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Skriven 2006-02-07 11:46:34 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service - Press Release
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                The following press release is Copyrighted by the
                          Vatican Information Service.
                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                               VIS-Press releases

INDULGENCES FOR THE WORLD DAY OF THE SICK

VATICAN CITY, FEB 3, 2006 (VIS) - The Apostolic Penitentiary today published a
decree announcing the concession of indulgences to the faithful for the
fifteenth 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
Adelaide, Australia, culminating with a Eucharistic celebration in the
cathedral of St. Francis Xavier in that city.

The text of today's document explains how, during an audience granted on
January 2 to Cardinal James Francis Stafford, major penitentiary, the Benedict
XVI stipulated the concession of special indulgences for the sick. The Pope,
the document says, was "motivated by the ardent wish that the illnesses and
pains of mankind, borne with resignation and offered to the Eternal Father, ...
may bring abundant spiritual fruits. Above all, he was sustained by the hope
that activities and initiatives of Christian piety and social solidarity may be
promoted in favor of the sick, especially those who, afflicted by mental
problems, are marginalized by society and by their own families."

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 at the cathedral of Adelaide, 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
with mental problems who require greater patience, care and attention - 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."
PENT/INDULGENCES:SICK/STAFFORD VIS 060203 (520)

SUMMARY

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