St. Wendelin Parish

Last year around this time I wrote about the short season of Allhallowtide which began on October 31 and ended on November 8. If you wanted to read that article again, you can visit https://www.stwendelin.org/blog/
music-liturgy-musings/hallowe-enallhallowtide-and-the-month-of-the-dead.
While the season of Allhallowtide has been removed from the General Roman Calendar, one of the remnants is the ability to gain a plenary indulgence for a soul in purgatory each day from November 1 through November 8. A plenary indulgence is the complete remission of the temporal punishment for one’s sins. If one obtains a
plenary indulgence for a soul in purgatory, that person immediately goes to heaven.
The last two years, the Vatican has extended the practice throughout the entire month of November. At the time of the writing of this article, there has not been any word on whether Pope Francis will extend the indulgence again, but he very well may.

In order to obtain a plenary indulgence, which can be gained once per day, these are the normal conditions:

1) Complete detachment from all sin (mortal and venial)
2) Sacramental confession within 20 days before or after completing the indulgenced act.
3) Reception of Holy Communion
4) Praying for the intentions of the pope
5) Complete an indulgenced act

One sacramental confession suffices for many plenary indulgences, but separate receptions of Holy Communion, prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father, and acts are required for each indulgence.
The indulgenced act for November 1 through 8 (and hopefully extended throughout the month again!) is visiting any cemetery and offering any prayers for the dead, whether they are spoken or mental. In this Month of the Dead, may we work to get as many souls to heaven as possible!