after the 2025 Jubilee Year

A full summary is provided at the end of the article. It covers what Jubilee indulgences are available during the normal year and which indulgences have been altered or ended

As of January 6, 2025 the Jubilee year has ended. With it’s ending, you would think that the indulgences offered would end to.

Yes and No!

Something you may have noticed right away, if you are familiar with usual indulgences we can gain, is that when the ‘Jubilee indulgences’ were announced, some of them, were actions that were indulgenced already. (That is, some of these actions offered a plenary indulgence even during a normal year.) Other Jubilee plenary indulgences were familiar because they were partial indulgences that were elevated. (That is, these actions usually offer a partial indulgence during a normal year, but during the Jubilee year they offered a plenary indulgence.) This is what prompts me to go through the ‘special’ Jubilee indulgences and to let you know what opportunities have changed, stopped, or are still available for an indulgence today.

Diving right in, in the document released for the 20205 Jubilee year (called: “Decree on the Granting of Indulgence during the Ordinary Jubilee Year 2025 called by His Holiness Pope Francis, 13.05.2024”) the first indulgences mentioned are “Indulgenced Pilgrimages.”

The special pilgrimage locations for the Jubilee year were as follows: the four Major Papal Basilicas in Rome, the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem, the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, a Cathedral or other church or sacred place designated by the local Ordinary.

In a normal year, Grant 33 addresses pilgrimaging to the four Major Papal Basilicas in Rome. These are the only four locations for a pilgrimage, so the rest of the locations mentioned no longer offer a plenary indulgence for a pilgrimage to them. Grant 33 states this: “§1 A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who visit, and there devoutly recite an Our Father and the Creed,… 1° one of the four Patriarchal Basilicas in Rome, either as part of group making a pilgrimage to the basilica, or at least with the purpose of expressing during the visit filial submission to the Roman Pontiff;”

Moving to the “Indulgenced Pilgrimage” works, these special works could have been done for a Jubilee indulgence: Participating in Holy Mass, Participating in a ritual Mass for the conferral of the sacraments of Christian Initiation or the Anointing of the Sick, [Attend] a celebration of the Word of God, [Do] the Liturgy of the Hours, [Do] the Via Crucis (aka. Stations of the Cross), [Do] the Marian Rosary, [Do] the Akathist hymn, [Do] a penitential celebration (which ends with the individual confessions of the penitents.

• Participating in Holy Mass… usually does not offer an indulgence, unless it is a Mass celebrating a special occasion. For example, attending a Priest’s First Mass or a Priest’s or Bishop’s jubilee/anniversary mass. Masses in general are prohibited from being an indulgenced work in and of themselves. I believe that part of the reason this was allowed during the Jubilee year is because it marks a special instance/occasion within a pilgrimage, therefore following this rule… The next work in the listing, “Participating in a ritual Mass for the conferral of the sacraments of Christian Initiation or the Anointing of the Sick,” would have this same concept applied to it. That is, the work done by attending these Masses is more so being present for the celebration of a special occasion, not because of the Mass in and of itself.

• [Attend] a celebration of the Word of God…. Grant 16 states this: “A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who assist with attention and devotion at other occasions of the preaching of the Word of God.”

• [Do] the Liturgy of the Hours… The liturgy of the Hours is not indulgences themselves, but mental prayer (Grant 15) and also witnessing explicitly to one’s faith (General Grant 4) could offer a partial indulgence in a normal year.

• [Do] the Via Crucis (aka. Stations of the Cross)… Grant 13 states this: “A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who personally make the pious Way of the Cross, or devoutly unite themselves to the Way of the Cross while it is being led by the Supreme Pontiff and broadcast live on television or radio.”

• [Do] the Marian Rosary… Grant 17 states this: “§1 A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who 1° devoutly recite the Marian rosary in a church or oratory, or in a family, a religious community, or an association of the faithful, and in general when several of the faithful gather for some honest purpose; 2° devoutly join in the recitation of the rosary while it is being recited by the Supreme Pontiff and broadcast live by radio or television. In other circumstances, the indulgence will be partial.”

• [Do] the Akathist hymn… Grant 23 states this: “A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who devoutly recite the Akathistos hymn or the Office of the Paraclisis in a church or oratory, or in a family, a religious community, or an association of the faithful, and in general when several of the faithful gather for some honest purpose. In other circumstances, the indulgence will be partial.”

• [Do] a penitential celebration (which ends with the individual confessions of the penitents.)… penitential celebration are not indulgenced exclusively by name, however, a partial indulgence could still be available through this event if it incorporates an Examine of Conscience (Grant 9) or a Monthly Recollection (Grant 10)

This ends the “Indulgenced Pilgrimage” segment. So, in conclusion:

• This is a list of plenary indulgences you may still do: Pilgrimage to one of the four Major Papal Basilicas in Rome (Grant 33), Do the Via Crucis (aka. Stations of the Cross) (Grant 13), Do the Marian Rosary (Grant 17), Do the Akathist hymn (Grant 23). There is also one occasion for “Participating in a ritual Mass for the conferral of the sacraments of Christian Initiation” that offers a plenary indulgence on a normal year. Under Grant 8, anyone who receives, or assists/attends a first communion may receive a plenary indulgence.

  These acts remain the same within a normal year, though do remember to read up on these indulgences in-full if you intend to do them. Some of the conditions between Jubilee year and a normal year may have changed.

• This is a list of partial indulgences that were elevated to a plenary indulgences, but in a normal year they return to their partial status: Attend a celebration of the Word of God (Grant 16)

• This last list is of jubilee indulgences that are not listed by name and so they either cease to offer an indulgence at all, or they may only offer a partial indulgence under select conditions: Pilgriming to any location other than one of the four Major Papal Basilicas in Rome, Participating in Holy Mass (presumably as a special even during a pilgrimage), Participating in a ritual Mass for the conferral of the sacraments of Christian Initiation (except First Communion) or the Anointing of the Sick, Do the Liturgy of the Hours, Do a penitential celebration (which ends with the individual confessions of the penitents.)

Now let us begin the “Indulgenced Pious Visits to Sacred Places” segment. The special ‘Sacred’ locations for the Jubilee year were as follows: the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem in Rome, the Basilica of St Lawrence at the Verano in Rome, the Basilica of St Sebastian in Rome, the traditional visit to "the seven Churches of Rome" in Rome, the Sanctuary of Divine Love in Rome, the Church of the Holy Spirit in Sassia in Rome, the Church of St Paul at the Tre Fontane in Rome, the Roman Catacombs, Six churches... dedicated respectively to the Iter Europaeum and to the Female Patrons of Europe and Doctors of the Church, St Francis Minor Papal Basilicas in Assisi, Our Lady of the Angels Minor Papal Basilicas in Assisi, Our Lady of Loreto, Our Lady of Pompeii, St Anthony in Padu. any minor basilica, Any cathedral church, Any co-cathedral church, Any Marian sanctuary, Any national or international sanctuaries, any distinguished collegiate church or sanctuary designated by the diocesan bishop or Eparchy.

For all of these locations there may be only only a few indulgenced opportunities in a normal year. Grant 33 addresses ‘visiting sacred places,’ and I would encourage you to look up and study this Grant if you wish to ‘visit’ any given location. Some of the ‘categories’ this Grant covers is indulgences for minor basilicas, cathedral churches, parish churches, Solemnities of [a churches] Titular, and the “Portiuncula” indulgence.

The catacombs are the only one of these locations that is listed by name in Grant 33 Grant 33 says this: “§3 A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who devoutly visit one of the ancient Christian cemeteries or catacombs.”

For the works that could be done during an “Indulgenced Pious Visits to Sacred Places”, this special works were listed for the Jubilee year: If, individually or in a group, [the faithful] devoutly visit any Jubilee site and there, for a suitable period of time, engage in Eucharistic adoration and meditation, concluding with the Our Father, the Profession of Faith in any legitimate form, and invocations to Mary, the Mother of God.

This action, in a normal year, is no longer required in it’s entirety. Breaking down this action though, there are still opportunists for indulgences. Such as:

• engage in Eucharistic adoration… Grant 7 states: “A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who visit the Blessed Sacrament for adoration lasting at least a half hour; A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who visit the Blessed Sacrament for adoration”

• the Our Father, the Profession of Faith in any legitimate form... These prayers do not offer a pleanry indulgence only on their own, but in Grant 33 these are the prayers that are required during a pious visit. Furthermore, these prayers are explicitly listed under Norm 19, saying: “The work prescribed for acquiring a plenary indulgence connected with a church or oratory consists of a devout visit during which an Our Father and the Creed are recited, unless other directives have been laid down.” These two prayers may offer a partial indulgence only on their own, under Grant 15 for mental prayer or under Grant 28 for professions of faith.

• invocations to Mary, the Mother of God... General Grant 1 states: “A partial indulgence is granted to the Christian faithful who, while carrying out their duties and enduring the hardships of life, raise their minds in humble trust to God and make, at least mentally, some pious invocation.”

This ends the “Indulgenced Pious Visits to Sacred Places” segment. So, in conclusion:

• This is a list of plenary indulgences you may still do: Engage in Eucharistic adoration (Grant 7) and/or visit a previously listed ‘Sacred’ location on select days/times (Grant 33).

• This is a list of partial indulgences that were elevated to a plenary indulgences, but in a normal year they return to their partial status: Visit the catacombs (Grant 33)

• This last list is of jubilee indulgences that are not listed by name and so they either cease to offer an indulgence at all, or they may only offer a partial indulgence under select conditions: Conclude adoration with an Our Father and/or the Creed and/or invocations.

The last segment to address is “Works of Mercy and Penance.” This segment is broken up into paragraphs. First let us paraphrase the most important content of each paragraph and examine them each one at a time:

Paragraph 1. Those who participate in popular missions, spiritual exercises, or formation activities (specifically on documents of Vatican II and/or the Catechism) held in a church or other suitable place may obtain the Jubilee Indulgence

Missions are addressed in Grant 16 and offer a plenary indulgence in a normal year, under similar conditions. Spiritual exercises are addressed in Grant 10 and offer a plenary indulgence in a normal year, under select conditions. Formation activities are addressed in Grant 6 and offer a partial indulgence in a normal year, under less conditions.

Paragraph 2. Despite the usual rule of one-plenary-indulgence-per-day, the faithful who have carried out an act of charity on behalf of the souls in Purgatory, if they receive Holy Communion (within a Eucharistic celebration: aka. Mass) a second time that day, can obtain the plenary indulgence twice on the same day, applicable only to the deceased

This opportunity ends with the Jubilee year. The only opportunity during a normal year, to gain two plenary in a day, is mentioned under Grant 12 for the day of one’s own death.

Paragraph 3. In Order to be a “tangible signs of hope for those of our brothers and sisters who experience hardships” the Indulgence is linked, and the faithful are encouraged to carry out works of charity or mercy. Especially “corporal works of mercy...” Also the "the spiritual works of mercy…”

The seven corporal works and the seven spiritual works are not mentioned by name (except praying for the dead and the living). But they could still offer indulgence opportunities in a normal year, so long as they fit within an already existing indulgence Grant. For example General Grants 2 and 4 which address “Giving” and “Witnessing” could cover many of these works and offer a partial indulgence by them. The “pray for the living and the dead,” could further be actions covered under Grant 5 for praying for universal intentions, Grant 15 for mental prayers, and Grant 29 for praying for the dead.

Paragraph 4. “The faithful will be able to obtain the Jubilee Indulgence if they visit, for an appropriate amount of time, their brothers and sisters who are in need or in difficulty (the sick, prisoners, lonely elderly people, disabled people…).” “The faithful can repeat these visits throughout the Holy Year, even daily, acquiring a plenary indulgence each time.”

Like it was mentioned above, in paragraph 3, actions like this may still apply under some of the General Grants. I’m thinking specifically of Grant 2: “A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who, led by the spirit of faith, give compassionately of themselves or of their goods to serve their brothers in need.” And Grant 4: “A partial indulgence is granted to the Christian faithful who, in the particular circumstances of daily life, voluntarily give explicit witness to their faith before others.”

Paragraph 5. The Jubilee Plenary Indulgence can also be obtained through initiatives that put the spirit of penance into practice, in a concrete and generous way: In particular

1. the penitential nature of Friday can be rediscovered through abstaining, in a spirit of penance, at least for one day of the week from futile distractions (real but also virtual distractions, for example, the use of the media and/or social networks),

2. from superfluous consumption (for example by fasting or practicing abstinence according to the general norms of the Church and the indications of the Bishops),

3. as well as by donating a proportionate sum of money to the poor;

4. by supporting works of a religious or social nature, especially in support of the defense and protection of life in all its phases, but also by supporting the quality of life of abandoned children, young people in difficulty, the needy or lonely elderly people, or migrants from various countries “who leave their homelands behind in search of a better life for themselves and for their families” (…);

5. it can also be obtained by dedicating a reasonable portion of one’s free time to voluntary activities that are of service to the community or to other similar forms of personal commitment.

Now to address these in order:

1. “The penitential nature of Friday” no longer offers an indulgence. This is due to Norm 21: “Unless otherwise stated, an indulgence cannot be gained by a work already imposed by law or precept.” This norm does continue to give some exceptions for members of institutes of consecrated life and societies as well as penance prescribed during confession, but not for the Friday Fast.

2. Abstaining from superfluous consumption, not in a manner of ‘precept or law,’ could apply under General Grant 3 regarding abstaining: “A partial indulgence is granted to the Christian faithful who, in a spirit of penance, voluntarily abstain from something that is licit for and pleasing to them.”

3. 4. & 5. Donating one’s money, good, or time, especially to a worthy cause like to the poor, and disabled, could offer an indulgence under General Grant 2. Although it is worth noting that in a normal year (and even during the Jubilee year) there may be causes that we are required to contribute to as it ‘provides for the needs of the Church.’ (This is another precept). If we are not under the guidance of a law or precept, General Grant 2 states this: “A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who, led by the spirit of faith, give compassionately of themselves or of their goods to serve their brothers in need.”

Paragraph 6. All diocesan bishops and eparchs (*) on the occasion of the main celebration in the cathedral and in the individual jubilee churches, may impart the Papal Blessing with the attached plenary indulgence to the faithful.

In a normal year some ecclesiastical authorities, like diocesan bishops and eparchs, may impart the Papal Blessing at appropriate locations, on some days of the year. These blessings would not be in relation to the jubilee year, of course, since the year has ended, but for other occasions. The requirements are covered under Norm 7: “Eparchial and diocesan bishops, and others equivalent to them in law even if they lack episcopal rank, have the right from entrance upon their pastoral office:…. 2. to impart in their respective eparchies or dioceses, according to the prescribed formula, the Papal Blessing with a plenary indulgence three times a year on solemn feasts which they have designated, even if they only assist at the Mass. This Blessing is to be given at the conclusion of Mass in place of the customary blessing, according to the norms given in the Ceremonial of Bishops.”

Address to the Impeded: “The faithful who are truly repentant of sin but who cannot participate in the various solemn celebrations, pilgrimages and pious visits for serious reasons (...), can obtain the Jubilee Indulgence, under the same conditions if, united in spirit with the faithful taking part in person, (...), they recite the Our Father, the Profession of Faith in any approved form, and other prayers in conformity with the objectives of the Holy Year, in their homes or wherever they are confined (e.g. in the chapel of the monastery, hospital, nursing home, prison...) offering up their sufferings or the hardships of their lives;”

In a normal year Norms 24-26 generally cover impediments with some Grants mentioning special expectations individually within the Grant. This address does not usually apply in a normal year. That being said, this address is commonly given by the Vatican when occasion calls for it, such as during the 2025 Jubilee year, during the 2019/2020 pandemic, or on other occasions when the Vatican calls for the faithful to consider obtaining select indulgences that could prove to be difficult for the impeded.

This ends the “Works of Mercy and Penance” segment. So, in conclusion:

• This is a list of plenary indulgences you may still do: Missions (Grant 16), Spiritual exercises (Grant 10), Eparchial and diocesan bishop’s Papal Blessing (N7)

• This is a list of partial indulgences that were elevated to a plenary indulgences, but in a normal year they return to their partial status: Formation activities (Grant 6),

• This last list is of jubilee indulgences that are not listed by name and so they either cease to offer an indulgence at all, or they may only offer a partial indulgence under select conditions: Gaining a second indulgence within a day for the faithful departed, The corporal and spiritual works of mercy, visiting brothers and sisters who are in need or in difficulty, The penitential nature of Friday, Abstaining from superfluous consumption, Donating, Additional allowances for the impeded.

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And that covers all of the special Jubilee indulgence allowances from the 2025 Jubilee year! As I promised, I will give a condensed summary of what we have gone over in this article. If you have skipped down to this summary, and have questions as to how we determined the placement of an indulgence, please go back up and read the article where it was explained more in depth.

From this whole article, which covered the entirety of the document “Decree on the Granting of Indulgence during the Ordinary Jubilee Year 2025 called by His Holiness Pope Francis, 13.05.2024,” the status of the jubilee indulgences have been categorized as such.

Plenary indulgences you may still do:

• Pilgrimage to one of the four Major Papal Basilicas in Rome (Grant 33), Do the Via Crucis (aka. Stations of the Cross) (Grant 13), Do the Marian Rosary (Grant 17), Do the Akathist hymn (Grant 23). There is also one occasion for “Participating in a ritual Mass for the conferral of the sacraments of Christian Initiation” that offers a plenary indulgence under Grant 8. Anyone who receives, or assists/attends a first communion may receive a plenary indulgence.

• Engage in Eucharistic adoration (Grant 7), visit any listed ‘Sacred’ location on select days/times (Grant 33).

• Missions (Grant 16), Spiritual exercises (Grant 10), Eparchial and diocesan bishop’s Papal Blessing (N7)

  
  

Partial indulgences that were elevated to a plenary indulgences, but in a normal year they return to their partial status:

• Attend a celebration of the Word of God (Grant 16)

• Visit the catacombs (Grant 33)

• Formation activities (Grant 6)

  
  

Jubilee indulgences that are not listed by name and so they either cease to offer an indulgence at all, or they may only offer a partial indulgence under select conditions:

• Pilgriming to any location other than one of the four Major Papal Basilicas in Rome, Participating in Holy Mass (presumably as a special even during a pilgrimage), Participating in a ritual Mass for the conferral of the sacraments of Christian Initiation (except First Communion) or the Anointing of the Sick, Do the Liturgy of the Hours, Do a penitential celebration (which ends with the individual confessions of the penitents.)

• Conclude adoration with an Our Father and/or the Creed and/or invocations.

• Gaining a second indulgence within a day for the faithful departed, The corporal and spiritual works of mercy, visiting brothers and sisters who are in need or in difficulty, Participating in the penitential nature of Friday, Abstaining from superfluous consumption, Donating, Additional allowances for the impeded.