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Holy See offers special indulgence for
World Day of the Sick
Vatican decree emphasizes need to reflect on ultimate realities of life,
death, and suffering
Vatican City, 6th February 2007 (CNA) - Late
yesterday afternoon, the Apostolic Penitentiary published a decree
announcing the concession of indulgences to the faithful for the World Day
of the Sick, which is celebrated every year on February 11, Feast of Our
Lady of Lourdes. This year, the Day will be celebrated in Seoul, Korea. The
decree from the Vatican includes provisions for the elderly and sick who are
unable to celebrate the Day of the Sick and encourages all the faithful to
offer special prayers for the sick.
"We must," the text of the decree reads, "reflect deeply upon the fact that
human remedies have a limit and that, therefore, there will inevitably come
a time when man reaches the end of his journey on this earth. To the sick
who are in that condition we must offer the most attentive care and the
greatest charity, so that their transit from this world to the Father is
comforted by divine consolation and so that, as the Church's prayer for the
dying implores, they may see the gentle face of Jesus Christ and clearly
hear the voice calling them to eternal glory and joy."
"With this awareness, the Holy Mother Church hopes that the annual
celebration of the World Day of the Sick may become an effective catechesis
of the teaching ... of the treasure of Revelation, concerning the value and
function of suffering."
For this reason, Plenary Indulgence will be granted "to the faithful who,
under the usual conditions (sacramental Confession, Eucharistic communion
and prayer in keeping with the intentions of the Holy Father), and with the
soul completely removed from attachment to any form of sin, participate on
February 11 in the city of Seoul, or at any other place decided by the
ecclesiastical authorities, in a sacred ceremony held to beseech God to
grant the goals of the World Day of the Sick."
The decree continues: "The faithful who, in public hospitals or in private
houses, like 'Good Samaritans' charitably assist the sick - especially those
suffering incurable and terminal diseases - and who, because of the service
they provide, cannot participate in the aforementioned ceremony, will obtain
the same gift of Plenary Indulgence if on that day they generously provide,
at least for a few hours, their charitable assistance to the sick as if they
were tending to Christ the Lord Himself, with the soul completely removed
from attachment to any form of sin, and with the intention of observing, as
soon as they can, the conditions required for obtaining the Plenary
Indulgence.”
"The faithful who, through sickness, old age or similar reason, are
prevented from participating in the aforementioned ceremony, may obtain the
Plenary Indulgence if, with the soul completely removed from attachment to
any form of sin and with the intention of observing, as soon as they can,
the conditions required, they spiritually participate together with the Holy
Father in the aforesaid ceremony, pray devotedly for the sick, and offer -
through the Virgin Mary 'Health of the Sick' - their physical and spiritual
sufferings to God."
Partial Indulgence, the text of the decree concludes, will be conceded to
"all the faithful whenever, between February 9 and 11, with a contrite heart
they raise devout prayers to the merciful Lord calling for these aspirations
to be met in order to help the sick, especially those suffering incurable
and terminal disease."
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