Decree

                                           In Nomine Iesu Christi.  Amen.

St. Paul, the great Apostle to the Nations and martyr for Christ Jesus in Rome, was born two thousand years ago in Tarsus.  In honor of this historic event, the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church has declared a Jubilee Year and granted special favors to the Christian faithful throughout the world.  Chief among these is the gift of a Plenary Indulgence, which "exalts the supernatural life in the hearts of the faithful and gently encourages them to do good deeds" (cf. Apostolic Penitentiary, Decree, May 10, 2008).  A Plenary Indulgence taps into the superabundant merits of Jesus Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints, and completely remits the temporal punishment due for a person's sins once sacramental pardon has been obtained in the Sacrament of Penance. Temporal punishment includes the purifying suffering one justly endures in Purgatory in order to be perfectly cleansed for entrance into heavenly glory.  A Plenary Indulgence, obtainable once per day, may be applied toward oneself or to a deceased loved one.

The Roman Decree states in part:

"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 honor of the Apostle to the Gentiles; on the days of the solemn opening and closure of the Pauline Year, in all the sacred places; on other days specified by the local Ordinary, in holy places dedicated to St. Paul and, for the convenience of the faithful, in other places designated by the same Ordinary."

In union with the universal Church, I wish to invite Catholics throughout the Diocese of Salina to celebrate the 2000th birthday of St. Paul during this Pauline Year in order to increase love and adoration toward Our Lord Jesus Christ whose faithful apostle St. Paul was.

In accord with the Decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary, in addition to making a pilgrimage to the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome, the faithful in the Diocese of Salina may take part in this Pauline celebration and obtain a Plenary Indulgence by making a pilgrimage to Sacred Heart Cathedral in Salina or to any parish in the diocese named for St. Paul.  The following parishes are dedicated to St. Paul in the Diocese of Salina:  St. Paul in Angelus; St. Paul in Delphos; Sts. Peter and Paul in Cawker City; Sts. Peter and Paul in Clay Center; and Sts. Peter and Paul in Morrowville. Pilgrims to these churches, having fulfilled the required conditions, must go before the Altar and recite the Our Father and the Creed, adding pious invocations or other prayers in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Paul, always closely uniting their thoughts and prayers to the memory of the Prince of the Apostles, St. Peter.  These other prayers and pious invocations may include:  The Angelus, The Litany of the Saints, The Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or others such as My Mother, My Hope; May the Virgin Mary together with her loving Child bless us; St. Paul, intercede for us; St. Paul, pray for us.

In addition, a Plenary Indulgence may be obtained in any parish within the Diocese of Salina under the same conditions at any public celebration on the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul on January 26, 2009 and again on the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul on June 29, 2009 which concludes the Pauline Year.  Those unable to make a pilgrimage or join in a celebration due to infirmity or illness may obtain the indulgence by abandoning all attachment to sin and spiritually uniting themselves to a specific pilgrimage or celebration while reciting the required prayers, offering them and their sufferings for the unity of Christians.

May St. Paul the Apostle, co-founder with St. Peter of the holy Church of Rome, intercede for all the Christian faithful in the Diocese of Salina so that we may truly "know Christ and the power of his resurrection and [the] sharing of his sufferings by being conformed to his death," so that we "may attain the resurrection from the dead."  (Phil. 3: 10-11)

Given at the Chancery in Salina on the Sixth of August, the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, in the Year of Our Lord 2008.

+The Most Reverend Paul S. Coakley                        Witnessed by:  Rev. Barry E. Brinkman

  Bishop of Salina                                                                       Chancellor

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