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FAMILY-INDULGENCE Jun-27-2006 (230 words) xxxi
Catholics can get indulgence for praying for families in early July
By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- To encourage Catholics to attend the Fifth World Meeting of Families in Valencia, Spain, and to recite prayers with their families, Pope Benedict XVI is offering a special spiritual gift, the Vatican said.
"The gift of a plenary indulgence" will be given to those who participate in the July 1-9 meeting in Spain or who gather their own families together in early July to pray for families, the Vatican announced June 27.
An indulgence is a remission of the temporal punishment deserved for sins.
In order to receive the indulgence, Catholics must attend the meeting in Spain, go to confession, receive the Eucharist and offer prayers for the intentions of the pope.
If they cannot go to Spain, the decree said, "they will obtain the same plenary indulgence under the same conditions," but rather than going to the meeting they are to "recite as a family the Our Father, the creed and other devoted prayers" asking God to strengthen their families.
Both those in Spain and those remaining at home are to promise to "dedicate themselves generously to conforming their families ... to the holy rule of the Gospel," said the decree, which was signed by U.S. Cardinal J. Francis Stafford, head of the Apostolic Penitentiary, a Vatican court responsible for regulations governing indulgences.
END
Copyright (c) 2006 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
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