There are special Plenary Indulgences available during this Jubilee Year of 2025 that every Catholic family can participate in!

The Vatican’s Office of the Apostolic Penitentiary released this decree that explains that during the Jubilee Year, the faithful can obtain up to two plenary indulgences per day for the poor souls in Purgatory.

If you would like help explaining Plenary Indulgences to children, CLICK HERE.

Now, in order to obtain any plenary indulgence this year, here are the three conditions that must be fulfilled:

1. You must receive the Sacrament of Confession 20 days before or after the indulgence is to be gained and be detached from all sin (including venial).
2. You must receive Holy Communion on the day that you perform the indulgence.
3. You must pray for the intentions of the Holy Father (the prayers you choose to pray are up to you, but an “Our Father” and a “Hail, Mary” are suggested).

Now, once you have fulfilled these conditions, here are the options for the Jubilee Year:

1. Make a Pilgrimage to Rome and pray for the Pope’s intentions in any one of the Four Major Papal Basilicas (St. Peter’s Basilica, the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, or St. Paul Outside the Walls) or any of the special Jubilee churches listed by the Apostolic penitentiary in Rome.
2. Make a pilgrimage to one of the following churches in Italy: Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels in Assisi, Basilica of Our Lady of Loreto Basilica of Our Lady of Pompeii, Basilica in St. Anthony in Padua, or in the Holy Land: Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem, Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth.
3. Perform an extraordinary work of mercy such as a generous gift to the poor, or visiting nursing homes or prisons.
4. Participate in diocesan or parish sponsored spiritual exercises, missions, or formation activities based on the documents of the Second Vatican Council or the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
5. Visit any local Cathedral, Marian Shrine, or other special church designated by the local bishop for obtaining the Jubilee Indulgence–this INCLUDES the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.
6. Fasting at least one day a week from “futile distractions” such as social media, television, video games, certain phone apps.

Another wonderful thing you can do at the beginning of 2025 is to officially bless and install a St. Benedict medal in your home.

The St. Benedict medal is the only one blessed with a unique exorcism prayer and is a powerful force in the homes of Catholic families. The St. Benedict medal has been documented for hundreds of years to defeat evil spirits, temptations, curses, disease, and other attacks. It also aids in the conversion of sinners and the safe delivery of babies! Learn more about the many miraculous healings connected with this medal HERE.

We are striving to bring back this traditional practice of installing the St. Benedict Medal in the home and created the Home Blessing and Protection Kit to help more families do it!

This kit includes:

• Complete step-by-step instructions for the head of household to celebrate the Catholic Home Blessing (the prayers and actions to accompany the blessing)
• Holy Water Bottle (Holy water NOT included–they don’t like liquids in the US mail! Fill it at your parish.)
• Chalk for marking the doorway of your home
• St. Benedict Medal (standing) for a place of honor in your home
• Official St. Benedict Medal Blessing (English and Latin included)–NOTE: the blessing of the Saint Benedict medal includes a unique exorcism prayer first promulgated in 1741 by Pope Benedict XIV) so it may only be done legitimately by a priest or deacon. Simply bring this card and your medal to your parish priest to have him bless it!