On Sunday 25 of October we will celebrate the Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King. This Feast reminds us that all people, the baptised and non-baptised, are subject to Christ who is the King of all mankind. On this Feast Day the Church grants a plenary indulgence, under the usual conditions, for those who assist publicly in the Act of Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is fitting that this day falls one week before the Queensland State election and is a good reminder that as Christ is the King of mankind, all political powers ought to be subject to Christ and his laws. A nation or state cannot flourish unless it follows the laws of Christ and his rule. Our families and even ourselves as individuals are subject to the rule of Christ and we should seek him to be the King of our hearts. The Fathers and Brothers exhort all faithful Catholics to offer, or renew, their consecration to the Sacred Heart of our Sovereign Lord, and we invite you to join us in making the public Act of Consecration of the Human Race to the Sacred Heart of Jesus at Vespers and Benediction at 5:00pm on Sunday. You can make a booking for Vespers and Benediction here.
What is an indulgence?
An indulgence is the remission of temporal punishment due to sin. There are two kinds of punishments attached to certain sins. Mortal sins have an eternal punishment which is completly removed through Sacramental Confession. All sins also have a certain temporal punishment attached to them, depending on our degree of sorrow, some of this temporal punishment can remain after Confession. Good works help remit any temporal punishment still affecting us, and temporal punishment left when we die is expiated in purgatory. However, indulgences are an application of the merits of Christ to our temporal punishment. A plenary indulgence removes all temporal punishment due to sin.
What are the usual conditions for an indulgence?
- Be in a state of grace by the completion of the work or prayer
- Detachment from sin, even venial; if lacking the indulgence is partial
- Holy Communion (20 days before or after the indulgenced act)
- Prayers for the intentions of the Pope (20 days before or after the indulgenced act). One Our Father and one Hail Mary is sufficent
- Sacramental Confession (20 days before or after the indulgenced act). One confession with the intention of gaining all the indulgences we can is sufficient for all indulgences during the period.