The following indulgence opportunities have been taken from the Manual of Indulgences published by the USCCB in 1999. The citation following the explanation indicates the grant number/section.
Calendar Day Opportunities
January
- A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who devoutly assist either at the recitation or solemn singing of: the Veni Creator, on the first day of the year (January 1st) to implore divine assistance for the course of the whole year. (G26,1.1)
February-April
- A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who on any of the Fridays of Lent devoutly recite after Communion the prayer En ego, O bone et dulcissime Iesu before a crucifix. (G8,1.2)
En ego, O bone et dulcissime Iesu
Here, O good and gentle Jesus, I kneel before you, and with all the fervor of my soul I pray that you engrave within my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope and love, true repentance for my sins and a firm purpose of amendment. While I see and I ponder your five wounds with great affection and sorrow in my soul, I have before my eyes those words of yours that David prophesied about you: "They have pierced my hands and feet; I can count all my bones" (Ps 22:17). Amen.
- A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who piously recite the verses of the Tantum ergo after the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday during the solemn reposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament. (G7,1.2)
- A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who devoutly assist at the adoration of the Cross in the solemn liturgical action of Good Friday. (G13,1)
- A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who, at the celebration of the Easter Vigil or on the anniversary of their own Baptism, renew their baptismal vows in any legitimately approved formula. (G28,1)
June
- A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who, on the solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus publicly recite the act of reparation (Iesu dulcissime); a partial indulgence is granted for its use in other circumstances. (G3)
- A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who devoutly participate in a solemn Eucharistic procession, held inside or outside a church, of greatest importance on the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ. (G7,1.3)
- A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who, on the Solemnity of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul (June 29) make prayerful use of an article of devotion, as defined by Norm 15, that has been blessed by the Supreme Pontiff or by any bishop, provided the faithful also make a profession of faith using any legitimate formula. (G14,1)
- A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who devoutly use such articles of devotion properly blessed by a priest or deacon.(G14,2)
August
- A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who visit, and there devoutly recite an Our Father and the Creed, the Cathedral or parish church on August 2, the day of “Portiuncula” indulgence. (G33,1.3e; G33,1.5b)
November
- A plenary indulgence, applicable only to the souls in purgatory, is granted to the faithful who,
- On any and each day from November 1 to 8, devoutly visit a cemetery and pray, if only mentally, for the departed. (G29,1.1) (A partial indulgence is granted if this act is done during the rest of the year. G29,2.1)
- On All Souls’ Day or on the Sunday following it, devoutly visit a church or an oratory and recite an Our Father and the Creed. (G29,1.2)
- A partial indulgence, only applicable to the souls in purgatory, is granted to the faithful who devoutly recite lauds or vespers from the Office of the Dead or the prayer Eternal rest. (G29,2.2)
Requiem aeternam
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace.
- A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who visit, and there devoutly recite an Our Father and the Creed, the cathedral church on the dedication of the Archbasilica of the Most Holy Savior (St. John Lateran, November 9); (G33,1.3d)
- A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who, on the solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, publicly recite the act of dedication of the human race to Christ the King (Iesu dulcissime, Redemptor); a partial indulgence is granted for its use in other circumstances. (G2)
Iesu dulcissime, Redemptor
Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before you. We are yours, and yours we wish to be; but to be more surely united with you, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to your Most Sacred Heart. Many indeed have never known you; many, too, despising your precepts, have rejected you. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to your Sacred Heart. Be King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken you, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned you; grant that they may quickly return to the Father’s house, lest they die of wretchedness and hunger. Be King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbor of truth and the unity of faith, so that soon there may be but one flock and one Shepherd. Grant, O Lord, to your Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give tranquility of order to all nations; make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: Praise to the divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to it be glory and honor for ever. Amen.
- A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who devoutly recite a prayer taken from the Missal for the bishop of an eparchy or diocese on the occasion of the beginning of his pastoral ministry or on its anniversary (November 30th for Bishop Kagan). (G25,2)
December
- A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who devoutly assist either at the recitation or solemn singing of the Te Deum, on the final day of the year (December 31) to offer thanks to God for gifts received throughout the course of the entire year. (G26,1.2)
Special Occasions
- Family Consecration. A plenary indulgence is granted to the members of the family on the day on which it is first consecrated, if at all possible by a priest or deacon, to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus or to the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, if they devoutly recite the duly approved prayer before an image of the Sacred Heart or the Holy Family; on the anniversary of the consecration, the indulgence will be partial. (G1)
- First Communion. A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who receive Holy Communion for the first time or devoutly assist at the first Holy Communion of others. (G8,1.1)
- Papal Blessing. A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who devoutly receive a blessing imparted either by the Supreme Pontiff to Rome and the World (Urbi et Orbi), or by the bishop who care of the faithful are entrusted in accordance Norm 7, 2 of this Manual, even if, because of reasonable circumstances they are unable to be present physically at the sacred rite, provided that they follow it devoutly as it is broadcast live by television or radio. (G4)
- Retreat. A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who spend at least three entire days in the spiritual exercises of a retreat. (G10,1)
- Parish Mission A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who on the occasion of a mission have heard some of the sermons and are present for the solemn conclusion of the mission. (G16,1)
- Month of Recollection. A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who take part in a month of recollection. (G10,2)
- Priest’s First Mass. A plenary indulgence is granted to
- a priest celebrating his first Mass before the people on a chosen day;
- the faithful who devoutly assist at such a Mass. (G27,1.1-2)
- Jubilees. A plenary indulgence is granted to
- priests celebrating their 25th, 50th, 60th, and 70th anniversary of their priestly ordinations, who renew before God their promise of faithfully fulfilling the duties of their vocation; (G27, 2.1)
- bishops celebrating the 25th, 40th, and 50th anniversaries of their episcopal ordination, who renew before God their promise of faithfully fulfilling the duties of their office; (G27, 2.2)
- the faithful who devoutly assist at jubilee Mass celebrations. (G27, 2.3)
- Point of Death. A priest who administers the sacraments to someone in danger of death should not fail to impart the apostolic blessing to which a plenary indulgence is attached. (G12,1)
- If a priest is unavailable, Holy Mother Church benevolently grants to the Christian faithful, who are duly disposed, a plenary indulgence to be acquired at the point of death, provided they have been in the habit of reciting some prayers during their lifetime; in such a case, the Church supplies for the three conditions ordinarily required for a plenary indulgence. (G12,2)
- Diocesan Synod. A plenary indulgence is granted a single time to the faithful who, during a diocesan synod, devoutly visit the church in which the synod is celebrated and there recite an Our Father and the Creed. (G31)
