Very Blessed Father,
Samuel Joseph Aquila, Metropolitan Archbishop of Denver, acting in his own name and in the person of the Pastor, of the clergy and of all the faithful of the Parish in Lakewood, under the title of Our Lady of Fatima, from the bottom of his heart, implores the plenary indulgence for those faithful who, as true penitents and moved by charity, having purified themselves with the Sacrament of Confession, being refreshed by the Most Holy Eucharist, and finally having devoutly lifted up prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father, from the 23rd of October 2016 through the 24th of October 2017, will devoutly visit the parish church, especially on those days in which special sacred functions will be held, pious pilgrimages, and any other devotional and religious initiative in honor of the heavenly Patroness, so as to worthily celebrate the one hundred anniversary, in which the three little shepherds, Lucia, Francisco and Jacintha, from the 13th day of May through the 13th day of October 1917, in the place of “Cova da Iria”, enjoyed the special and unexpected privilege of seeing, with their own eyes, the Virgin Mary, who, like a mother, invited them to pray for the conversion of the sinners and to do penance for the salvation of souls.
And through God, etc.
On this 18th Day of October 2016,
This Apostolic Penitentiary, by the Mandate of His Holiness Pope Francis, graciously grants a jubilee year along with the attached plenary indulgence to those faithful who, having properly fulfilled the above mentioned conditions, will visit the Parish church of Our Lady of Fatima in Lakewood in the form of a pilgrimage, and there they will devoutly take part in some sacred function or pious practice in honor of the same Virgin Mary, or at least for a suitable period of time, they will offer humble prayers to God through the intercession of Mary for the conversion of the sinners, for vocations to the priesthood and the religious life, and in defense of the institute of the human family, concluding with the Lord’s Prayer, the Symbol of Faith and an invocation to the Blessed Virgin Mary of Fatima.
Those faithful, impeded by age, illness or other grave cause, in like manner will be able to obtain the plenary indulgence if, detesting each sin and with the intention of fulfilling as soon as possible the three usual conditions, in the presence of any little image of Fatima, will spiritually unite themselves to these jubilarian functions or pilgrimages, offering with faith to the merciful God through the intercession of Mary their own prayers and sufferings, or the discomforts of their own life.
Therefore, in the name of pastoral charity, in order to make easier the access to the achievement of God’s forgiveness through the keys of the Church, this Penitentiary earnestly asks the Pastor, along with the presbyters legitimately approved, to offer himself, with prompt and generous heart, for the celebration of the Sacrament of Penance and to administer often Holy Communion to the sick.
This is effective from the present day through this Jubilee Year. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary,
Mario Card. Piacenza
Major Penitentiary
DECREE
The Apostolic Penitentiary, in force of the faculties received in a very special way by the Most Holy Father in Christ and our Lord, Pope Francis by the Divine Providence, graciously grants to His Most Excellent and Reverend Father Samuel Joseph Aquila, Metropolitan Archbishop of Denver, permission, on the day 23rd of October 2016, year in which the Jubilee of the Parish of Lakewood, under the title of Our Lady of Fatima, will be solemnly opened, after offering the Divine Sacrifice in the same Parochial Church, (permission) to impart to the faithful present, who will attend in these same sacred rites, as true penitents moved by charity, the Papal Blessing along with the annexed Plenary Indulgence, gained under the usual conditions (the Sacramental Confession, the Eucharistic Communion, and the prayers according to the intentions of the Holy Father).
Those faithful, who will receive devoutly the Papal Blessing, even if, for a reasonable circumstance, they will not be physically present to the sacred rites, provided that they will follow with devout intention of mind those same rites, until the end, either broadcast through TV or radio, (those faithful) will be able to obtain the plenary indulgence, according to the norm of law, notwithstanding anything to the contrary.
Given in Rome, at this Apostolic Penitentiary, on the 18th day of October, in the Year of the Lord 2016.
Mario Card. Piacenza
Major Penitentiary
Christopher Nykiel
Regent