The first indulgence is the Stations of the Cross. Making the Stations of the Cross along with the three conditions can lead to a plenary indulgence. Every day. Here’s what the official Holy See’s Enchiridion Indulgentiarum, or Manual of Indulgences, Fourth Edition, has to say about praying the Stations of the Cross: The basic way is that the faithful "personally pray the pious Way of the Cross." If anyone is a shut-in, don’t stop reading and don’t worry. We’ll see how the manual helps you toward the same indulgence. Such a gift of this plenary indulgence from the Church can be gained once a day.
The second prescribed work is the Rosary. "Devoutly recite the Marian Rosary in a church, oratory, as a family, a religious community, an association of the faithful, or in general when several of the faithful gather for some honest purpose," states the manual of the basic ways. The first three are most applicable for everyone for Lent: in a church, or an oratory, or as a family. Families saying the Rosary together is a wonderful Lenten practice. The manual does remind the five-decade rosary is sufficient but all five decades have to be done without interruption.
The third work is Eucharistic Adoration. "Visit the Blessed Sacrament for adoration lasting at least a half hour."
The fourth work is reading or listening to Sacred Scriptures. "Read the Sacred Scriptures as spiritual reading, from a text approved by a competent authority, and with the reverence due to the divine word, for at least a half an hour; if the time is less, the indulgence will be partial." Or if you’re unable to read it, you can listen to it being read.
The Three Necessary Conditions
There are three necessary conditions for receiving a plenary indulgence for doing any of the prescribed works we just learned. They are:
- Sacramentally confess your sins/Receive Holy Communion. ("It is certainly better to receive it while participating in Holy Mass, but for the indulgence only Holy Communion is required")
- Pray for the intentions of the Holy Father. One Our Father and one Hail Mary fully satisfies this.
- You must "have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin, even venial sin."
Again, the Church does not leave out those who legitimately can’t fulfill all the conditions, like shut-ins. The manual has answers and aids. Later the Holy See office also reminded, "For the sake of those legitimately impeded, confessors can commute both the work prescribed and the conditions required (except, obviously, detachment from even venial sin)." Think about it. What a wonderful Lenten practice to try to gain as many plenary indulgences as possible for those in need in purgatory (the only living person you can apply a plenary indulgence to is yourself. The rewards for yourself—growing spiritually from these practices and determining and praying to stay detached from even venial sin—will make this Lent something you and heaven will cheer.
The Friday Indulgence
On any Friday during Lent a plenary indulgence is granted the Christian faithful who, after Communion, devoutly recite the prayer below before an image of Jesus Christ crucified. On other days of the year the indulgence is a partial one. The usual requirements for a plenary indulgence also apply.
Behold, O kind and most sweet Jesus, I cast myself upon my knees in Your sight, and with the most fervent desire of my soul I pray and beseech You that You would impress upon my heart lively sentiments of Faith, Hope, and Charity, with true repentance for my sins, and a firm purpose of amendment, while with deep affection and grief of soul I ponder within myself and mentally contemplate Your five most precious Wounds, having before my eyes the words which David in prophecy spoke concerning Yourself, O good Jesus: "They have pierced my hands and feet; they have numbered all my bones."