Indulgences... what are they and how to I get some?

Indulgenced Invocations

O Holy Spirit, Spirit of truth, come into our hearts; shed the brightness of Thy light upon the nations, that they may please Thee in unity of faith. Amen.

(From the Raccolta. An indulgence of 300 days.)

O Holy Spirit, sweet guest of my soul, abide in me and grant that I may ever abide in Thee. Amen.

(From the Raccolta. An indulgence of 300 days.)

God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us. Amen.

(From the Raccolta. An indulgence of 500 days. A plenary indulgence, on the usual conditions, if the daily devout recitation of this invocation is continued for a month.)

May our hearts be cleansed, O Lord, by the inpouring of the Holy Spirit, and may He render them fruitful by watering them with His heavenly dew. Amen.

(From the Roman Missal. An indulgence of 500 days. A plenary indulgence, on the usual conditions, for the daily recital of this invocation for a month.)

May the grace of the Holy Spirit enlighten our senses and our hearts. Amen.

(From the Roman Breviary. An indulgence of 500 days. A plenary indulgence, on the usual conditions, provided that this invocation is recited daily with sentiments of devotion for a whole month.)

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the wounds of Our Lord Jesus Christ--To heal the wounds of our souls.

(300 days indulgence each time you say it.)

My Jesus, pardon and mercy--Through the merits of Thy Holy Wounds.

(300 days indulgence each time you say it.)

Prayer Before a Crucifix

The Highest Plenary indulgence, may be gained by all the faithful, who, after having confessed their sins with contrition, received the Holy Communion, and prayed for the Sovereign Pontiff, shall devoutly recite this prayer before an image of representation of the Christ crucified, after Communion: (S. Paen. A.p.m 2 Feb. 1934)

Behold, O kind and most sweet Jesus, I cast myself upon my knees in Thy sight, and with the most fervent desire of my soul I pray and beseech Thee that Thou would impress upon my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope, and love, with true repentance for my sins, and firm desire of amendment, while with deep affection and grief of soul I ponder within myself, and mentally contemplate Thy five most precious wounds; having before my eyes that which David spoke in prophecy; They pierced my hands and my feet; they have numbered all my bones.

Anima Christi

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me.
Within Thy wounds, hide me.
Permit me not to be separated from thee.
From the malicious enemy defend me.
In the hour of death, call me
And bid me come unto Thee,
That with Thy Saints and Angels I may praise Thee
Forever and ever.
Amen.

Miserere - Psalm 51

(A partial indulgence is granted the Christian faithful who recite the Miserere, psalm 51, in a spirit of penitence.)

Have mercy on me, God, in your goodness; in your abundant compassion blot out my offense. Wash away all my guilt; from my sin cleanse me. For I know my offense; my sin is always before me. Against you alone have I sinned; I have done such evil in your sight That you are just in your sentence, blameless when you condemn. True, I was born guilty, a sinner, even as my mother conceived me. Still, you insist on sincerity of heart; in my inmost being teach me wisdom. Cleanse me with hyssop, that I may be pure; wash me, make me whiter than snow. Let me hear sounds of joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Turn away your face from my sins; blot out all my guilt. A clean heart create for me, God; renew in me a steadfast spirit. Do not drive me from your presence, nor take from me your holy spirit. Restore my joy in your salvation; sustain in me a willing spirit. I will teach the wicked your ways, that sinners may return to you. Rescue me from death, God, my saving God, that my tongue may praise your healing power. Lord, open my lips; my mouth will proclaim your praise. For you do not desire sacrifice; a burnt offering you would not accept. My sacrifice, God, is a broken spirit; God, do not spurn a broken, humbled heart. Make Zion prosper in your good pleasure; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will be pleased with proper sacrifice, burnt offerings and holocausts; then bullocks will be offered on your altar.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Selected Indulgences

Angelus Domini The Angel of the Lord
V.           The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,  R.           And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary...
V.           Behold the handmaid of the Lord, R.           Be it done unto me according to your word.
Hail Mary...
V.           And the Word was made flesh, R.           And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary...
V.           Pray for us, O holy Mother of God, R.           That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us Pray: Pour forth, we beg you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts: that we, to whom the Incarnation of Christ your Son was made known by the message of an Angel, may by his Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of his Resurrection. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen

During Paschal Season
Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia,  For he whom you merited to bear, alleluia, Has risen, as he said, alleluia. Pray for us to God, alleluia.
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia. R. Because the Lord is truly risen, alleluia.
Let us Pray: O God, who by the Resurrection of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, granted joy to the whole world: grant, we beg you, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, his Mother, we may lay hold of the joys of eternal life. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen

**A partial indulgence is granted the Christian faithful who devoutly recite these prayers above during the times stated.  According to a praiseworthy custom these prayers are usually recited at dawn, noon, and in the evening.

Te Deum

O God, we praise you, and acknowledge you to be the supreme Lord. Everlasting Father, all the earth worships you. All the Angels, the heavens and all angelic powers, All the Cherubim and Seraphim, continuously cry to you: Holy, holy, holy, Lord; God of Hosts! Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty of your glory. The glorious choir of the Apostles, The wonderful company of Prophets, The white-robed army of Martyrs, praise you. Holy Church throughout the world acknowledges you: The Father of infinite Majesty; Your adorable, true and only Son; Also the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. O Christ, you are the King of glory! You are the everlasting Son of the Father. When you took it upon yourself to deliver man, You did not disdain the Virgin’s womb. Having overcome the sting of death, you opened the Kingdom of Heaven to all believers. You sit at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father. We believe that you will come to be our Judge. We, therefore, beg you to help your servants whom you have redeemed with your Precious Blood. Let them be numbered with your Saints in everlasting glory. Save your people, O Lord, and bless your inheritance! Govern them, and raise them up forever. Every day we thank you. And we praise your Name forever; yes, forever and ever. O Lord, deign to keep us from sin this day. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us. Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, for we have hoped in you. O Lord, in you I have put my trust; let me never be put to shame.

**A plenary indulgence is granted, if the hymn is recited publicly in the last day of the year.

Act of Dedication to Christ the King

Loving Jesus, Redeemer of the world, we are yours, and yours we wish to be. To bind ourselves to you even more closely we kneel before you today and offer ourselves to your most Sacred Heart.

R. Praise to you, our Savior and our King.
Have mercy on all who have never known you and on all who reject you and refuse to obey you: gentle Lord, draw them to yourself.

R. Praise to you, our Savior and our King.
Reign over the faithful who have never left you, reign over those who have squandered their inheritance, the prodigal children who now are starving: bring them back to their Father’s house.
R. Praise to you, our Savior and our King.
Reign over those who are misled by error or divided by discord. Hasten the day when we shall be one in faith and truth, one flock with you, the one Shepherd. Give to your Church freedom and peace, and to all nations justice and order. Make the earth resound from pole to pole with a single cry: Praise to the Divine Heart that gained our salvation; glory and honor be his for ever and ever. Amen.

R. Praise to you, our Savior and our King.

**A partial indulgence is granted the Christian faithful who devoutly recite the above Act of Dedication to Christ the King. This indulgence will be a plenary one when this Act is publicly recited on the solemnity of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the King.

Renewal of Baptismal Promises

V.  Do you reject sin, so as to live in the freedom of God’s children? 
R.  I do.
V.  Do you reject the glamor of evil and refuse to be mastered by sin?
R.   I do.
V.   Do you reject Satan, father of sin and prince of darkness?
R.   I do.
V.  Do you believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth?
R.  I do.
V.  Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father? 
R.   I do.
V.   Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?
R.    I do.
V.    This is our faith. This is the faith of the Church. We are proud to profess it in Christ Jesus our Lord. 
R.    Amen.

**A partial indulgence is granted the Christian faithful who renew their baptismal promises through any customary formula. When they do this during the celebration of the Easter Vigil or on the anniversary of their own baptism, they obtain a plenary indulgence.

Reading Sacred Scripture

**A partial indulgence is granted the Christian faithful who read sacred scripture with the veneration due God’s word and as a form of spiritual reading. The indulgence will be a plenary one when such reading is done for at least one-half hour.

Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart

O Sacred Heart of Jesus, animated with desire to repair the outrages unceasingly offered to Thee, we prostrate before They throne of mercy, and in the name of all mankind, pledge our love and fidelity to Thee!

The more They mysteries are blasphemed, the more firmly we shall believe them, Sacred Heart of Jesus!

The more impiety endeavors to extinguish our hopes of immortality, the more we shall trust in Thy Heart, sole hope of mankind!

The more hearts resist Thy Divine attractions, the more we shall love Thee, O infinitely amiable Heart of Jesus!

The more unbelief attacks Thy Divinity, the more humbly and profoundly we shall adore it, O Divine Heart of Jesus!

The more Thy Sacraments are despised and abandoned, the more frequently we shall receive them with love and reverence, O most generous Heart of Jesus!

The more the imitation of Thy virtues is neglected and forgotten, the more we shall endeavor to practice them, O Heart, model of every virtue!

The more the devil labors to destroy souls, the more we shall be inflamed with desire to save them, O Heart of Jesus, zealous Lover of souls!

The more sin and impurity destroy the image of God in man, the more we shall try by our purity of life to be a living temple of the Holy Spirit, O Heart of Jesus!

The more They Holy Church is despised the more we shall endeavor to be her faithful children, O Sweet Heart of Jesus!

The more Thy Vicar on earth is persecuted, the more will we honor him as the infallible head of Thy Holy Church, show our fidelity and pray for him, O kingly Heart of Jesus!

O Sacred Heart, through They powerful grace, may we become Thy apostles in the midst of a corrupted world, and by They crown in the kingdom of heaven. Amen.

Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart

Most loving Jesus, how great is the love which you have poured out upon the world. How casual and careless is our response! Kneeling before you, we wish to atone for the indifference and the slights which pierce you to the heart.

R).  Praise to the heart of Jesus, our Savior and our God.

We ask forgiveness for our own shameful neglect.

We wish to make amends for those who are obstinate in their unbelief, for those who turn away from the light and wander like sheep without a shepherd; and for those who have broken their baptismal promises and reject the gentle yoke of your law.

R).  Praise to the heart of Jesus, our Savior and our God.

We wish to make amends for the sins of our society: for lust and degradation, for the corruption of the young, for indifference and blasphemy, for attacks against your Church, for irreverence and even sacrilege against your love in this blessed sacrament, and for the public defiance of your law.

R).   Praise to the heart of Jesus, our Savior and our God.

These are the sins for which you died, but now we share in your atonement by offering on the altar in union with you the living sacrifice you made on the cross, joining to it the sufferings of your Virgin Mother, and those of all the saints and the whole Church.

R).  Praise to the heart of Jesus, our Savior and our God.

We promise faithfully that by your grace we shall make reparation for our own sins and for those of others by a strong faith, by holy living, and by obedience to the law of the Gospel, whose greatest commandment is that of charity.

R).   Praise to the heart of Jesus, our Savior and our God.
We also promise to do our best to discourage others from insulting you and bring those we can to follow you.

R).   Praise to the heart of Jesus, our Savior and our God.

Jesus, Lord, receive this loving act of homage together with the prayers of our Lady, who stood by the cross, our model in reparation. Keep us faithful, even to the point of death, give us the gift of perseverance and lead us all to our promised land in heaven, where you, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, live and reign for ever and ever. Amen. 

R).   Praise to the heart of Jesus, our Savior and our God.

**A partial indulgence is granted the Christian faithful who devoutly recite the above act of reparation. This indulgence will be a plenary one when this Act of Reparation is publicly recited on the solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

To Jesus Abandoned

With Mary Immaculate, let us adore, thank, implore and console, the Most Beloved and Sacred Heart of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

O divine Jesus, lonely tonight in so many Tabernacles, without visitor or worshipper I offer Thee my poor heart. May its every throb be an act of love for Thee. Thou are always watching beneath the Sacramental Veils; in Thy Love Thou dost never sleep and Thou are never weary of Thy vigil for sinners. O lonely Jesus, may the flame of my heart burn and beam always in company with Thee.

Veneration of the Thorn-crowned Head of The Savior
And platting a crown of thorns, they put it upon Hid head. They began to spit upon Him, and they gave Him blows. Others smote His face and said: “Prophesy, who is it that struck Thee?”

O holy Redeemer! Thou are clothed with a scarlet cloak, a reed is placed in Thy hands for a sceptre, and sharp points of a thorny crown are pressed into They adorable head.

My soul, thou canst never conceive the sufferings, the insults and indignities offered to our Blessed Lord during this scene of pain and mockery.

I therefore salute Thee and offer Thee supreme homage as King of heaven and earth, the Redeemer of the world, the Eternal Son of the living God.

O my afflicted Savior! O King of the world, Thou are ridiculed as a mock king. I believe in Thee and adore Thee as the King of kings and Lord of lords, as the supreme Ruler of heaven and earth.

O Jesus! I devoutly venerate They sacred head pierced with thorns, struck with a reed, overwhelmed with pain and derision.

I adore the Precious Blood flowing from Thy bleeding wounds. To Thee be all praise, all thanksgiving and all leo for evermore.

O meek Lamb, Victim for sin! May They thorns penetrate my heart with fervent love, that I may never cease to adore Thee as my God, my King and my Savior.

Behold, O God, our Protector,
And look upon the face of Thy Christ.

Let us Pray - O my beloved Savior, at sight of Thy most holy face disfigured by suffering, at sight of Thy Sacred Heart so full of love, I cry out with St. Augustine: “Lord Jesus, imprint on my heart They sacred wounds, so that I may remain there in sorrow and love: sorrow, to endure every sorrow for Thee; love, to despise every love for Thee.” Amen.

To Our Lord on the Holy Cross

My Crucified Jesus, mercifully accept the prayer which I now make to Thee for help in the moment of my death, when at its approach all my senses shall fail me.
When, therefore, O sweetest Jesus, my weary and downcast eyes can no longer look up to Thee, be mindful of the loving gaze which I now turn on Thee, and have mercy on me.
When my parched lips can no longer kiss They most sacred wounds, remember then those kisses which now I imprint on Thee, and have mercy on me.
When my cold hands can no longer embrace They Cross, forget not the affection with which I embrace it now, and hve mercy on me.
And when, at length, my swollen and lifeless tongue can no longer speak, remember that I call Ed upon Thee now.
Jesus, Mary, Joseph, to you I commend my soul. Amen.


Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Wounds of our Lord Jesus Christ to heal the wounds of our souls.

Devotion in Honor of the Five Holy Wounds

As I kneel before Thee on the Cross, most loving Savior of my soul, my conscience tells me it is I who have nailed Thee to that Cross with these hands of mine, as often as I have fallen into mortal sin, wearying Thee with my monstrous ingratitude.

My God, my chief and most perfect Good, worthy of all my love, seeing Thou last ever loaded me with blessings, I cannot now undo my misdeeds, as I would most willingly, but I can and will loathe them, grieving greatly for having offended Thee Who are infinite Goodness. And now, kneeling at They feet, I will try at least to compassionate Thee, to give Thee thanks, to ask of Thee pardon contrition. Wherefore, with heart and lips I say:

To the Wound if Your Left Foot;

Holy Wound of the Left Foot of my Jesus, I adore Thee! I compassionate Thee, O my Jesus, For that most bitter pain which Thou didst suffer. I thank Thee for the love Whereby Thou wast wearied in overtaking me on the way to ruin, and didst bleed amid the thorns and brambles of my sins. I offer to the Eternal Father the pain and love of They most sacred humanity, in atonement for my sins, all of which I detest with sincere and bitter contrition.

To the Wound of the Right Foot.

Holy Wound of the Right Foot of my Jesus, I adore Thee! I compassionate Thee, O my Jesus, for that most bitter pain which Thou didst suffer. I thank Thee for the love which pierced Thee with such torture and shedding of blood in order to punish my wanderings and the guilty pleasure I have granted to my passions. I offer to the Eternal Father all the pain and love of They most sacred humanity, and I pray unto Him for grace to weep over my transgressions with burning tears, and to enable me to persevere in the good which I have begun, without ever swerving again from my obedience to the commandments of my God.

To the Wound of the Left Hand.

Holy Wound of The Left Hand of my Jesus, I adore Thee! I compassionate Thee, O my Jesus, for that most bitter pain which Thou didst suffer. I thank Thee for having, in Thy love, spared me the scourges and eternal damnation which my sins have merited. I offer to the Eternal Father the pain and love of Thy most sacred humanity, and I pray Him to teach me how to turn to good account my span of life, and bring forth in it worthy fruits of penance, and so disarm the angry justice of my God

To the Wound of the Right Hand.

Holy Wound of the Right Hand of my Jesus, I adore Thee! I compassionate Thee, O my Jesus, for that most bitter pain which Thou didst suffer. I thank Thee for Thy graces lavished on me with such love, in spite of all my miserable obstinacy. I offer to the Eternal Father all the pain and love of Thy most sacred humanity, and I pray Him to change my heart and its affections, and make me do all my actions in accordance with the will of God.

To the Wounds of the Sacred Side.

Holy Wound in the Sacred Side of my Jesus, I adore Thee! I compassionate Thee, O my Jesus, for the cruel insult Thou didst suffer. I thank Thee, my Jesus, for the love which suffered Thy Side and Heart to be pierced, that the last drops of blood and water might issue forth, making my redemption to abound. I offer to the Eternal Father this outrage, and the love of Thy most sacred humanity, that my soul may enter once for all into that most loving Heart, eager and ready to receive the greatest sinners. and from it may never more depart.

Sweet Heart of my Jesus, grant that I may ever love Thee more and more.

Prayers for Increase of Daily Holy Communions

O Sweetest Jesus, Who came into this world to give to all the life of Thy grace, and Who to preserve and sustain it, didst will to be the remedy of our daily infirmities, and our daily food; humbly we pray Thee, by Thy Heart, all on fire for love of us, to pour out Thy Holy Spirit upon all, so that those who are unhappily in mortal sin may be converted to Thee, and recover the life of grace which they have lost; and those who by Thy gift still live this divine life, may every day, when they are able, approach devoutly to They holy table, where, in daily Holy Communion, receiving every day the antidote to their daily venial sins, and nourishing the life of grace in their hearts, and purifying more and more their souls, they may come at last to the enjoyment with Thee of eternal beatitude. Amen

Heart of Jesus, burning with love for us, inflame our hearts with love of Thee.

Prayer for the Holy Father the Pope

O God, the Shepherd and Ruler of all the faithful, look down with favor upon Thy servant, N, whom Thou hast deigned to appoint the supreme Pastor of Thy Church; grant, we beseech Thee, that both his word and example may benefit those over whom he has been placed, so that together with the flock entrusted to his care he may attain unto life everlasting, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, pour in richest fullness Thy blessings upon Holy Church, the Pope, and all the clergy; grant perseverance to the just, conversion to sinners; enlighten the unbelievers; bless our relatives, friends, and benefactors; assist the dying; deliver the souls in purgatory; and extend over all hearts the gentle dominion of Thy love.

Lord Jesus, shelter our Holy Father the Pope under the protection of Thy Sacred Heart. Be Thou his light, his strength and his consolation.

At the Approach of Death

**Priests who minister the sacraments to the Christian faithful who are in a life-and-death situation should not neglect to impart to them the apostolic blessing, with its attached indulgence. But if a priest cannot be present, Holy Mother Church lovingly grants such persons who are rightly disposed a plenary indulgence to be obtained in articulo mortis, at the approach of death, provided they regularly prayed in some way during their lifetime. The use of a crucifix or a cross is recommended in obtaining this plenary indulgence.

 In such a situation the three usual conditions required in order to gain a plenary indulgence are substituted for by the condition “provided they regularly prayed in some way.” The Christian faithful can obtain the plenary indulgence mentioned here as death approaches (in articulo mortis) even if they had already obtained another plenary indulgence that same day. Please don’t wait till the last minute before calling a priest, call one early at the first sign of serious illness, even if you think you are fine, if you need to go into a hospital call a priest right away. One never knows when the Lord is calling us home.

Use of Devotional Objects

**The Christian faithful obtain a partial indulgence when they make devout use of a devotional object (such as a crucifix or cross, a rosary, a scapular, or a medal) which has been rightly blessed by any priest or deacon using prescribed liturgical formularies.

**If the devotional object has been blessed by the Pope or by any bishop, the Christian faithful can obtain a plenary indulgence while making devout use of it on the solemnity of the holy apostles, Peter and Paul, provided they add to its use a profession of faith made in any legitimate formula.

Veni, Creator

Come, Creator Spirit
O Holy Spirit, by whose breath Life rises vibrant out of death; Come to create, renew, inspire; Come, kindle in our hearts your fire. You are the seeker’s sure resource, Of burning love the living source, Protector in the midst of strife, The giver and the Lord of life. In you God’s energy is shown, To us your varied gifts made known. Teach us to speak, teach us to hear; Yours is the tongue and yours the ear. Flood our dull senses with your light; In mutual love our hearts unite. Your power the whole creation fills; Confirm our weak, uncertain wills. From inner strife grant us release; Turn nations to the ways of peace. To fuller life your people bring, That as one body we may sing: Praise to the Father, Christ, his Word, And to the Spirit: God the Lord, To whom all honor, glory be, Both now and for eternity. Amen.

**A partial indulgence is granted the Christian faithful who devoutly recite the hymn, Veni, Creator. The indulgence will be a plenary one when this hymn is recited publicly on the first day of January and on the solemnity of Pentecost.

Adoration of the Cross

**A plenary indulgence is granted the Christian faithful who devoutly take part in the adoration of the cross during the solemn liturgy of Good Friday.

Eucharistic Congresses

**A plenary indulgence is granted the Christian faithful who devoutly participate in the solemn eucharistic rite which customarily closes a eucharistic congress.

Retreats

**A plenary indulgence is granted the Christian faithful who spend at least three full days of spiritual exercises during a retreat.

End of indulgenced prayers.