From Sagar, December 8, 2008

Bishop’s Circular Letter No. 13/2008

Dear Rev. Fathers/Brothers/Sisters,

            I would like to bring to your kind attention a Decree published from Rome regarding the granting and obtaining of indulgences on the occasion of the Pauline Year and another taken from the Manual of Indulgences useful for the Year of the Word. It will be appreciated if you will kindly make known to the faithful the desire of the Holy Father.

SPECIAL INDULGENCES TO FAITHFUL ON THE OCCASION OF THE 2000TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BIRTH OF ST PAUL THE APOSTLE

Motivated by pastoral solicitude the Supreme Pontiff intends to provide for the sanctification of the faithful special indulgences in honour of the Apostle to the Gentiles on the occasion of the 2000th anniversary of his birth. The Apostolic Penitentiary, on May 10, 2008, has published a Decree on the granting and obtaining of Indulgences that will be valid for the duration of the Pauline Year.

I. 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 in places designated by the Ordinary.

II. 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.

DECREE OF THE APOSTOLIC PENITENTIARY NO.30

RE: READING OF THE SACRED SCRIPTURES

§ 1.Those faithful who read the Sacred Scriptures as spiritual reading, from a text approved by competent authority, and with the reverence due to the divine word, for at least half an hour, receive a plenary Indulgence. If the time is less, indulgence will be partial. If for some good reason a person is unable to read the Sacred Scriptures, a plenary or partial indulgence is granted, as above, if the text of Scared Scripture is listened to a while another person is reading it or if it is heard by means of video or audio recording (The Manual of Indulgences, # 30).

            I take this occasion to extend to you every blessing of this holy season of Advent.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Anthony Chirayath

Bishop of Sagar

08/12/2008