Don't Miss Your Two Chances at an Indulgence

This coming Tuesday and Wednesday is All Saints Day and All Souls Day, respectively. As the days get closer, don't forget that you have two chances at a plenary indulgence. While it's not easy, at least for the first one- during which All Saints Day occurs- you'll be at a Church anyway (it's a Holy Day of Obligation).





The first chance at an indulgence lasts from November 1-8. Here's what you need to do:

Go to Confession within a week of before or after the indulgence is performed (it makes life easier on you if you go shortly before, because of the next requirement)
Be free from all attachment to sin, even venial sin, while visiting a cemetery and praying for the dead
Pray for the monthly intentions of the Pope (same day or soon after)
Receive Holy Communion on the same day or soon after

So that's 5 things: Confess, be free from attachment to sin as the indulgence is performed, visit a cemetery & pray for the dead, pray for the Pope's intentions, and receive Communion. Hopefully your Church has a cemetery outside it.

There's also an indulgence attached to All Souls Day (November 2).

Go to Confession within a week before or after All Souls
Be free from all attachment to sin, even venial sin, while visiting a church to pray for the faithful departed
Pray an Our Father and recite the Creed during a visit to the church
Pray for the monthly intentions of the Pope (same day or soon after)
Receive Holy Communion on the same day or soon after

So, that's 6 things: Confess, be free from attachment to sin as the indulgence is performed, visit a church and pray for those in Purgatory (faithful departed), pray & recite the Our Father and the Creed, pray for the intentions of the Pope, and receive Communion.

Please note: You only have to go to Confession once to cover both requirements of Confession, but you must receive Communion for each indulgence and pray for the Papal intentions for each indulgence.

Also, don't fret too much about making sure each requirement is fulfilled. If you don't meet one of the criteria, you still gain a partial indulgence.