Plenary Indulgences: The Church, from the treasury of the merits of Christ and His Saints, provides for the remission of temporal punishment through indulgenced prayers, fasting, and good works. Usually, such remission may be applied to oneself or to the Holy Souls in Purgatory. For all indulgences, one must have the right intention, be in the state of grace, and fulfill the prescribed good work. The seven requirements for the gaining of an indulgence are: (1) The intention of gaining the indulgence. (2) The state of sanctifying grace, with the required reception of the Sacrament of Penance within eight days either before or after the day to which the indulgence is attached. This confession suffices for the gaining of all indulgences during this period. (3) The fulfillment of the prescribed good work. (4) Holy Communion on the eve of the day or within its octave. Holy Communion once received suffices for gaining several indulgences on the same day, each of which requires the reception of Holy Communion. If as a result of long illness or some other physical impediment, a person is unable to receive the prescribed Holy Communion, the confessor may substitute some other pious work. (5) Visit to a church. (6) Vocal Prayer. The prescribed prayers must be vocal, that is, the lips most move, and the words must be at least mouthed silently. Therefore, mental prayer is not sufficient, unless the contrary is expressly stated. (7) Prayers for the Pope's Intention. The pope's intention comprises the exaltation of Holy Mother Church, the propagation of the Faith, the uprooting of heresy, the conversion of sinners, peace and concord among Christian nations, and the other needs of Christianity. If no set prayers have been prescribed for the intention of the pope, it is sufficient to recite one Pater, one Ave, and one Gloria (six of each for the Toties Quoties indulgence on All Souls Day and on the Sunday following). Remembering the 9 Ways of Aiding Another in Sin is an excellent way to not only make a better confession, but also improve your own awareness of your behavior as it relates to your "social responsibilities" in relation to God. In other words, it will allow you to be a better Catholic, and a better influence upon those within your corner of the world. When entering a church, first look for the Sanctuary Light. This light tells you not only if the Blessed Sacrament is present, but also where It is. It is very necessary to know this, because how else will you be able to genuflect in the correct direction? The Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle is the Heart and Life of the church. You always greet your host when entering his house, so remember to greet your Host when entering His House... Always keep Blessed Beeswax Candles in your home. These are necessary for sick calls by the priest, for blessing your house, in case of severe storms, and they will be explicitly necessary during the Three Days of Darkness which have been foreseen by many Saints. A "Candle", by definition, is not encased in a glass or plastic holder--those are Votives. Votives are not "candles" by definition. For more information on the Three Days of Darkness, read what Padre Pio received from Our Lord in 1950 here: Padre Pio and the Three Days of Darkness or you can read a composite of many Saints' prophesies (spanning hundreds of years), based on aparitions of Our Lord and Our Lady here: Three Days of Darkness Having a Crucifix over every entry way into your home is a good safeguard against evil. Having St. Benedict medals in every window and over every door is very protective against evil. Having Exorcised Salt on hand at your home is also a good practice. Use it at all windows and doors to protect against evil. Keep blessed chalk (ordinary chalk which a priest has blessed) to be able to change the year every Jan. 6 (Epiphany) which you have inscribed over your door. Having a Holy Water font in your home will give your home added peace and will, with actual use, increase the grace your family receives. Remember to pray as you bless yourself---don't just absentmindedly cross yourself with the Holy Water. It is possible to gain a Plenary Indulgence by going to Confession, if you fulfill all the usual requirements as well as having a heart-felt abhorrence of sin for love of God (perfect contrition), not just the abhorrence of punishment (imperfect contrition). There is an indulgence for every time you say a holy ejaculation such as "Dear Jesus, I love you!", "Jesus, Mary and Joseph, save souls!", etc. There is an indulgence for every time you kiss a Crucifix with devotion. You should say an Our Father, Hail Mary and a Glory Be every time you hear or see an ambulance for the soul of the victim. You should be mindful every time you pass the doors of a Catholic church that Christ is within and make a Sign of the Cross or suitable salutation within your heart. (A holy ejaculation is good, too) Always nod your head (a mini bow) when someone, or yourself, says the name "Jesus"