November: Month of Holy Souls & Indulgences …
Often, you may hear people praying for the intentions of the Holy Father at the end of their Rosaries or other prayers since this is usually a requirement to gain an indulgence. But should we join in such prayers if the Pope’s personal, private intentions seem contrary to the Church’s intentions?
Yes, because we are not offering prayers for the Pope’s private intentions but rather for the six objective intentions of the Holy Father as the Church Herself teaches.
The 6 objective intentions of the Holy Father are as follows:
- The Exaltation of the Church
- The Propagation of the Faith
- The Extirpation of Heresy
- The Conversion of Sinners
- The Concord between Christian Princes
- The Further Welfare of the Christian People
For more details, click here…
Although we touched briefly on indulgences in the previous November thread comments, it is important to make sure that we understand this doctrine, in order to apply it, especially to the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Perhaps, too, we should ask ourselves whether priests should preach more often about indulgences, since it is, sadly, very likely that most Catholics, especially young Catholics, will share the same ignorant and mocking attitude towards this teaching as that displayed by the modernist Religious Sister mentioned in Father’s homily. He hit the Habit nail on the head, didn’t he? See a Sister dressed as any other gal-about-town and you know right away that she is about as close to being a fully believing Catholic as Greta Thunberg.
Comments (21)
That was a very good, short homily, giving all we really need to know about indulgences, very informative without being boring due to unnecessary details. It’s also good that the possibility of gaining one has been extended to the whole of November – the first 8 days didn’t really make sense IMHO, so Francis has done something good at last!
I’m guilty of not bothering about indulgences but this has made me decide to make an effort for my family, so I will visit at least one grave, and try to gain an indulgence or maybe more than one.
The Pope actually issues an ‘intention’ for each month, every year. This has gone on for ages. They used to publish a general and a specific intention each month (through a group called ‘The Apostleship of Prayer’.) Since Pope Francis, he only gives one intention a month, and publishes the second intention at the last minute, supposedly to deal with last minute or current events, unknown at the time that the original 12 monthly intentions were formulated. The intentions for 2021 can be found here:- https://www.usccb.org/prayers/popes-monthly-intentions-2021 Most of them are banal or tend towards the politically correct, such as environmentalism.
Westminster Fly,
Those are the pope’s private intentions, though, not what we pray for when we pray for “the intentions of our Holy Father, the Pope”. Just to be clear.
The priest who gave that sermon has a very good priestly heart. He is clearly faithful to the Church’s teaching, a rarity these days, and he explanied indulgences in a clear and concise way to the faithful. He could teach even a few Traditional priests how to present the faith in sermons – short, to the point and edifying.
I agree – that priest knows how to preach!
Portsmouth Question
Good Morning,
This morning, at Mass, a pastoral letter from Bishop Egan was read at the time of the usual homily.
However, the priest sat down and a lay female member of the congregation read the letter.
Is this permitted? In my mind it confuses the role of the Sacred Ministers and laity.
YouTube St Peter’s, Winchester.
Thank you
Tom,
I think anything is permitted at the novus ordo these days. I wouldn’t worry about it. When the restoration comes, all of this nonsense will stop. The ancient Mass will be restored to the “ordinary form” and the newer and fewer NOM will be a thing of the past.
Just out of interest – have you asked either the parish priest or Bishop Egan if what you witnessed is permitted?
And finally… On Topic… what about indulgences, then – are they encouraged in your parish?
We don’t hear much about indulgences . The newsletter has a feel good, Joyce Meyer/Joel Osteen ministries type text. Ie think positive thoughts. Nothing about purgatory, indulgences, hell etc.
Tom,
Since we’re still in early November, it might be good to send the above video link to you priest and ask him to remind everyone of the possibility/ desirability of gaining indulgences for their deceased relatives. It’s important to ACT these days, not be passive. Let’s Go Indulgences! 😀
Let us know how you get on – if we don’t hear back, we’ll send out a search party…
Tom
It was never permitted in the Catholic Church, that is, when the hierarchy and clergy were still Catholic. The Vatican II revolution changed everything, though, introducing a Mass and new customs that would undermine the sacred priesthood, which is why they now speak all the time of the “priesthood of the people” in the Protestant sense and allow women in the Sanctuary just like the pagan religions. You’ll doubtless be aware that women in the sanctuary was a uniquely pagan trait right up to the Council. Likewise the notion of many Gods, as with Vatican II ecumenism and inter-religious worship. Lucifer is having a field day in the Church right now and it’s all thanks to unfaithful Popes, bishops and priests who have chosen friendship with the world and its errors over friendship with Christ, Our Lord, and with His eternal truths. They’re still agitating for a female priesthood and women reading out pastoral letters and doing other once-male only duties in the Church is their way of gradually bringing it about.
Athanasius,
If they start ordaining women, I want to be a bishop.
Like, yesterday 😀
Editor
A bishop? I always thought you had something of the La Popessa about you. Just don’t be asking me to carry you around Glasgow in a Sedia Gestatoria!
Athanasius,
Yes, well, I was once described as Pope Patricia in the august pages of the Scottish Catholic Observer which might explain why it has gone out of business 😀
If it’s all the same to you, I’d sooner be transported around Glasgow in a Porsche… Electric, of course… One must do one’s bit for the planet… Especially when one’s predecessor made such a name for himself saving said planet. One did reject a beautiful chair presented to one for one’s birthday, because, well, one wasn’t convinced one would “stay safe” once one plugged it in 😀
Crackers!
Tom,
If you are in Portsmouth Diocese: do you know what became of the lay people who attended the SSPX Chapel there? I understand the Chapel closed. Is there another SSPX venue they can travel to nearby, or have they turned to the Diocesan Masses? (I believe the Diocese has a good provision of TLMs?).
Thanks for any info – I am just curious!
Father Kirkby is a Good Priest and a Good Man, and i and also probably like many others on Here have probably followed Him on You Tube .
Although it seems like Fr Altman and Co He is destined to be Cancelled as He’s spoken out and Said Bergoglio is a Bad Pope . To me though He is being too kind as Bergoglio is a Horrible Pope and with Bergoglio not Even being a Catholic surely that Disqualifies Him and puts Him in Schism .
As for Indulgences I think it’s really very Holy that in the Latin Missal of pre Vatican 2 when going through the Mass it tells you of Indulgences at the Consecration Etc ,and Yes I certainly believe in Indulgences as they are Handed down by Christ through The One Holy Catholic Church.
As for Praying for the Dead ,I have to tell you this Lovely Story.
I knew an Old Man o 40 years ago who used to walk through the Cemetery and if on a Gravestone He seen that someone Especially Young ones had died or were killed instantly He used to Pray for their Souls.
One night I was in His home having a cup of tea with Him when He said that He had been praying for the Souls of 2 Young Brothers killed in an accident. He then said to me that He was sitting reading Scripture in His Chair and He felt a Kiss on Both Cheeks . I asked Him what He thought it signified. He said that the 2 Brothers Souls had been released from Purgatory and on their way To Heaven stopped by to thank Him for the Prayers He had prayed for their Souls.
I only know one thing and that is when He was telling me this ( and He said I was the only one He told) their was a tremendous feeling of Peace when He was talking.
Something else happened to me that night but it is too long to go into right now .
FOOF
I’d never heard of Father Kirkby – I happened across his video on indulgences, and the rest, as they say, is history. I’m delighted that he’s spoken out about Pope Francis – I wonder if he’s sympathetic to / would consider, if not already doing so, offering the TLM?
ED if you watch Him Say Mass Online, I don’t know if He does a TLMASS but what He Does do is Say Mass Facing the Altar.
I personally think that you know a good Priest also by the time they spend in Hearing Confessions . I don’t think I have ever heard this Man Preach
( and av heard him a few times) without Him never mentioning The Sacrament of Reconciliation.
The priest preaching that short and very informative sermon is impressive. I learned a lot in just about 8 minutes! I am resolved to gain an indulgence for my deceased parents before the end of the month, so that was some very good preaching IMHO.
I agree that the priest preaching that short and very informative sermon is indeed impressive. And, I am glad to have listened to it. I aim to gain that indulgence too before the end of the month.
Maybe I wasn’t paying attention (!!) but do the same rules to gain an indulgence every day, still have the requirement of saying the prayers for the Pope’s intentions AND a prayer for the Holy Souls? Also, does the one Confession and Communion on All Souls’ Day apply for the whole month? And is it 1 or 3 Hail Marys needing to be said? Sorry for all the questions.
Helen,
I believe that for each indulgence, you need to apply all the requisite Masses and prayers. I’m not sure about the number of Hail Marys but, hey, praying three can’t get you thrown into Hell, can it? 😀
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