Jubilee Year of Saint Francis

The Jubilee Year of Saint Francis, proclaimed by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on January 10, 2026, commemorates the 800-year anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi. This extraordinary jubilee is an opportunity for a continuation of spiritual renewal while imitating the life of holiness modeled by St. Francis. Pilgrims can obtain a plenary indulgence by making a pilgrimage to “any Franciscan conventual church, or place of worship in any part of the world named after St. Francis” (LEO XIV, DECREE ON THE EIGHTH CENTENARY OF THE DEATH OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI, JANUARY 2026).

In the Diocese of Gaylord, two parishes will serve as pilgrimage sites until the close of the Jubilee Year on January 10, 2027:

What is a plenary indulgence?

A plenary indulgence is a heavenly remedy, offered in God’s abundant mercy, obtained through participation in indulgenced works which offers total remission of the temporal punishment for our past sins. Pope Francis said in the Jubilee Year of Hope that the gift of an indulgence “is a way of discovering the unlimited nature of God’s mercy” (FRANCIS, SPES NON CONFUNDIT, 23).

How does one obtain a plenary indulgence during the Year of Saint Francis?

In order to obtain a plenary indulgence, the faithful, with a spirit detached from sin, must:

  • Make a pilgrimage to one of the two parishes indicated and devote themselves to a suitable time to prayer, including the following prayers and invocations.
    • 1 Our Father
    • 1 Apostles Creed
    • Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.
    • St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us.
    • St. Clare, pray for us.
    • All you holy men and women of the Franciscan Family, pray for us.
  • Offer prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father
  • Receive the Eucharist, ideally within the same day but at least within several days before or after making their pilgrimage
  • Make a sacramental confession within several days before or after making their pilgrimage

In addition, the elderly, sick, and those unable to leave their homes for serious reasons can obtain a plenary indulgence given that they are detached from all sin and will fulfill the latter three conditions as soon as possible, offering their suffering to God.  

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