On “Basilica Days” – And More Details about Plenary Indulgences

by | 27 Jun 2024 | Parish News, Things Catholic | 0 comments

“Basilica Days”

  • on the anniversary of the dedication of the same basilica (Consecrated 5 June);
  • on the day of the liturgical celebration of the title – 15 August;
  • on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles – 29 June;
  • on the anniversary of the granting of the title of basilica – 7 July;
  • once a year on a day to be determined by the local Ordinary: 9 March 2024;
  • once a year on a day freely chosen by each of the faithful.

For the dates above, as a minor basilica, the document Domus Ecclesiae (link) in section IV.2 “concessions connected to the title minor basilica” states: “the faithful who devoutly visit the basilica and within it participate in any sacred rite or at least recite the Lord’s Prayer and the Profession of Faith [Creed] may obtain a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the intention of the Supreme Pontiff)”.

In consultation with the Church of Columbus’ Office for Divine Worship (June 2024) we offer some further details and clarifications to help clarify the above quote and to answer common questions.

  • You must be a Catholic Christian and in the state of grace (and free from attachment to sin and of venial sin) to gain an indulgence;
  • The ideal and best practice is to celebrate the sacraments the day before or the same day as the required work of the indulgence is done with the intention of gaining the indulgence. Some may be familiar with the traditional 7 or 8 days before or after the indulgence day and work for the sacraments to be celebrated. But, the document (noted below) published in January of 2000 by the Apostolic Penitentiary identifies the sacraments may be celebrated 20 days before or after.

 

  • REFERENCE
    On Indulgences     (from the Catechism of the Catholic Church/ CCC):
    CCC Article 1471: What is an Indulgence?

    • ” The doctrine and practice of indulgences in the Church are closely linked to the effects of the sacrament of Penance.“An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints.”81

      “An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin.”82 The faithful can gain indulgences for themselves or apply them to the dead.83″

      81. Paul VI, apostolic constitution, Indulgentiarum doctrina, Norm 1.
      82. Indulgentiarum doctrina, Norm 2; Cf. Norm 3.
      83. CIC, can. 994.
      CCC Article 1472: The punishments of sin
      To understand this doctrine and practice of the Church, it is necessary to understand that sin has a double consequence. Grave sin deprives us of communion with God and therefore makes us incapable of eternal life, the privation of which is called the “eternal punishment” of sin. On the other hand every sin, even venial, entails an unhealthy attachment to creatures, which must be purified either here on earth, or after death in the state called Purgatory. This purification frees one from what is called the “temporal punishment” of sin. These two punishments must not be conceived of as a kind of vengeance inflicted by God from without, but as following from the very nature of sin. A conversion which proceeds from a fervent charity can attain the complete purification of the sinner in such a way that no punishment would remain.84
      84.Cf. Council of Trent (1551): DS 1712-1713; (1563): 1820.

      CCC Article 1473: The forgiveness of sin and restoration of communion with God entail the remission of the eternal punishment of sin, but temporal punishment of sin remains. While patiently bearing sufferings and trials of all kinds and, when the day comes, serenely facing death, the Christian must strive to accept this temporal punishment of sin as a grace. He should strive by works of mercy and charity, as well as by prayer and the various practices of penance, to put off completely the “old man” and to put on the “new man.”85

                 85. Eph 4:22, 24.
    • CCC Articles on Indulgences and the Communion of Saints (CCC 1474-1477)
1474: The Christian who seeks to purify himself of his sin and to become holy with the help of God’s grace is not alone. “The life of each of God’s children is joined in Christ and through Christ in a wonderful way to the life of all the other Christian brethren in the supernatural unity of the Mystical Body of Christ, as in a single mystical person.”86
        86. Indulgentiarum doctrina, 5.
1475: In the communion of saints, “a perennial link of charity exists between the faithful who have already reached their heavenly home, those who are expiating their sins in purgatory and those who are still pilgrims on earth. between them there is, too, an abundant exchange of all good things.”87 In this wonderful exchange, the holiness of one profits others, well beyond the harm that the sin of one could cause others. Thus recourse to the communion of saints lets the contrite sinner be more promptly and efficaciously purified of the punishments for sin.
       87. Indulgentiarum doctrina, 5.

The Gift Of The Indulgence (29 January 2000) (vatican.va)