Pope Francis will be giving an Urbi at Orbi blessing tonight.
Watch here:
Live from the Vatican
March 28 Sat 1AM Manila time (March 27 at 6PM Rome)
Just press play. Please note that this is a LIVE video so at the moment you may just see that nothing is happening yet. At the appointed time, you will see the ceremonies begin.
With English translation:
What is an Urbi et Orbi blessing?
The Urbi et Orbi address and blessing is the most solemn form of blessing in the Catholic Church, and is reserved for the most solemn occasions. These occasions include Easter, Christmas, and the proclamation of a newly elected pope concluding a conclave.
Urbi et orbi blessings are usually given from the central loggia of Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome, at noontime, and are broadcast worldwide. The address concludes with greetings in many languages in relation to the feast celebrated.
The Roman Catholic Church grants a plenary indulgence by the willful grace and intent of the Pope, on the usual conditions, to those who "devoutly receive" the blessing that the Pope imparts Urbi et Orbi.
For the special Urbi et Orbi blessing in this trying time due to COVID-19, Pope Francis will preside over a moment of prayer on the sagrato of St Peter’s Basilica, the platform at the top of the steps immediately in front of the façade of the Church. There will also be ceremony consisting of readings from the Scriptures, prayers of supplication, and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament; and will conclude with Pope Francis giving the Urbi et orbi Blessing, with the possibility of gaining a plenary indulgence for all those who listen to it live through the various forms of communication.
Go to the Dominus Est PH Facebook page and let us receive this blessing together!
https://www.facebook.com/107426003973211/posts/228867255162418/?d=n
Plenary Indulgence
Tonight the world is blessed as the Pope gives us a special blessing that makes it possible to obtain a Plenary Indulgence.
By a plenary indulgence, one’s sins are forgiven; it removes all of one’s punishments or sufferings.
Here are the steps to avail of the Plenary Indulgence.
Do this list today before midnight.
Note that a STATE OF GRACE is a requirement to avail of a Plenary Indulgence. This presupposes confession. However, in this extraordinary time of Enhanced Community Quarantine and lockdowns around the world, Pope Francis has allowed Perfect Contrition, praying directly to God, with a resolve to go to confession for absolution as soon as possible.
Cardinal Tagle, in a personal text message to Dominus Est, also clarified:
"Where the 'regular' celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation or even the use of the phone to console or bless patients (CDF note to the Archbishop of Munchen on November 1989) is not possible, God’s forgiveness is possible and accessible. Personal perfect Contrition, the Word of God, the prayer of the Church, the communion of saints are all channels of God’s mercy," explained the Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples / Propaganda Fide.
"This is an evangelizing and catechetical moment for all of us," he added.
Prayers to avail of Plenary Indulgence:
1. The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
2. Any prayer to our Blessed Mother.
Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed are thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
3. Act of contrition.
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend you, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life.
4. Recite the Creed.
We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, begotten from the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made; of the same essence as the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and was made human. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried. The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead. His kingdom will never end. And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life. He proceeds from the Father and the Son, and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified. He spoke through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We affirm one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and to life in the world to come. Amen.
5. Pray for the intentions of the Pope (Catholics in China)
We pray that the Church in China may persevere in its faithfulness to the Gospel and grow in unity.
6. Pray the Spiritual Communion.
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
Come back to our page Dominus Est for live streaming at 1:00AM, March 28 (Manila time) for the Pope’s blessing and special ceremony live from Rome.
Facebook.com/DominusEstPH
- Margaux Salcedo, Clyde Nolasco
Sources: Vatican News, Vatican Media Live