One of the words we often hear during Jubilee years is undoubtedly ‘indulgence,’ which is sometimes referred to as ‘plenary’ or ‘partial.’
What does it actually mean? And how is all this still relevant to us today?

The sacrament of confession creates a space where a person rediscovers the embrace of the Father, in the light that this sacrament forgives sins through the trust Jesus gave to his Church. No sin is greater than God’s mercy, as long as we have willingness to open our hearts to the One who loves us most. However, even though sins are forgiven in this sacrament, we still carry certain stains due to our shortcomings. These stains can be observed in the lack of order within ourselves, in our relationship with God, in our relationships with others, and in our relationship with the rest of creation. Therefore, to remove these stains, it is necessary that, along with the great forgiveness of the Lord, there is also a sense of cooperation from us who have failed. This cooperation can happen in this life through circumstances that arise from time to time by allowing them to become opportunities for grace, and also in purgatory. Both in this life and in purgatory, we see a space where we continue to strip off “the old self” and put on “the new self, created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph 4:22-24).

And this is precisely where indulgences come in. An indulgence is the Church’s prayer to God to reduce these stains (hence called ‘partial’) or to remove them entirely (hence called ‘plenary’).

In all this, we celebrate God’s attentiveness to his Church and the mission he entrusts to her, allowing her actions on earth to resonate in heaven (Mt 16:19). With this trust given by Jesus himself, the Church offers this extended forgiveness through the merits of Jesus’ death and resurrection, of his mother Mary, and of all the saints. The Church on earth joins in unity with the Church gathered in heaven in this prayer of mercy. Through the merits of the holy lives of those who lived before us and, above all, through the cross borne by Christ, the Church feels it is her duty to distribute from this abundance of grace.

In ancient times, the word ‘indulgence’ was often used in place of ‘mercy,’ as it expresses the fullness of the Lord’s boundless forgiveness (Spes non confundit, 23). In light of all this, let us be encouraged to make use of this treasure for our own good, for the good of one another as one Church, and for the good of all creation, in our love for the One who is always ready with open arms for us.

In various different ways, the indulgence is obtained by observing these practices locally:

• A pilgrimage visit to the locations listed below;
• Confession within an appropriate time frame (within 20 days of the visit);
• Receiving Holy Communion on the day of the visit;
• A time of adoration at the location, concluding with the Our Father, the Creed, a Marian prayer, and a prayer for the Pope’s intentions.

It would be fitting for these spiritual acts to be accompanied by some act of charity or sacrifice, such as traditional fasting practices, fasting from social media, supporting pro-life organisations, assisting refugees, the elderly, youth in difficulty, and marginalised children.

In the Archdiocese of Malta, every faithful person, a pilgrim of hope, may obtain the Jubilee Indulgence granted by the Pope by devoutly visiting the following churches:

People who cannot participate in solemn celebrations, pilgrimages, or devotional visits due to serious reasons (such as cloistered nuns and monks, the elderly, the sick, and prisoners) can still obtain the Jubilee Indulgence. They can do so by following the word of the Pope and the Bishops of the diocese, including through the daily Mass broadcast via media, reciting the Our Father, the Creed, and prayers like the Salve Regina, while offering their sufferings.