Pope Francis' Prayer Intentions for February 2014

Photograph Credit: Gregorio Borgia/AP

General Intention: “That the Church and society may respect the wisdom and experience of older people.”

Missionary intention: “That priests, religious, and lay people may work together with generosity for evangelization."

At the end of every meeting of the Children's Rosary we ask that the group together prays an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be for the intentions of Our Holy Father the Pope.  

Pope Francis since the time of his inauguration has repeatedly asked that we all pray for him.  As Supreme Pontiff such prayers are most needed.  The importance of these prayers is so great that the Church has actually required that one pray for the Holy Father's intentions in order to receive a plenary indulgence from the Church. 

A plenary indulgence is removal of all of the temporal punishment due to sin. (Catechism 1471)

How Does one Obtain a Plenary Indulgence?

According to the Enchiridion of Indulgences 1968:

To acquire a plenary indulgence it is necessary to perform the work to which the indulgence is attached and to fulfill three conditions: sacramental confession, Eucharistic Communion and prayer for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff. It is further required that all attachment to sin, even to venial sin, be absent.

The three conditions may be fulfilled several days before or after the performance of the prescribed work; nevertheless it is fitting that Communion be received and the prayers for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff be said the same day the work is performed.

The condition of praying for the Supreme Pontiff's intentions is fully satisfied by reciting one Our Father and one Hail Mary; nevertheless the individual faithful are free to recite any other prayer according to their own piety and devotion toward the Supreme Pontiff.

If this disposition is in any way less than complete, or if the Prescribed three conditions are not fulfilled, the indulgence will only be partial, except for the provisions contained in No. 11 for those who are "impeded."

For additional information, see Pope Paul VI's Apostolic Constitution on Indulgences (Indulgentiarum Doctrina) by clicking here.

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