Plenary Indulgence
What is a Plenary Indulgence?
A plenary indulgence is the full remission, before God, of the temporal punishment due for sins that have already been forgiven. The Church, drawing on the infinite merits of Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the saints, grants indulgences to help the faithful grow in holiness and to repair the wounds caused by sin.
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1471–1479; Indulgentiarum Doctrina, Paul VI, 1967)
There are two types of indulgences:
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Plenary – removes all temporal punishment due to sin.
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Partial – removes part of the temporal punishment.
Plenary Indulgence for the
Feast of St. Thérèse
Bishop Joseph V. Brennan has granted a plenary indulgence for the Feast of St. Thérèse of the Child of Jesus, Principal Patroness of the Diocese of Fresno, within the Jubilee Year.
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Dates
September 27 – October 20, 2025
This is the timeframe in which the indulgence may be obtained.
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Eligible Locations
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The Shrine of St. Thérèse, Fresno, CA
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St. Charles Borromeo, Visalia, CA
How to Receive the Plenary Indulgence
1. Pious Visitation and Holy Mass
Attend Holy Mass at one of the designated locations between Sept. 27 – Oct. 20, 2025.
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2. Veneration of the Holy Relic
Participate in the veneration of the Holy Relic of St. Thérèse of the Child of Jesus at one of these locations within the same timeframe.
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3. The Conditions
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Sacramental Confession
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Eucharistic Communion
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Prayer for the Intentions of the Holy Father
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Important: The faithful must also be free from all attachment to sin, even venial. Without this disposition, or if the three conditions are not fulfilled, the indulgence will be partial rather than plenary.
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It is fitting that Communion and prayers for the Holy Father be offered on the same day the indulgenced work is performed.