12 Ways to Gain a Jubilee Plenary Indulgence for Yourself or the Souls in Purgatory

Indulgences are a wonderful gift of God’s mercy and understanding them can have a profound effect on a practicing Catholic’s daily life. Unfortunately, many Catholics are negatively influenced by a misunderstanding fueled by Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation.

Understanding indulgences will give a faithful Catholic a way to appease a guilty conscience and an effective and fruitful means of helping deceased loved ones and friends who may be languishing in Purgatory. Jubilee Years are a special time of grace full of opportunities to obtain special indulgences. Because of that, the Vatican has given the faithful detailed information about how to obtain plenary indulgences during the 2025 Jubilee Year.

Indulgences remit the temporal punishment - all (plenary) or in part (partial) - due to sins that have been authentically repented of and, therefore, forgiven, by applying the merits of Christ to particular prayers and pious practices of the Catholic faithful. That is, if the faithful have confessed their sins, they will be forgiven all or part of  the temporal punishment they must otherwise endure in purgatory (learn much more about Indulgences by going to Indulgences 101).

To receive a plenary indulgence, in addition to the actual indulgenced prayers or actions, the usual conditions must also be met: 

1. Be a baptized Catholic and 

• in the state of grace at least at the time of obtaining the indulgence  - meaning you are not bearing the guilt of unconfessed mortal sin. If you have committed any mortal sins, you must be authentically repentant and receive absolution in the Sacrament of Confession (Reconciliation) in order to be restored to the state of grace. 

• and free from all attachment to sin, even venial sins. In order to know if you are attached to any sins, make an examination of conscience asking Our Blessed Mother - Our Lady of Sorrows - to show you the sins you are attached to and then make an act of the will to renounce them and make concrete resolutions to live this out.

2. Receive Holy Communion. 

3. Pray for the Intentions of the Pope. Some people are uncomfortable praying for Pope Francis’ monthly intentions. Instead, pray for the traditional intentions of the Holy Father (not just any intention). An Our Father and a Hail Mary are common prayers for this. No matter who the current pope is, the 6 objective intentions, of the Holy Father are as follows:

• The Exaltation of the Church. 

• The Propagation of the Faith. 

• The Extirpation of Heresy. 

• The Conversion of Sinners. 

• The Concord between Christian Princes.

• The .Further Welfare of the Christian People

4. Receive Sacramental Confession within 20 days (preferably before you gain the indulgence) with true sorrow for your sins and a firm purpose of amendment. Indulgences are given as a blessing for true repentance to help heal the negative effects of sin. 

Each indulgence requires a separate Communion and prayer, ideally on the day of the indulgenced act although that is not strictly necessary. Only one plenary indulgence can be obtained per day, but a second is possible if applied to souls in purgatory. Once again, this would mean that you would need to receive Holy Communion twice in one day in order to obtain a second plenary indulgence.

The 12 Ways to obtain a special Jubilee plenary indulgence include: 

PILGRIMAGES 

1. National 

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. is the only nationally designated “Jubilee site” in the U.S. While there, participate in Mass, Liturgy of the Hours, Stations of the Cross, the Rosary or Akathist, a penance service, or a celebration of the Word of God. Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.

2. International

In Rome, visit Saint Peters, Saint John Lateran, Saint Mary Major or Saint Paul Outside the Walls.  In the Holy Land, visit the Holy Sepulchre (Jerusalem), Basilica of the Nativity (Bethlehem) or Basilica of the Annunciation (Nazareth). While there, participate in Mass, Liturgy of the Hours, Stations of the Cross, the Rosary or Akathist, a penance service, or a celebration of the Word of God.

3. Close to Home

Visit any site designated for Jubilee pilgrimages by the local bishop. In our area, Saint Matthew in Tyrone is one such place. While there, participate in Mass, Liturgy of the Hours, Stations of the Cross, the Rosary or Akathist, a penance service, or a celebration of the Word of God.

Information about Saint Matthew in Tyrone: 

• 215 Kirkley Rd, Tyrone, GA 30290
  Visiting Times:
  Monday–Friday: 9:00 am-2:00 pm
  Thursdays: 9:00 am-7:00 pm
  Saturdays: 3:30 pm-6:00 pm
  Sundays: 7:30 am-3:30 pm 

• Contact Information:
  Phone Number: 770-964-5804
  Email Address: mvahanian@saintmatthew.us

EUCHARISTIC VISITS 

4. Pilgrimage Sites.

At any site listed above, spend time in Eucharistic adoration, concluding with the Our Father, a Profession of Faith, and prayers to Mary.

5. Italy 

Do the same at any of six other churches in Rome (Santa Croce, San Lorenzo, San Sebastiano, Divino Amore, Santo Spirito in Sassia, Tre Fontane),  the “Iter Europaeum” route (28 churches connected to European nations), the “Patronesses and Doctors” route (seven churches dedicated to female saints), the Roman Catacombs, or five churches outside Rome (St. Francis and the Portiuncula in Assisi, St. Anthony in Padua, Our Lady of Loreto, Our Lady of Pompei). 

6. Close to Home 

Do the same at any church designated by a local bishop, or any basilica, cathedral or shrine (Marian, national or international) worldwide. Once again, Saint Matthew in Tyrone is one such designated Church. While there spend time in Eucharistic adoration, concluding with the Our Father, a Profession of Faith, and prayers to Mary.

PILGRIMAGES IN SPIRIT 

7. Those impeded by “serious reasons”— cloistered religious, the elderly, the sick, prisoners, caregivers — can get the indulgence by uniting spiritually with pilgrims, especially through or other media, and reciting an Our Father and Creed, “offering up their sufferings or the hardships of their lives.”

WORKS OF MERCY AND PENANCE 

8. Formation 
Participate in a study on the Vatican II documents or the Catechism, held in a church or other suitable place, “according to the mind of the Holy Father.” 

9. Visits 

Spend time with those in need — the sick, prisoners, lonely elderly, the disabled — “making a pilgrimage to Christ present in them.” 

10. Fasting and Abstinence 

In a spirit of penance, give up “futile distractions” (real or online) and “superfluous consumption” (through fasting, abstinence or almsgiving) for at least one day.

11. Defend Life and Volunteer:
Support efforts defending life at all stages or helping abandoned children, struggling youth, the needy, lonely elderly or migrants. Do acts of community service. 

12. Blessing:

Receive the “papal blessing” from your bishop. 

Sources: EWTN (National Catholic Register) and “Decree on the Granting of Indulgence during the Ordinary Jubilee Year 2025”