Plenary indulgence granted for World Day of the Sick participants
January 28, 2013
Pope Benedict XVI has approved a plenary indulgence for all those who participate in the 21st World Day of the Sick observances in Altotting, Germany, in February.
Cardinal Manuel Monteiro de Castro, the head of the Apostolic Penitentiary, released a decree on January 28 proclaiming the indulgences for all those who, under the usual conditions, participate in the February 7-11 ceremonies in Altotting.
Catholics who are unable to attend the services in Altotting may obtain the same indulgences if, during those same days, they “generously provide their charitable assistance to the sick as if they were tending to Christ the Lord Himself and pray the Our Father, the Creed, and an invocation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, with their soul removed from attachment to any form of sin and with the intention of carrying out as soon as possible that which is necessary to obtain the plenary indulgence.”
The plenary indulgence is also available to those who are unable to attend the celebrations because of illness or infirmity, but join in spirit and in prayer in the observance, and “offer their physical and spiritual suffering to God through the Virgin Mary.”
A partial indulgence, the decree adds, is available to all those who, on those dates in February, “with a contrite heart raise devout prayers to the merciful Lord beseeching assistance for the sick in spirit during this Year of Faith.”
(The "usual conditions" for a plenary indulgence are sacramental Confession, reception of the Eucharist, prayers for the intentions of the Roman Pontiff, and detachment from sin.)
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