Obtain the Holy Year Plenary Indulgence

We're encouraging all Catholics in the Archdiocese to obtain a plenary indulgence in this Holy Year 2025.

Obtaining a Plenary Indulgence this Holy Year

A plenary indulgence is a grace granted by the Church which cleanses our soul and helps us to grow closer to God.

When we sin, we not only damage our relationship with God, we create a need for healing and repair in our souls. Through Reconciliation, God forgives our sins, but the effects of our sins may still need to be addressed.

Indulgences are a beautiful practice combining prayer, good works and spiritual renewal, to help repair that damage.

You can gain an Indulgence by making a pilgrimage or visit:‍

Within our Diocese, at one of two locations:

St Mary's Catholic Cathedral, Broughton Street, Edinburgh, EH1 3JR.
Schoenstatt Scotland Retreat Centre, Kentenich Way, Campsie Glen, G66 7AT.

To Rome: to one of the four Papal Basilicas and their Holy Doors.

Elsewhere in the World: Jubilee Shrines in Italy and the Holy Land.

By performing works of mercy, formation and penance:

‍Extraordinary Works of Mercy include:

Visiting prisoners, the sick, lonely or elderly.
Helping those who are in need.
Giving a generous gift of your time or money.

Diocesan or parish formation:

Participating in spiritual exercises.
Formation activities on the documents of the Second Vatican Council or Catechism.‍

Fasting from futile distractions, abstaining for at least one day a week from:

Social media.
Video games.
Digital apps.
Television.

If someone isn't able to do these things due to sickness or other serious reasons then, united in spirit with the faithful taking part in person, they may recite the Our Father, Apostles Creed and Jubilee Prayer, offering the sufferings or hardships of their lives.

What Must I Do?

Be detached from all sin.
Make a Sacramental Confession.
Receive Holy Communion.
Pray for the Pope’s Intentions: The Our Father and Profession of Faith are suggested for the Jubilee Year.

Normally, only one plenary indulgence can be obtained per day. However, the members of the faithful who have carried out an act of charity on behalf of the souls in purgatory, if they receive Holy Communion a second time that day, can obtain the plenary indulgence twice on the same day (this applies only to the deceased).

A single sacramental confession is sufficient for several plenary indulgences, but frequent sacramental confession is encouraged in order to obtain the grace of deeper conversion and purity of heart. For each plenary indulgence that is sought, however, a separate Holy Communion and a separate prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father are required.

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GALLERY: Jubilee Year begins in the Archdiocese

Archbishop Cushley has launched the Holy Year in the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh with Holy Mass and the blessing of the Jubilee Cross.

The cross is to be the focus for pilgrims in the Archdiocese and The Holy See has granted permission for the Jubilee Cross to carry a plenary indulgence.

*Archbishop Cushley raises the Jubilee Cross.*

Archbishop Cushley said: "I am inviting people from the Archdiocese to come here in an act of pilgrimage, as an expression of their Christian faith and discipleship, and as a means to gain a plenary indulgence.

"As we look to the Holy Year, as invited by the Holy Father, we look to the Cross. The motto of our Archdiocese is Crux Spes Unica - the Cross is our only hope.

"Let’s place our faith again in the Lord, who died an innocent victim on the Cross for us.

*Archbishop Cushley venerates the Jubilee Cross.*

"Let’s ask him to strengthen our faith, encourage our hope, and train our hands for action and for charity in the coming Holy Year.

"And may the good Lord grant us many blessings of peace and prosperity in the coming Jubilee Year!"

*From left: Fr Jeremy Milne, Fr Joseph Carola SJ, Deacon Peter Traynor, Archbishop Leo Cushley, Fr David Stewart SJ, Deacon Eddie White and Fr Kevin Dow.*

Fr Jeremy Milne, adminstrator of the Cathedral, said: "We look forward to welcoming pilgrims to the Cathedral during this year, as individual and groups.

"May the Jubilee year bring us many blessings and may the hope of Christ burn brightly in our hearts this year."

*Venerating the Jubilee Cross after Mass.*

*Fr Robert Taylor chats outside the Cathedral after Mass.*

*Archbishop Cushley after Mass outside St Mary's Cathedral.*

WATCH: Join Archbishop Cushley for Jubilee Mass

On Christmas Eve, Pope Francis will open the Holy Door in Rome to begin the Jubilee of Hope 2025 (you can watch it live on Vatican News).

The following week every Bishop will inaugurate the Holy Year in their diocese on Sunday 29 December and Archbishop Cushley invites you to St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh, for Mass and the blessing of the Jubilee Cross at midday.

He said: "I invite you to visit the Jubilee Cross at St Mary's Cathedral and to experience the mercy and forgiveness of Christ as we strive to renew our faith in this special year of grace.

"May God pour down abundant graces on His Church and the Faithful as we continue our life’s journey as Disciples of Christ and Pilgrims of Hope."

The Holy See has granted permission for the Jubilee Cross to carry a plenary indulgence.

It will be blessed by Archbishop Cushley and placed at the National Shrine of St Andrew, in St Mary’s Cathedral throughout this Jubilee Year.

A plenary indulgence is a remission of the temporal punishment for sins already forgiven and can be gained by visiting the Jubilee Cross through this Holy Year with the following conditions, a detachment from sin, going to confession, receiving Holy Communion and praying for the intentions of the Holy Father.

Jubilee 2025

Pope Francis has declared 2025 to be a Holy Year of Jubilee for the Catholic Church, an event that takes place once every 25 years.

The Holy Father invites us to pray, to prepare ourselves throughout this year, so that this Jubilee may “strengthen us in our faith, helping us to recognize the Risen Christ in the midst of our lives, transforming us into pilgrims of Christian hope”.

The theme for the 2025 Jubilee is Pilgrims of Hope, an invitation to share the hope and joy of our Christian faith with our neighbour and the world.

The Jubilee Cross at St Mary's Cathedral will be a destination and a focus for pilgrims in the Archdiocese and beyond; a stark reminder of our hope and salvation, Jesus Christ. Watch this space for Jubilee 2025 events in the Archdiocese.