There is longing in us to live always in God’s grace, free from sin and close to His heart. A good confession can wash away our sins, but staying in grace is a daily journey. The Catholic Church offers a beautiful gift called a plenary indulgence to help us grow in holiness and help souls in purgatory reach heaven. In this article, we’ll explore why a single confession isn’t enough to stay in grace, what an indulgence is, how to obtain a plenary indulgence every day (even without daily confession), and how to offer these indulgences for yourself and the souls in purgatory. By doing this, you can build a spiritual habit that keeps you close to God and invites the prayers of souls you’ve helped reach heaven.

Why a Good Confession Isn’t Enough

When you go to confession, your sins are forgiven, and you’re restored to a state of grace—a beautiful moment of closeness to God. But life doesn’t stop there. Every day, we face temptations, distractions, and the risk of falling into sin, even small ones. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that sin leaves behind temporal punishment—a kind of spiritual debt that needs to be purified, either in this life or in purgatory (CCC 1471). Staying in grace means actively choosing to avoid sin, seeking God’s help through prayer and sacraments, and repairing the effects of past sins.

A single confession isn’t a free pass to coast spiritually. Without ongoing effort—through prayer, good works, and detachment from sin—we can slip back into habits that distance us from God. That’s where indulgences come in: they’re a way to cleanse the soul, stay in grace, and grow closer to God every day.

What is an Indulgence?

An indulgence is a special gift from the Church that removes the temporal punishment due to sins already forgiven in confession. Think of it like cleaning up the mess sin leaves behind in your soul. There are two types:

• Partial Indulgence: Removes part of the temporal punishment.
• Plenary Indulgence: Removes all temporal punishment, leaving your soul as pure as it was at baptism.

A plenary indulgence can be applied to yourself or to a soul in purgatory, helping them enter heaven sooner. It’s a powerful act of love, drawing on the infinite merits of Jesus and the saints, which the Church shares through her authority (CCC 1471).

How to Obtain a Plenary Indulgence

To gain a plenary indulgence, you must meet five conditions, as outlined in the Church’s Manual of Indulgences:

1. Be in a State of Grace: You must be free from mortal sin, usually through confession, by the time you complete the indulgenced work.
2. Have Complete Detachment from Sin: Your heart must be fully turned away from all sin, even small ones. This can be challenging, but pray for God’s grace to help you.
3. Go to Confession: A single confession can cover multiple plenary indulgences, typically within 20 days before or after the indulgenced work.
4. Receive Holy Communion: You need to receive the Eucharist for each plenary indulgence, on the same day as the indulgenced work.
5. Pray for the Pope’s Intentions: Say one Our Father and one Hail Mary (or other prayers) for the intentions of the Holy Father, also for each indulgence.

Finally, you must perform a specific indulgenced work—an act or prayer the Church has designated, like praying the Rosary or visiting the Blessed Sacrament.

Can You Get a Plenary Indulgence Every Day?

Yes, you can obtain a plenary indulgence daily, even if you can’t go to confession every day! The Church makes this possible through several indulgenced works that are simple and accessible. Here are four you can do daily:

1. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: Spend 30 minutes praying before the Blessed Sacrament in a church or chapel. This quiet time with Jesus deepens your love for Him.
2. Praying the Rosary: Recite five decades of the Rosary (one set of mysteries) in a church, with family, or in a group, while meditating on the mysteries. If alone, pray vocally and reflect on the mysteries.
3. Reading Scripture: Read or listen to the Bible for 30 minutes with reverence, using a Catholic-approved version. This can be done at home, making it ideal for busy days.
4. Stations of the Cross: Pray the Stations of the Cross in a church before properly erected stations, meditating on Jesus’ Passion. If you can’t move between stations, 15 minutes of meditation on the Passion works too.

In 2025, the Jubilee Year offers extra opportunities, like performing works of mercy (e.g., feeding the hungry or visiting the sick) or visiting designated churches for prayer.

Confession and Daily Indulgences

You don’t need to confess daily to gain a daily plenary indulgence. One confession can cover indulgences sought within about 20 days. For example:

• If you go to confession once every two weeks, you can gain a plenary indulgence each day during that period, as long as you meet the other conditions (Communion, prayer for the Pope, detachment from sin, and the indulgenced work).
• Receive Holy Communion daily or as often as possible, ideally at Mass, to fulfill the requirement for each indulgence.
• If daily Mass isn’t possible, you might receive Communion weekly and focus on works like Scripture reading or the Rosary, which don’t require a church visit.

A Plan to Offer Indulgences for Yourself and Souls in Purgatory

To stay in grace and help others, you can create a routine to offer plenary indulgences strategically. Here’s a simple plan to apply an indulgence to yourself once a week or every two weeks (right after confession) and offer the rest for souls in purgatory:

Step 1: Go to Confession Regularly

• Confess every one or two weeks to stay in a state of grace. Right after confession, your soul is clean, making it an ideal time to gain a plenary indulgence for yourself.
• Example: If you confess on Saturday, perform an indulgenced work (e.g., 30 minutes of Adoration) that day, receive Communion, pray for the Pope, and ensure you’re detached from sin. Offer this indulgence for yourself to remove all temporal punishment and deepen your state of grace.

Step 2: Gain a Daily Plenary Indulgence

• On other days, perform one of the four indulgenced works (Adoration, Rosary, Scripture, or Stations). Meet the conditions of Communion, prayer for the Pope, and detachment from sin.
• Offer these daily indulgences for a soul in purgatory. You can pray, “Lord, I offer this indulgence for a soul in purgatory, chosen by Mary,” or name a specific deceased person.
• If you confess every two weeks, one confession covers all these indulgences. Aim for daily or frequent Communion to fulfill the requirement.

Step 3: Build a Routine

• Sample Weekly Plan:
• Saturday (after confession): Go to Mass, receive Communion, pray the Rosary in church, and offer the plenary indulgence for yourself.
• Sunday–Friday: Read Scripture for 30 minutes daily at home, receive Communion at daily or Sunday Mass, pray for the Pope, and offer each day’s indulgence for a soul in purgatory.
• Next Saturday: Confess again, offer the indulgence for yourself, and repeat the cycle.
• If Mass is only available weekly, focus on home-based works (Scripture or Rosary) and receive Communion when possible, ensuring confession every two weeks.

Step 4: Stay Detached from Sin

• Detachment from sin is the hardest part. Pray daily for God’s grace: “Holy Spirit, help me turn away from all sin.” Avoid occasions of sin, practice small sacrifices (like fasting), and reflect on Jesus’ love to strengthen your resolve.
• If you’re not fully detached, you may still gain a partial indulgence, which is valuable for you or the souls in purgatory.

Why Offer Indulgences for Souls in Purgatory?

When you offer a plenary indulgence for a soul in purgatory, you help them complete their purification and enter heaven. This is a profound act of charity, as these souls can no longer help themselves. The Catechism teaches that the faithful in heaven, purgatory, and on earth are united in the Communion of Saints (CCC 1474). Souls you help reach heaven become your friends in eternity, praying for you forever. Imagine the joy of knowing your prayers freed a soul to see God, and now they intercede for your needs—your struggles, your relationships, your journey to heaven.

For example, by offering a plenary indulgence daily for souls in purgatory, you could help dozens of souls reach heaven over a year. Their prayers could strengthen you to stay in grace, resist temptation, or grow in love for God and others. It’s a win-win: you grow holier, and they gain eternal joy.

Staying in Grace Through Indulgences

Daily plenary indulgences are a powerful way to stay in God’s grace. They encourage:

• Frequent Sacraments: Regular confession and Communion keep your soul clean and strong.
• Prayerful Habits: Works like the Rosary or Adoration deepen your relationship with God.
• Charity: Offering indulgences for souls in purgatory builds a network of heavenly intercessors.
• Detachment from Sin: Striving for a pure heart helps you avoid sin and grow in holiness.

Unlike relying on a single confession, this daily practice keeps you spiritually active, repairing the effects of past sins and guarding against new ones. In the 2025 Jubilee Year, you can add works of mercy, like helping the poor, to gain even more indulgences and live out Jesus’ call to love.

Conclusion

Living in God’s grace is a daily choice, and plenary indulgences are like a spiritual broom, sweeping your soul clean and helping others along the way. By confessing every one or two weeks, receiving Communion often, and doing simple works like praying the Rosary or reading Scripture, you can gain a plenary indulgence every day. Offer one for yourself after confession to stay pure, and give the rest to souls in purgatory, who will pray for you in gratitude forever.

Start small: pick one indulgenced work, like 30 minutes of Scripture reading, and build it into your routine. Talk to a priest if you need help, and pray for the grace to stay detached from sin. With this practice, you’ll not only stay close to God but also build a bridge to heaven for others—and they’ll thank you with their prayers for all eternity.

Sources:

• Manual of Indulgences (Fourth Edition, 1999)
• Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1471, 1474)
• Articles from ChurchPOP, National Catholic Register, and Catholic News Agency