How to Offer a Plenary Indulgence for Souls in Purgatory

Every November, the Catholic Church allows the faithful to offer a plenary indulgence for the souls in purgatory.

This means Catholics can release souls from their temporal punishment in purgatory so they can immediately go to heaven!

You can offer an indulgence year-round, but the Church recognizes this specific plenary indulgence from Nov. 1-8. However, it is a partial indulgence at any other time of the year.

The person offering the indulgence can possibly release one soul from purgatory per day during this time period.

Steps to Obtain a Plenary Indulgence for the Souls in Purgatory:

1. Pray at a cemetery

Go to any cemetery and pray for the departed souls. One example is the Eternal Rest prayer.

Click here for more prayers for the faithful departed.

2. Visit a Church on All Souls' Day (November 2)

According to "The Manual of Indulgences, fourth edition, 1999," "On All Souls’ Day (or, according to the judgment of the ordinary, on the Sunday preceding or following it, or on the solemnity of All Saints), devoutly visit a church or an oratory and recite an Our Father and the Creed."

3. Go to Confession

Receive the sacrament of confession.

For one to obtain a plenary indulgence, whether it be for the poor souls or oneself, the person working to obtain it must be detached from all sin. If the soul is not detached, a partial indulgence will be applied.

(You only have to go to confession once during this time period.)

4. Receive Holy Communion

Simple as that! (Just please do it in the state of grace!😉)

5. Pray for the Pope

The Church suggests praying one "Our Father" and one “Hail Mary” for the Holy Father.

Additional Requirements for Indulgences

The Church asks that if possible, “the sacramental Confession, and especially Holy Communion and the prayer for the Pope’s intentions take place on the same day that the indulgenced work is performed.”

However, since this is not always possible, one must perform the above within approximately 20 days before or after praying at a cemetery.

If you wish to gain more than one plenary indulgence for the poor souls in purgatory, you must receive communion, visit a cemetery, and pray for the pope each time you wish to grant the plenary indulgence. This must take place between Nov. 1-8. Only one confession is required for all indulgences, as long as the other requirements are fulfilled.

Click here to learn more about Catholic indulgences.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let the perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.