribed prayers for the indulgence.

Recognizing the significance of the indulgence, Cardinal Piacenza urged priests to make themselves more available for the Sacrament of Penance to facilitate the faithful's access to divine grace.

The decree outlined various ways to obtain the plenary indulgence for Grandparents' Day. One approach is to dedicate time on July 23 to visit elderly individuals, especially those who are sick, disabled, or neglected. Alternatively, connecting with them through phone or video calls can fulfill the requirements.

Attending Pope Francis' Grandparents' Day Mass at the Vatican or participating in another Grandparents' Day Mass also grants the plenary indulgence.

For those who are unable to physically participate in the events due to illness, advanced age, or other serious reasons, the decree emphasized the opportunity to unite spiritually with the celebrations by offering their prayers, suffering, and the hardships of their lives to the Merciful God. This can be achieved through watching the pope's Mass or other relevant ceremonies on television or online.

Pope Francis established the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly in 2021, underscoring the dignity of the elderly and the crucial role of grandparents in transmitting the faith to future generations.