September 14, 2023

Regnum Christi members can obtain a plenary indulgence on September 15^th, the day the Church celebrates the solemnity of Our Lady of Sorrows.

What is an indulgence?

“An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 1471).

Indulgences can be partial or plenary. A plenary indulgence is a special grace granted by the Holy Father to Catholics worldwide in particular situations and under specific conditions. It is called a plenary indulgence because it completely eliminates the penalty that must be paid for the sins committed and confessed up to that point.

For Catholics who desire to receive this grace, the plenary indulgence enkindles charity, strengthens the spirit of prayer, fortifies the pious bond with the Holy Father as the Vicar of Christ, and increases zeal for apostolic ministry. For Regnum Christi members, this is lived out fruitfully through the mission to fully collaborate with Christ in the coming of his Kingdom in our world today.

Plenary indulgences are granted to Regnum Christi members on the following occasions, with the usual conditions specified by the Church (having the interior disposition of total detachment from sin; sacramental confession within 20 days before or 20 days after; reception of the Eucharistic; and prayer for the Pope’s intentions):

1. On the day they commit, at least privately, to faithfully observe the Statutes. This would be the day of association for lay members, or the day consecrated members enter the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ, or the Societies of Apostolic Life of the Consecrated Women of Regnum Christi or the Lay Consecrated Men of Regnum Christi. 
2. When they renew these same promises after completing annual Spiritual Exercises.
3. When they participate devoutly in the sacred rites on the Solemnities of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, and the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and in the liturgical commemoration of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In addition, they should devoutly recite the Profession of Faith and the Our Father before the Blessed Sacrament or before the image of the Sorrowful Virgin.

Unofficial translation of the Decree issued by the Apostolic Penitentiary

Holy Father,

John Connor, LC, President of the General Directive College of the “Regnum Christi” Federation, presents and humbly offers to Your Holiness, on his own behalf and on behalf of his religious brothers, as well as on behalf of the members of the said Federation, his warm sentiments of devotion. He petitions that to deepen the piety of the members of said institute, Your Holiness will deign to generously grant them the gift of a Plenary Indulgence through the Apostolic Authority of binding and loosing.

For, through the observance of the conditions prescribed for obtaining the Plenary Indulgence, charity is intensified and the spirit of prayer is strengthened; the hierarchical and pious bond with the Vicar of Christ is reinforced through their merit; and thus apostolic zeal for the full coming of Christ’s Kingdom everywhere may be inflamed and bear fruit in action.

On January 4, 2023,

the Apostolic Penitentiary, by mandate of the Supreme Pontiff, graciously grants the aforementioned members to obtain a Plenary Indulgence, which they may elect to apply to the souls of the faithful in Purgatory, provided that the usual conditions are met (sacramental Confession, Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the Supreme Pontiff’s intentions) including the interior disposition of total detachment from sin:

1. When on the day of their inscription they commit, at least privately, to faithfully observe their own Statutes.
2. When they renew these same promises after completing annual Spiritual Exercises.
3. When they participate devoutly in the sacred rites on the Solemnities of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, and of the Sacred Heart, and in the liturgical commemoration of the Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In addition, they should devoutly recite the Profession of Faith and the Our Father before the Blessed Sacrament or before the image of the sorrowful Virgin.

This indulgence is valid for a period of seven years, notwithstanding any impediment to the contrary.

Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, Penitentiary Major of the Apostolic Penitentiary

Krzysztof Nykiel, Regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary