Welcome to St. Therese's

1. The faithful who recite prayers or perform other devout exercises in supplication for the faithful departed during the month of November, may gain: An indulgence of 3 years once on each day of the month; A plenary indulgence on the usual conditions, if they perform these devotions daily for the entire month (Raccolta, 589).

2. Those who, during the aforesaid month, take part in public services held in a church or public oratory in intercession for the faithful departed may gain: An indulgence of 7 years on each day of the month; A plenary indulgence, if they attend these exercises on at least fifteen days and, in addition, go to confession, receive Holy Communion and pray for the intentions of the Church (Raccolta, 589).

3. (This year), From noon on Sunday November 2nd to midnight of All Souls’ Day (November 3rd): The faithful, as often as they visit a church or public oratory in order to pray for the dead, may gain a plenary indulgence applicable only to the souls in purgatory, on condition of confession and Communion, and the recitation six times during each visit of Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory be for the intentions of the Church. (This indulgence may also be gained on the following Sunday, but only by those who did not gain it on Nov. 1st or 2nd) (Raccolta, 590).

4. The faithful who during the period of eight days from All Souls’ Day (counting All Souls’ Day itself) visit a cemetery in a spirit of piety and devotion, and pray, even mentally, for the dead may gain a plenary indulgence on the usual conditions, on each day of the Octave, applicable only to the dead (Raccolta 592).

​

N.B. Whenever a plenary indulgence says it is granted under the “usual conditions” that means the following must be done in order to gain the indulgence:

“The usual conditions for gaining a plenary indulgence are: confession, Communion, visit to a church or public oratory…prayer for the Pope’s intentions [intentions of the Church]. It is to be noted that the usual conditions are not always prescribed, e.g., none of them are really prescribed for gaining the indulgence of the Way of the Cross.” (Winfrid Herbst, S.D.S. The Church Suffering).

The confession can be made on the day in question or anytime during the week before or after. Holy Communion can be made on the day in question or within the following week or one day before the day in question.

The faithful who are in the habit of confessing at least twice a month unless legitimately impeded, or who receive Holy Communion daily in the state of grace, and with a good and holy intention, though they may abstain from receiving once or twice a week, can gain all indulgences without actual confession or which other confession would be a necessary condition (Canon 931).

​

What Happens To Those Who Are Neglectful of the Holy Souls:

In the life of St. Anthonius, the illustrious Archbishop of Florence, relates that a pious gentleman had died, who was a great friend of the Dominican Convent in which the Saint resided. Many Masses and suffrages were offered for his soul. The Saint was very much afflicted when, after the lapse of a long time, the soul of the poor gentleman appeared to him, suffering excruciating pains. “Oh, my Dear Friend,” explained the Archbishop, “are you still in Purgatory, you who led such a pious and devout life?” “Yes, and I shall remain there still for a long time,” replied the poor sufferer, “for when on Earth I neglected to offer suffrages for the souls in Purgatory. Now, God by a just judgment has applied the suffrages which have been offered for me to those souls for whom I should have prayed. But God, too, in His justice, will give me all the merits of my good works when I enter Heaven; but first of all, I have to expiate my grave neglect in regard to others.” So true are the words of Our Lord: “By that measure with which you measure, it will be measured to you again.”