Marian Consecration / Indulgences

10-31-2021Weekly ReflectionFr. Charlie Goraieb

Dear Friends,

There are two important spiritual milestones this week. The first is Friday November 5th, the day we begin our 33-day preparation to either make or renew our consecration to Mary (on December 8th). If you have already made the consecration, I encourage you to go through the “retreat” again and renew your consecration. I have been doing so for the past 15 years and I can attest that each year I discover something new or experience the presence and love of Our Blessed Mother in a new way. The book we will be using is 33 Days to Morning Glory, by Fr Michael Gaitley. As of this writing, we still have some free copies of the book available in the parish office. You can also purchase the book from your favorite bookstore or even watch Fr Gaitley’s videos that are available on Formed.org. I am hoping to see a large group of you making the consecration at the close of Mass on December 8th.

Then there are the Plenary Indulgences that can be obtained each day from November 1-8th. A reminder of what is an Indulgence: Sins are forgiven through the sacrament of penance, but then there is a kind of punishment still due the sinner. As Pope John Paul II said, God’s fatherly love “does not exclude chastisement, even though this always should be understood in the context of a merciful justice which reestablishes the order violated.”

The pope had said the “temporal” punishment that remains after forgiveness is a grace aimed at wiping away the “residues of sin,” offering the reformed sinner the chance of complete healing through “a journey of purification” that can take place in this life or in purgatory.

By God’s grace, participation in a prayer or action that has an indulgence attached to it brings about the necessary restoration and reparation without the suffering that would normally accompany it. It frees a person from the punishment their sinfulness warrants as it is a remission of the temporal punishment a person is due for sins that have been forgiven.

An indulgence, then, is the result of the abundance of God’s mercy, which he offers to humanity through Jesus Christ and through the Church.

There are some conditions for receiving an indulgence:

• Sacramental confession as soon as possible (preferably before and very close to the day you will be seeking the indulgence. See the note below regarding extra confession times).
• A spirit detached from sin.
• Reception of Holy Communion on that day.
• Prayer for the Holy Father’s intentions (for the month of November, his intention is for people who suffer depression).
• Then visit any cemetery and pray for your deceased loved one (perhaps a rosary or divine mercy chaplet or any other prayers). While you can only obtain one indulgence per day, if you do this each day during this period, you can obtain a plenary indulgence for 8 people.

This is a great opportunity for you to help deceased loved ones complete their time in purgatory and enter the fullness of heaven.

To help you take advantage of this great treasure, we will be hearing confessions on Monday, November 1st from 9:00-10:30am and again from 7:00-8:30pm.

God’s Blessings and Peace,

Fr Charlie Goraieb