ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA

Catholics who celebrate the bicentennial of the establishment of the Church in Philadelphia as a diocese by participating in various special events, prayers or liturgies will be able to avail themselves of the profound spiritual privilege of a plenary indulgence.

Cardinal Justin Rigali requested that he be allowed to give this special gift to the faithful of his archdiocese during this historic year. The indulgence was recently granted by the Apostolic Penitentiary of the Holy See in Rome. This opportunity will be frequent throughout the coming year, and present in enough variety to be available to all who seek its graces.

It will be offered with the first official event of the 200th anniversary observance this Saturday, April 28, when Cardinal Justin Rigali leads a pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.

The opportunity to receive a plenary indulgence will conclude on April 13, 2008, with the closing Mass of the archdiocesan Bicentennial Year - a Mass dedicated to families - at the Villanova University Pavilion in Villanova.

Between those dates, the indulgence will be available to all Catholics who wish to participate prayerfully in the bicentennial observance by fulfilling three important requirements or conditions - going to confession, receiving holy Communion, and praying for the intentions of the Holy Father within several days of the event.

"This is a rare opportunity," said Auxiliary Bishop Daniel E. Thomas. "Out of a sense of remorse for our own sin, we have the possibility of assisting ourselves or our deceased relatives to reduce temporal punishment due to our sins. This unique grace has been entrusted to 'Christ's Church as an unfailing treasury.'"

Bishop Thomas' reference was from the "Manual of Indulgences," published by the Apostolic Penitentiary.

An indulgence is the remission before God of the temporal punishment for sins, according to Church doctrine [Norm 1, Indulgentiarum Doctrina].

In effect, a plenary indulgence is provided by divine grace to cleanse the soul of the stain of every sin, and to remove the temporal effects of every sin.

The Church teaches that through the sacrament of penance, sins are forgiven and the eternal punishment due to sin - namely, the eternal loss of the presence of God - is remitted. However, sin also has a temporal dimension that disrupts the soul's relationship with God, with the Church and with others, causing suffering to the individual and to others.

Those who have gone to confession and received sacramental forgiveness for their sins may still need to undergo purification to have their disrupted relationships restored. Such purification may take place either in this life - or in purgatory, in the case of those whose purification is not completed by the time of their death.

Through a plenary indulgence, God grants that, through the prayer of the Church, the temporal punishment also due to an individual's sins is removed.

How to obtain a plenary indulgence during the bicentennial year

A plenary indulgence may be obtained by participating in designated bicentennial events, pilgrimages or prayerful visits to the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul or shrines to Philadelphia's own canonized saints within the Archdiocese.

It may be obtained by Catholics for themselves or applied to the dead. [Norm 3, Indulgentiarum Doctrina].

The plenary indulgence is attached to the following bicentennial events:

. Saturday, April 28 pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.
Cardinal Rigali, his auxiliary bishops, priests, religious and thousands of lay Catholics will rededicate themselves to Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The pilgrimage will include a bicentennial presentation, the sacrament of reconciliation, a Mass celebrated by the Cardinal, tours of the basilica, and a procession and crowning of a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

. Sept. 29, 2007 - Youth Event: "Amazing Race for Grace"
The young people of the Church will learn about the history of the Archdiocese by participating in a scavenger hunt at local historical spots. The day will culminate with a closing celebration and liturgy at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood for youth, young adults and their families.

. Bicentennial celebrations presided over by Cardinal Rigali or his designee, at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia or in some sacred place within the boundaries of the Archdiocese.

. A pilgrimage to the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul (18th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia), the National Shrine of St. John Neumann (at St. Peter the Apostle Church, 1019 N. Fifth St. in Philadelphia) or the Shrine of St. Katharine Drexel (at the Motherhouse of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, 1663 Bristol Pike, Bensalem).

In addition to fulfilling the three conditions, the pilgrimage must include a solemn communal celebration or, for individuals or groups making a pious visit, time spent in prayerful meditation, concluding with the Lord's Prayer, the Apostles' Creed and a Marian Prayer.

. April 13, 2008: Closing Mass of the Bicentennial Year, dedicated to families, at the Villanova University Pavilion in Villanova.

. The elderly, infirm and all those who cannot leave their homes may also obtain a plenary indulgence, provided they fulfill the three conditions as soon as they are able and, uniting themselves with those who take part in a bicentennial event or pilgrimage, they must devoutly recite the Lord's Prayer, the Apostles' Creed and a Marian Prayer before an image of our Lord or the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The Church's long-standing tradition of granting and obtaining indulgences inspires a spirit of reparation for sins and a desire to live more virtuously as Christian disciples.

"In receiving indulgences, we should not think that we have earned them. Our efforts express our openness to receiving God's mercy. As a result, we grow closer to Jesus and so are able to reap the benefit of His salvation." (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2007 Bulletin Insert, "Indulgences and Our Spiritual Life.")
The Archdiocese's bicentennial year opened on Easter Sunday, April 8.

On April 8, 1808, Pope Pius VII created the dioceses of Philadelphia, Boston, New York and Bardstown [now Louisville] Kentucky. All were formed from Baltimore, the first diocese in the United States.

Brochures explaining the plenary indulgence will be available in the Cathedral, the shrines and the Office for the Bicentennial.

For more information, including a complete list of bicentennial events in the Philadelphia Archdiocese, access the archdiocesan Web site at www.archphila.org, then click the icon "The Church of Philadelphia Celebrates 200 years." Call the archdiocesan Office for the Bicentennial at (215) 587-5634. Send correspondence to the Office for the Bicentennial, 222 N. 17th St. #801, Philadelphia, Pa. 19103, or e-mail the bicentennial chairman, Father Joseph C. McLoone, at frjmcloo@adphila.org. 

CS&T Staff Writer Christie L. Chicoine may be reached at (215) 587-2468 or cchicoin@adphila.org.