Search
-
I hope that everyone is keeping safe and in comfort with the Lord.
I am sending you this newsletter today to encourage you to watch, participate and be one with the Holy Father, Pope Francis, as he imparts tomorrow a very special blessing " Urbi et Orbi". Urbi et Orbi is a Latin phrase which is translated: “to the city and the world”. The pope imparts this special blessing usually at Christmas and Easter from the Basilica of St. Peter’s to the city (the Vatican City) and to the world. The “ Urbi et Orbi” blessing offers plenary indulgence, forgiveness of sins to all the faithful who are present and those who are attending through electronic media.
An Indulgence is the remission of the temporal punishment due to sin. There are two kinds of Indulgences: Partial and Plenary. Partial Indulgence removes part of the temporal punishment due to sins and a Plenary Indulgence removes all of it.
What is “temporal punishment due to sins”? When we confess we receive forgiveness through the absolution given us. We are forgiven but we still have the obligation to fulfill our temporal punishment for the sins we commit. We fulfill that by prayers and doing good works during this life and in the after life, we await to be totally cleansed of those temporal punishments in purgatory. Remember justice and mercy. Mercy is the forgiveness we receive, justice is we fulfill the temporal punishment.
The Plenary Indulgence the pope wants to impart on us totally removes all of our temporal punishments immediately with the condition that we promise: 1. We confess as soon as we can, 2. Receive communion as soon as we can and 3. Pray for the intention of the Holy Father. All the clergy, religious and lay faithful are asked to pray the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be as ceremonies begin at 1 pm on Friday, March 27.
The Urbi et Orbi will be livestreamed by Vatican news ( WWW.VATICANNEWS.VA), EWTN and other media outlets on Friday, March 27 at 6pm Vatican time which is 1pm EST. ( Tell Alexa or Google to remind you). To those whose residences are near our church, we will ring the church bells to remind you.
I wish that you give time for this special spiritual rite so that you may receive the extraordinary benefits imparted into our lives and souls we all so need during these times.
Be assured that I always include all of you in the masses I celebrate privately. Please be safe and continue to pray!