DIOCESE OF SACRAMENTO 2110 Broadway Sacramento, California 95818 916/733-0200 Fax 916/733-0215 OFFICE OF THE BISHOP Memo To: All From: Bishop Myron J. Cotta Date: April 10, 2017 Subject: Our Lady of Fátima Pilgrimage Sites & Indulgence Information As we approach the 100th Anniversary of the First Apparition of Fatima on May 13, please be reminded of the opportunity to visit the designated pilgrimage site located at Christ the King Retreat Center in Citrus Heights. We have included information in regard to the Plenary Indulgence connected with visits to the official pilgrimage site, especially, on the 13 th day of the six months: May thru October. Also, in addition to the Retreat Center, I am pleased to announce that St. Joseph Church in Redding will serve as a pilgrimage site for visits, and the granting of the special indulgence, beginning on May 13. For group visits, and more information, please contact the parish office of St. Joseph in Redding at (530) 243-3463.
Jubilee Year of Fatima Granting of Plenary Indulgence Pope Francis has granted a plenary indulgence opportunity for the 100th anniversary of the Fatima apparitions throughout the centennial year, from the 27th of November 2016 till the 26th of November 2017. There are three ways to obtain the indulgence, detailed in a statement from the Fatima Shrine in Portugal (see below). To obtain the plenary indulgence, the faithful must also fulfill the ordinary conditions: go to Confession and Communion, be interiorly detached from sin, and pray for the intentions of the Holy Father. 1. Make a pilgrimage to the shrine To the faithful who make a pilgrimage to the Fatima Shrine in Portugal and participate in a celebration of prayer dedicated to the Virgin. In addition, the faithful must pray the Our Father, recite the Creed and invoke the Mother of God. 2. Pray before any statue of Our Lady of Fatima To the faithful who visit with devotion a statue of Our Lady of Fatima solemnly exposed for public veneration in any church, oratory or proper place during the days of the anniversary of the apparitions, the 13th of each month from May to October 2017, and there devoutly participate in some celebration or prayer in honor of the Virgin Mary. In addition, the faithful must pray the Our Father, recite the Creed and invoke Our Lady of Fatima. 3. The elderly and infirm To the faithful who, because of age, illness or other serious cause, are unable to get around, may pray in front of a statue of Our Lady of Fatima and must spiritually unite themselves to the jubilee celebrations on the days of the apparitions, the 13th of each month, between May and October 2017. They must also "offer to merciful God with confidence, through Mary, their prayers and sufferings or the sacrifices they make in their own lives."
FATIMA CENTENNIAL 1917-2017 INDULGENCE INFORMATION
WHAT IS AN INDULGENCE? An indulgence is the remission in the eyes of God of the temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven. The graces granted through an indulgence come from all the graces won for us by the saving works of Jesus Christ and the Communion of Saints. WHY GAIN AN INDULGENCE? Gaining a plenary (full) indulgence on behalf of a deceased person is a great act of mercy because it makes atonement for the punishment they are experiencing in purgatory; the person s soul is then able to proceed to heaven. Remember, this is only possible because of the merits Christ won for us on the Cross; we are asking that those merits be applied to a loved one in need of them. If the indulgence is for yourself, you are working toward the remission of the temporal punishment for sins that, if left unremitted in this life, you will have to work toward in purgatory. WHO IS AN INDULGENCE FOR? It can be applied either to oneself or to a deceased person, but not to other living persons. WHO CAN OBTAIN AN INDULGENCE? A person seeking an indulgence must be baptized, not excommunicated, and in the state of grace when performing the work of the indulgence. A person also needs to have the sincere intention of gaining the indulgence before doing the particular work associated with it. (See #4 below.) The conditions listed below must be met in the required time frame as well. HOW OFTEN CAN A PLENARY (FULL) INDULGENCE BE OBTAINED? Once per day is the limit, unless it is at the hour of death. WHAT MUST I DO TO GAIN PLENARY INDULGENCE AT OUR LADY OF FATIMA? To receive a plenary indulgence for yourself or a departed loved one, the following five conditions must be fulfilled: 1. Make a sacramental Confession within 20 days before or after the day the indulgence is sought. 2. Receive Holy Communion, also within 20 days before or after. 3. Pray for the intentions of the Holy Father and say the Creed and Our Father. 4. Have complete detachment from all sin, even venial sin. In other words, a complete rejection of the desire to commit any sin. 5. Complete the specific prayers or works declared by the Church for the reception of the indulgence as follows: a. Visit the shrine of Our Lady of Fatima at Christ the King Retreat Center in the form of a pilgrimage. b. Devoutly take part in some sacred function or pious practice in honor of the Our Lady of Fatima, such as the Rosary, 1st Saturday Devotions, or offer humble prayers to God through the intercession of the Immaculate Heart of Mary for: the conversion of sinners, vocations to the priesthood and religious life, the defense of the sanctity of life, the institution of marriage
and family. Conclude with the Lord s Prayer, the Apostles Creed, and an invocation to the Blessed Virgin Mary of Fatima. WHAT IS THE TIME FRAME FOR ME TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE INDULGENCE? The three requirements may be met several days before or after doing the particular work of visiting the parish church and seeking the intercession of Our Lady of Fatima as described above. However, it is most fitting to receive Holy Communion and to pray for the pope s intentions on the same day that the work is performed. DO I HAVE TO GO TO CONFESSION EVERY TIME I WANT TO OBTAIN THE INDULGENCE? One confession is sufficient for several plenary indulgences, but you must receive Holy Communion, pray for the pope s intentions, and do the action in #4 above for each indulgence that you want to gain. WHAT IF I AM HOMEBOUND? Those faithful who are impeded by age, illness or other grave cause will also be able to obtain the plenary indulgence. They must detest each sin and have the intention of fulfilling as soon as possible the three usual conditions (Confession, Holy Communion, and prayer for the pope s intentions). Also, in the presence of any small image of Fatima, they must spiritually unite themselves to the holy year prayer services or pilgrimages, offering with faith to our merciful God through the intercession of Mary their own prayers and sufferings, or the discomforts of their own life. REFERENCES ON INDULGENCES: Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 1471-1479 2 Maccabees 12:39-45 Matthew 5:25-26 Matthew 16:13-19 1 Cor. 3:12-15 Philippians 2:12 Colossians 1:24 1 Peter 1:9 Revelation 21:27