by which are established the works to be performed in order to obtain the gift of Indulgences on the occasion of the Year of Consecrated Life

The Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, having requested that this Apostolic Penitentiary duly determine the conditions to obtain the gift of Indulgences with which the Holy Father Francis, on the occasion of the forthcoming Year of Consecrated Life, intends to extend for the spiritual renewal of religious Institutes, with the utmost fidelity to the charism of the founder, and in order to offer to the faithful of the whole world a joyful occasion to confirm Faith, Hope, and Charity in communion with Holy Roman Church, under the most special mandate of the Roman Pontiff, this Apostolic Penitentiary willingly grants Plenary Indulgence, under the usual conditions (Sacramental Confession, Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father), to all the individual members of Institutes of Consecrated Life, and to the other faithful truly contrite and moved by the spirit of charity, to be obtained from the First Sunday in Advent of the current year until 2 February 2016, that can be also applied as suffrage for the souls in Purgatory:

a) In Rome, every time they take part in International Meetings and celebrations on the calendar established by the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, and for an appropriate amount of time, dedicate themselves to pious thoughts, concluding with the Our Father, the Profession of Faith in any legitimately approved form, and pious invocations to the Blessed Virgin Mary;

b) In all Particular Churches, at each time in which, on the diocesan days dedicated to consecrated life and in the diocesan celebrations set for the Year of Consecrated Life, they piously visit the Cathedral or another holy place designated and approved by the local Ordinary, or a conventual church, or an oratory of a Cloistered Monastery, and there recite publicly the Liturgy of the Hours or, for an appropriate amount of time, dedicate themselves to pious thoughts, concluding with the Our Father, the Profession of Faith in any legitimately approved form, and pious invocations to the Blessed Virgin Mary;

Members of Institutes of Consecrated Life who, due to illness of other grave cause, are prevented from visiting these holy places can equally obtain the Plenary Indulgence if, with complete detachment from any sin and with the intention of accomplishing as soon as possible the three usual conditions, accomplish a spiritual visit with deep desire and offer the infirmities and pain of their own life to the Merciful God through Mary, with the addition of prayers as indicated above.

In order that access to the attainment of this divine grace through the keys of the Church, may more easily be obtained through pastoral charity, this Penitentiary diligently exhorts the Canon Penitentiaries, capitularies, the priests of the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies for Apostolic Life and all those duly authorized to hear confessions, offer themselves readily and with a generous spirit to celebrate in the Sacrament of Penance and administer Holy Communion to the sick often.

The present Decree is valid for the Year of Consecrated Life. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary.

Promulgated in Rome, at the Apostolic Penitentiary, 23 November 2014, the Solemnity of Christ, King of the Universe.

Cardinal Mauro Piacenza
Major Penitentiary

Msgr Krzysztof Nykiel
Regent