Year of St Paul

Today is the beginning of the year of St Paul, the patron of this blog, in honour of the 2,000 anniversary of his birth, more or less.

There are special observances and indulgences attached to the year, which you can read in the official decree here, or the text of it right here:

URBIS ET ORBIS
DECREE
Special Indulgences are conceded to faithful on the occasion of the 2000th anniversary of the birth of St Paul the Apostle

In the imminence of the liturgical Solemnity of the Princes of the Apostles, motivated by pastoral solicitude the Supreme Pontiff intends to provide promptly for spiritual treasures to be granted to the faithful for their sanctification, so that on this pious and happy occasion, from First Vespers of the Solemnity mentioned, they may renew and reinforce with even greater fervour intentions of supernatural salvation, principally in honour of the Apostle to the Gentiles, the 2000th anniversary of whose birth on earth is now approaching.

The gift of Indulgences which the Roman Pontiff offers to the universal Church, truly smoothes the way to attaining a supreme degree of inner purification which, while honouring the Blessed Apostle Paul, exalts the supernatural life in the hearts of the faithful and gently encourages them to do good deeds.

Therefore, this Apostolic Penitentiary, to which the Holy Father has entrusted the task of the preparation and compilation of the Decree on the granting and obtaining of Indulgences that will be valid for the duration of the Pauline Year, benevolently bestows with this Decree issued in conformity with the desire of the August Pontiff, the following graces listed:

I. Each and every truly repentant individual member of the Christian faithful, duly absolved through the Sacrament of Reconciliation and restored with Holy Communion, who devoutly makes a pilgrimage to the Papal Basilica of St Paul on the Ostian Way and who prays for the Supreme Pontiff's intentions, will be granted the Plenary Indulgence from temporal punishment for his/her sins, once sacramental forgiveness and pardon for any shortcomings has been obtained.

The Christian faithful may benefit from the Plenary Indulgence both for themselves and for the deceased, as many times as they fulfil the required conditions but without prejudice to the norm stipulating that the Plenary Indulgence may be obtained only once a day.

In order that the prayer raised on this holy visit may lead and invite the souls of the faithful to venerate more intensely the memory of St Paul, the following has been established: the faithful, in addition to raising their own supplications before the altar of the Most Blessed Sacrament, each one according to his own devotion, must go to the altar of the Confessio and devoutly recite the Our Father and the Creed, adding pious invocations in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Paul. And may this devotion always be closely united to the memory of the Prince of the Apostles, St Peter.

II. The Christian faithful of the various local Churches, having fulfilled the required conditions (sacramental Confession, Eucharistic Communion, prayers for the Supreme Pontiff's intentions) and in a spirit of total detachment from any inclination to sin, may benefit from the Plenary Indulgence if they take part devoutly in a sacred function or in a pious public exercise in honour of the Apostle to the Gentiles; on the days of the solemn opening and closure of the Pauline Year, in all the sacred places; on other days specified by the local Ordinary, in holy places dedicated to St Paul and, for the convenience of the faithful, in other places designated by the same Ordinary.

III. Lastly, the faithful prevented by illness or another legitimate and important cause, always in a spirit of detachment from any inclination to sin, with the intention of fulfilling the usual conditions as soon as possible, will also be able to obtain the Plenary Indulgence, as long as they spiritually join in a Jubilee celebration in honour of St Paul, offering their prayers and sufferings to God for Christian unity.

In order that the faithful may more easily share in these heavenly favours, may the priests approved by the competent ecclesiastical authority for hearing confessions prepare promptly and generously to receive them.

This Decree is effective for the whole of the Pauline Year.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary.

Given in Rome, at the Offices of the Apostolic Penitentiary, 10 May, in the Year of the Incarnation of the Lord 2008, on the eve of Pentecost.
Cardinal James Francis Stafford Major Penitentiary
Fr Gianfranco Girotti, O.F.M. Conv. Titular Bishop of Meta Regent

Sadly, no indulgence is given for either reading or writing a blog named for St Paul. You can use the Pope's e-mail address found on our sidebar if you wish to petition the Pope to redress this issue. :)

The Pope inaugurated the year in Rome with a series of celebrations, which Father Z covers here and here. As long as I've mentioned him, am I the only one who refers to him as "Father Zed"?

Here in Toronto the year was inaugurated by a special Mass said by Archbishop Collins at St Paul's Basilica last night. I love that church so, I wish I could have attended, although at least one person who did was not terribly impressed with the behaviour of the congregation nor with the music. For myself, I have found my ability to go selectively deaf at the sound of Haugen Haas music has increased greatly, and I rarely pay attention to it any more. As I have said before, Ninety five percent of anything created by any generation is garbage, and most of it dies a well deserved death. Haugen and Haas are no different, and in time they will fade away, most likely to be replaced by some other dreck.

At any rate, take joy in this year of The Apostle, seek what indulgences you may- even if it means you stop coming by here for a time- and bear witness to the Word in charity and humility. God Bless you all.