From the Associate&

Several weeks ago, I gave a homily, which alluded to the Church's teaching and practice of indulgences.  While I shared the teachings fairly accurately at the 9:30 a.m. Mass, I feel that I was not as clear at the 4:30 p.m. Mass, and therefore, would like to use this column, to restate the Church's practice as clearly as I can.
An indulgence is defined as "the remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven."  An indulgence can be either "plenary" or "partial" that is, freeing a person from all or from some of the temporal punishment.  The remission is really a gift, dispensed by the Church from her power to grant indulgences, from the "power of the keyes":  in the Gospel of Matthew (16:19), Jesus tells Peter, "I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."  This same authority, Jesus later conferred upon all the apostles (Matthew 18:18).  It is this power, which flows into the Sacrament of Confession, as well as indulgences.  Indulgences may be applied only to oneself or to the dead as suffrages (i.e. those in purgatory), but not to another living person.
Sin has a double consequence:  (1) if grave, it will sever communion with God, (2) all sin (even venial) entails an "unhealthy attachment to creatures" (which is why sin can always and easily become habit forming).  So the guilt of sin is removed by confessing one's sins with sorrow (communion with God reestablished), but it is this "unhealthy attachment to creatures,"  which is washed clean by the indulgence.  The temporal punishment for sin is not to be regarded as God's sending a lightning bolt from heaven, in vengeance, rather, it flows from the nature of the sinful act; it is really and simply, an outcome of our choice.
When I visited Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, I pursued a plenary indulgence for the first time in my life.  It was the Pope's "Jubilee Indulgence" (requiring: {1} a pilgrimage, {2} Confession and {3} Eucharist within 8 days, {4} prayers for the Pope's intentions [including the Creed, and one Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be], {5} a visit to a designated church [the Cathedral] and {6} charitable works [visiting sick/imprisoned/elderly/abandoned children/etc.]).  I have to say that I did feel different after completing it.  There was some kind of greater freedom in my soul, from attachments to sin.  I cannot describe it very well, but I hope to try it again soon.  I know that the Archbishop is offering a Jubilee Indulgence to anyone who participates in the Upcoming Rosary Procession (May 7--announcement follows this article), combined with numbers 2,3 and 4 above.  I encourage you to try it, and see if anything happens to you.
P.S. Please let me know!
    -- Fr. Michael Becker

The Annual May Day Family Rosary procession will be held in the Twin Cities on Sunday, May 7 at 2:00  p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Paul and the Basilica of   St. Mary in Minneapolis.  The theme of this year's  Rosary Procession is: "Jubilee Year -- The Blessed Trinity -- Penance and Reconciliation." 
These processions will provide an opportunity for participants to receive the Jubilee indulgence which has been granted by Our Holy Father during this year.  The faithful may gain this indulgence by fulfilling the following:  participation in either of the       Rosary processions, reception of the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Eucharist within eight days before or after the prescribed work, and prayer for the intention of the Holy Father.  I hereby extend this Jubilee indulgence to all participants of the Jubilee Family Rosary Procession in both St. Paul and Minneapolis.

Sincerely yours in Christ,
Most Reverend Harry J. Flynn, D.D.
Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis

LENTEN REGULATIONS
The Christian faithful are to do penance through prayer, fasting, abstinence and by exercising works of piety and charity.  All Fridays through the year, and especially during Lent, are penitential days.

LENTEN SOUP SUPPERS
A Lenten tradition at St. John the Baptist of fasting, prayer and almsgiving.  The Soup Supper is at 6:00pm in the School Cafeteria followed by Stations of the Cross at 7:00pm in the Church.

This Friday, March 17 our Soup Supper will be  hosted by the Art & Environment Committee. 

STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Fridays during Lent at 7:00pm (following the soup supper) in the Church.

BIRTHRIGHT NEEDS YOU!

Are you prolife, caring and nonjudgmental? Have you been looking for a way to help make "life" a more viable option for someone dealing with a crisis pregnancy?  Birthright of St. Paul is looking for additional volunteers to help as counselors, office cleaners, organizers, you name it!  Most of our volunteers work 4-6 hours per month on a very flexible schedule.  Please consider sharing your talents with us.  Our next training session is April 8 & 9.  For an application or additional information, please call Colleen Perfect at 651-646-7033.