During a jubilee year, we may receive plenary indulgences by going to designated pilgrim churches and fulfilling the following prescribed conditions and works:
(1) going to confession (could be on the same day or within 20 days before or after the indulgenced act
(2) receiving Holy Communion (could be on the same day or within 20 days before or after the indulgenced act
(3) praying for the intentions of the Holy Father (e.g. praying Our Father or Hail Mary for the intentions of the Pope
(4) doing works of mercy and charity
What are plenary indulgences and why do we need them? When we confess, we receive forgiveness, but forgiveness of sin is different from the punishment for the sin. Uh-oh....
So plenary indulgences remove these punishments. They could be applied to oneself or to the soul of a deceased person.
<Cringe> I need a lot of plenary indulgences! :(
So going back to the conditions of earning plenary indulgences, most of us know confession, communion, praying for the intentions of the Holy Father, but what are works of mercy and charity?
Corporal works of mercy are found in the teachings of Jesus which give us a model on how we should treat others. They are actions by which we can help our neighbors in their material or physical needs. They are classified into 7:
1. Feed the hungry
2. Give drink to the thirsty
3. Provide shelter for the homeless
5. Visit the sick
6. Visit the prisoners
7. Bury the dead
8. Clothe the naked/give alms to the poor
What simple actions can we do to practice corporal works of mercy?
(I got these suggestions from a leaflet distributed by the Greenbelt Chapel.)
- Do volunteer work in soup kitchens or feeding programs.
- Donate time or money to organizations that build homes for those who need shelter.
- Do volunteer work at a nursing home.
- Give gifts to caregivers of charitable institutions so they may feel appreciated for the work they do.
- Visit a sick or elderly relative/friend you have not seen for a long time.
- Buy livelihood products made by prisoners.
- Donate to charities that benefit children of prisoners.
- Donate rosaries, scapulars, bibles, prayer books for prisoners.
- Visit the cemetery and pray for deceased loved ones.
- Spend less and donate the savings to those in need.
And what are spiritual works of mercy? They guide us to help our neighbors in their emotional and spiritual needs. They are classified into 7 also:
1. Counsel the doubtful
2. Instruct the uninformed
3. Admonish/warn the sinner
4. Comfort the sorrowful
5. Forgive offenses
6. Bear wrong patiently
What simple actions can we do to practice the spiritual works of mercy?
- Be a good example
- Go on a short mission trip or donate to missions
- Volunteer in catechism programs
- Invite someone to go to mass with you on Sundays
- Read about the Catholic faith
- Do not judge but guide others towards righteousness
- When you correct someone, don't be arrogant
- Lend a listening ear to those in need
- Let go of grudges and bitterness
- Say sorry
- Be more patient
- Do not be bitter when someone does wrong to you
- Pray for the intention of others
The spiritual works of mercy are tough to do!
Please note that the Jubilee Year of Mercy is from December 8, 2015 – November 20, 2016. It's a great opportunity for us to be more Christian-like especially if we have been negligent and unmindful of our ways lately.
But of course, as Christians, we should actually do everything listed above throughout our lives and not just during a Jubilee Year. And we should do them because we sincerely want to help others and not because we want to earn something back. :)
