To honor our special relationship with the Holy Father in Rome, we will celebrate the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul with Solemn Vespers on Friday, June 29 at 7pm. Bishop Michael Burbidge will join us for this special evening. Refreshments will be available afterwards on the parish courtyard.
Since this feast falls on one of the “Indulgence Days” for Saint Mary’s as a basilica, anyone who attends vespers may obtain a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions (making a good confession, receiving Holy Communion, and praying for the intentions of the Holy Father). These three requirements should be carried out within 21 days before or after attending vespers.
About Indulgences
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 defined conditions through the Church’s help. A plenary (meaning “full”) indulgence is a special type of indulgence that, if all the requirements are met, removes all temporal punishment due to one’s sin. The church uses the power of the keys given to St. Peter by Jesus in Scripture (Matthew 16:18) to remove temporal consequences that still remain from sins committed. Even if we have been forgiven of a particular sin, we still experience the consequences of that sin in our lives.
To obtain an indulgence, Catholics in the state of grace must:
- Go to confession
- Receive Holy Communion
- Pray for the intentions of the Holy Father