• Death (7/7)
• Indulgences (1/7)
• Prayer (3/7)
• Purgatory (2/7)

In order to gain indulgences, one must be baptised, not excommunicated and in a state of grace. A person who wishes to obtain an indulgence, must have the intention of gaining one and perform the prescribed works. A plenary indulgence can be acquired only once in the course of a day. To gain a plenary indulgence the general conditions required are :

 to be in a state of grace
 to refuse all attachment to sin (even venial)
 to perform the enjoined works at the time and in the manner prescribed (if the work is restricted to a particular day).
 sacramental confession (up to 8 days before or after the prescribed work) to receive communion on the day
 to pray for the intention of the Holy Father (even in a general manner).

The different occasions for obtaining a plenary indulgence (we will restrict oureslves here to plenary indulgences) :

1) Acte of family consecration. A plenary indulgence is granted to the members of a family the first time they perform the rite of family consecration to the Sacred Heart or the Holy Family, preferably in the presence of a priest or deacon, and devoutly recite an approved prayer before an image of the Sacred Heart or the Holy Family.

2) Act of consecration of the human race to Christ the King. A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who publicly recite the ‘Act of consecration of the human race to Christ the King’ (Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race…), on the feast of Christ the King (last Sunday of October).

3) Act of reparation. A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who publicly recite the prescribed act of reparation, on the feast of the Sacred Heart.

4) Papal Blessing " Urbi et Orbi " ( Easter Sunday ). A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who piously and devoutly receive the Blessing of the Sovereign Pontiff, when imparted « Urbi et Orbi » (to Rome and the world). This even by radio [or television] transmission if, for a valid motive, they cannot do otherwise.

5) Eucharistic adoration and procession. A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who:
a) visit and adore the Most Blessed Sacrament for at least half an hour ;
b) piously recite the Tantum ergo Sacramentum during the solemn transfer of the Blessed Sacrament after the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday;
c) participate devoutly in the solemn Eucharistic procession on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, either inside or outside the church;

6) Eucharistic and Spiritual Communion: A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who :
a) receive Communion for the first time or participate devoutly in a special Mass for First Communicants;
b) after receiving Communion on any Friday during Lent, piously recite the prayer « Look down upon me good and gentle Jesus… » before a representation of Christ crucified (a picture or a crucifix).

7) Spiritual Exercises. A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful, who spend at least three whole days in the spiritual exercises of a retreat.

8) At the moment of death. To the faithful, in danger of death, who cannot be assisted by a priest, the Church nevertheless grants a plenary indulgence to be acquired ‘in articulo mortis’, provided they are properly disposed and have been in the habit of reciting some prayers during their lifetime; the Church supplies in such cases for the three usual conditions required for the gaining of a plenary indulgence.
The use of a crucifix or a cross to gain this indulgence is recommended. N.B. The plenary indulgence at the point of death can be acquired by the faithful, even if they have already obtained another plenary indulgence on the same day. It is recommended to warn persons in mortal danger of this disposition of the Church if they cannot be assisted by a catholic priest in time.

9) In memory of the passion and death of Our Lord. A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who :
a) in the solemn liturgical action of Good Friday devoutly assist at the adoration of the Cross and kiss it.
b) make the pious exercise of the Way of the Cross (or, if they cannot be present, who devoutly unite themselves to the one celebrated by the Sovereign Pontiff and retransmitted by television or radio).

10) Rosary. A plenary indulgence is granted, if the Rosary is recited with piety in a church or public oratory, in a family group or religious community and, in general, where several persons are reunited for a praiseworthy work (for example, reciting the rosary together in a car) .

11) Prayers of supplication and thanksgiving. A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who, in a church or oratory, devoutly take part in the recitation of :
 the hymn " Veni Creator " on the 1st of January to implore God’s help for the whole year, or on the feast of Pentecost ;
 the hymn " Te Deum " on the last day of the year, in thanksgiving to God for all the graces received throughout the year.

12) First Mass after Priestly Ordination and Jubilee Masses. A plenary indulgence is granted :
a) to a priest who celebrates his first Mass with the faithful after ordination;
b) to the faithful who devoutly participate in that Mass ;
c) to the priests who celebrate Mass on the occasion of the 25th, 50th, 60th and 70th anniversaries of their priestly ordination and who renew before God their resolve to remain faithful to their priestly ministry;
d) to the faithful who devoutly participate in a jubilee Mass.

13) Profession of Faith. A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who renew their baptismal promises according to the formula in use, during the Paschal Vigil or on the anniversary date of their Baptism.

14) For the faithful departed. A plenary indulgence, applicable only to the souls in purgatory, is granted to the faithful, who
a) devoutly visit a cemetery between the 1st and the 8th of November and pray, even if only mentally, for the departed (an indulgence can be gained on each of these 8 days by visiting the cemetery on each or all of these days).
b) on the day dedicated to the Commemoration of all the faithful departed, piously visit a church, a public oratory and there recite the " Pater " and the " Credo ".

15) The reading of sacred scripture. A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful, who with the veneration due the Word of God make a spiritual reading from Sacred Scripture, with an approved version, for at least half an hour. If a person cannot read, the plenary indulgence is granted if they listen to the Sacred Scripture by video or audio means.

16) The visit of sacred places. A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who devoutly visit, and there recite a « Pater » and « Credo (the conditions for obtaining an indulgence remain the same) :
a) one of the four major Basilicas ;
b) a minor Basilica :

 on the feast of Saints Peter and Paul,
 on the titular feast day,
 on the 2nd of August ,
 once in the year, on the day of the person’s choice
c) the Cathedral church :
 on the feast of Saints Peter and Paul
 on the titular feast day
 on the feast day of the Chair of St Peter (22nd February)
 on the 2nd of August