Vatican extends opportunities to gain indulgences for the dead

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PROVIDENCE — Cemeteries throughout the Diocese of Providence were in full patriotic display this past weekend, with the graves of military veterans decorated for Veterans Day.
Any Catholics visiting a local cemetery on Veterans Day — or at any point during the month of November — can receive a plenary indulgence on behalf of a departed loved one or simply for the benefit of the souls in purgatory.
According to Vatican News, the official news source of the Holy See’s Dicastery for Communication, the Vatican’s Apostolic Penitentiary has renewed last year’s decree expanding the indulgence received for praying at the graves of the faithful departed throughout the month of November (the indulgence has traditionally only been offered during the first eight days of November; a second indulgence, usually offered only on Nov. 2, the Solemnity of All Souls, has likewise been expanded throughout the entire month).
“The decree, signed by Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, notes that the decision to once again extend the time period for gaining the indulgences was taken in response to ‘various pleas recently received from the various Sacred Pastors of the Church, due to the continuing state of the [Covid-19] pandemic,’” Vatican News reported.
Anyone wishing to participate should visit a cemetery in the month of November to pray for the deceased; those wishing to also receive the Nov. 2 indulgence should visit a church or oratory and recite the “Our Father” and the “Creed,” together with a prayer for the intentions of the pope.
All indulgence seekers should also receive the sacraments of reconciliation and Communion within 20 days (before or after) making their visit. Any Catholics wishing to complete the entire octave may select any eight days in November for their visits (these need not be consecutive).