Pope Benedict XVI will grant Plenary Indulgence to the faithful participating in the
21st World Day of the Sick to be celebrated 7–11 February, in Altotting, Germany according
to a decree published today and signed by Cardinal Manuel Monteiro de Castro and Bishop
Krzysztof Nykiel, respectively penitentiary major and regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary.
Persons following the example of the Good Samaritan, who "with a spirit of faith
and a merciful soul, put themselves at the service of their brothers and sisters who
are suffering or who, if sick, endure the pains and hardships of life … bearing witness
to the faith through the path of the Gospel of suffering" will obtain the Plenary
Indulgence, once a day and under the usual conditions (sacramental Confession, Eucharistic
communion and prayer in keeping with the intentions of the Holy Father), applicable
also to the souls of deceased faithful:
A) each time from 7–11 February, in
the Marian Shrine of Altotting or at any other place decided by the ecclesiastical
authorities, that they participate in a ceremony held to beseech God to grant the
goals of the World Day of the Sick, praying the Our Father, the Creed, and an invocation
to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Faithful in public hospitals or any private house
who, like the Good Samaritan, charitably assist the ill and who, because of such service,
cannot attend the aforementioned celebrations, will obtain the same gift of Plenary
Indulgence if, for at least a few hours on that day, they generously provide their
charitable assistance to the sick as if they were tending to Christ the Lord Himself
and pray the Our Father, the Creed, and an invocation to the Blessed Virgin Mary,
with their soul removed from attachment to any form of sin and with the intention
of carrying out as soon as possible that which is necessary to obtain the plenary
indulgence.
The faithful who because of illness, advance age, or other similar
reasons cannot take part in the aforementioned celebrations will obtain the Plenary
Indulgence if, with their soul removed from attachment to any form of sin and with
the intention of carrying out as soon as possible the usual conditions, spiritually
participating in the sacred events of the determined days, particularly through liturgical
celebrations and the Supreme Pontiff's message broadcast by television or radio, they
pray for all the sick and offer their physical and spiritual suffering to God through
the Virgin Mary, 'Salus Infirmorum' (Health of the Sick).
B) Partial Indulgence
will be conceded to all the faithful who, between the indicated days, with a contrite
heart raise devout prayers to the merciful Lord beseeching assistance for the sick
in spirit during this Year of Faith.