-
January 17, 2019
The Vatican has granted a plenary indulgence and a papal blessing for those who participate in the Mass preceding Walk for Life West Coast, including those who are sick and infirm and praying along with the participants on Jan. 26, the archdiocese announced.
All those present at the Mass will receive a papal blessing, conveyed by San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone, and with that a plenary indulgence, according to a letter from Vatican. Those who participate in “sacred celebrations” associated with the Walk throughout the dioceses of the area will also receive the plenary indulgence.
“The Apostolic Penitentiary ... graciously grants to His Excellency, the Most Reverend Salvatore J. Cordileone ... the faculty to impart the Papal Blessing with the accompanying Plenary Indulgence on the 26th day of January, 2019, the day of the annual event called Walk for Life West Coast, after the Divine Sacrifice has been offered at the Cathedral, to all Christ’s faithful who are present, who are truly penitent and compelled by charity, and who participated in the same sacred rites,” according to a Dec. 21 letter signed by Mauro Cardinal Piacenza, Major Penitentiary, of the Apostolic Penitentiary, and received this week in San Francisco.
The Walk for Life, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, draws thousands to San Francisco’s Civic Center. The day officially begins with a Walk for Life Mass at 9:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral. The rally is at 12:30 p.m. and the walk along Market Street begins at 1:30.
A plenary indulgence is the expiation of temporal punishment for sins already forgiven, and can be applied to souls in Purgatory, to oneself, or to another person still living. It is a free gift of God’s mercy, and theologically demonstrates the church as a communion of those living, as well as those in purgatory and the saints and angels in heaven.
A plenary indulgence removes the temporal punishment of already forgiven sin. The Walk for Life Mass plenary or complete indulgence is granted with the three usual conditions of sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion, and prayer for the intentions of the pope which should be completed within several days of the actual event.
The Vatican granted the plenary indulgence at the request of Archbishop Cordileone. A similar indulgence was bestowed on the March for Life in Washington, D.C., this year. This is the first time a plenary indulgence was given for sacred celebrations related to the Walk for Life West Coast Mass.