Spiritual Benefits From The Pontifical Work For Priestly Vocations
Spiritual Benefits
Available to the Members of All Serra Clubs Because of the Affiliation of Serra International with the Pontifical Work for Priestly Vocations A plenary indulgence is granted on the day a person joins the society if he or she receives the Sacraments of Penance and of Holy Eucharist and prays for the intentions of the Holy Father. A plenary indulgence is granted under the usual conditions (confession, communion, visit to a church or public oratory, and prayer for the Holy Father's intention)
The first Serra club was started in 1935 in Seattle, WA, where a small group of lay people decided to form an organization to promote and foster vocations to the priesthood and consecrated religious life. As a result, they chose Father Junipero Serra, the great missionary, as their patron. But many do not know the spiritual benefits that are available to all Serrans because of this affiliation. The spiritual benefits provide all Serrans the privilege of obtaining a plenary indulgence which removes all residue of our sins, not just once or twice each year but 54 times each year! The list of the dates is given on the next page. A great opportunity for all Serrans to receive this plenary indulgence is on July 1st, the Feast Day of St. Junipero Serra . I’m sure that all Serrans will find a special day to look forward to each year, to take advantage of this truly remarkable gift from our Church! An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints. [CCC 1471]. This is a great tool to help us and others get to heaven. Our lay organization has the privilege to obtain indulgences, and as such, it should be well understood and well used by all Serrans. Why wouldn't we? When we do then, we may find it a whole lot easier to grow membership in Serra. It truly is Serra's buried treasure, and all Serran are truly privileged to have this honor bestowed on us.
Serra Aggregated (Affiliated) to Pontifical Work At its ninth annual convention held in Kansas City in 1951, Serra International approved a request, made through its episcopal moderator, Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago, for affiliation with the Pontifical Work for Priestly Vocations. The Congregation of Seminaries and Universities, having been informed beforehand of the request, and wishing to show by a quick reply the favor with which the petition was received, and thus to encourage the important work of Serra International, granted the request immediately, on the very day of the convention, and so informed the delegates by radiogram directed to the Most Reverent Apostolic Delegate. The Statutes of the Pontifical Work for Priestly Vocations 1. The Pontifical Work for Priestly Vocations is the principal work for protecting, promoting, and helping priestly vocations. It was established by Our Holy Father Pope Pius XII in the Apostolic letter, Cum Nobis, given motu proprio on November 4, 1941. II. The Pontifical Work for Priestly Vocations has its head‑quarters in the Sacred Congregation of Seminaries and Universities. III. To attain the end for which it was instituted, the Pontifical Work 1) is concerned primarily with setting forth a true and clear notion of the nature, the necessity and the excellence of the priesthood; 2) promotes the offering up of Masses, Communions, prayers and works of penance and charity to the end that God may grant many and excellent priestly vocations; 3) encourages the growth of the project which is established in each diocese for priestly vocations, and tries to have such projects set up where they do not already exist. IV. Societies can be aggregated to the Pontifical Work, and persons joined to it. V. The Pontifical Work for Priestly Vocations is consecrated to Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Supreme and Eternal Priest; it is entrusted to the maternal care of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Queen of Apostles, and to the guardianship of Saint Joseph, the Patron of the Church Universal. It pays particular honor to the saintly Princes of the Apostles, Saints Peter and Paul. (serrainternational.org/our-mission)
SPIRITUAL BENEFITS Available to the Members of All Serra Clubs Because of the Affiliation of Serra International with the Pontifical Work for Priestly Vocations A plenary indulgence is granted on the day a person joins the society if he or she receives the Sacraments of Penance and of Holy Eucharist and prays for the intentions of the Holy Father. A plenary indulgence is granted under the usual conditions (confession, communion, visit to a church or public oratory, and prayer for the Holy Father's intention): On the following feasts of Our Lord Jesus Christ: Christmas, December 25 Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, January 1 The Epiphany, January 6 The Holy Family, Sunday within the Octave of the Epiphany Easter Ascension Finding of the Holy Cross, May 3 Corpus Christi, Thursday in the second week following Pentecost The Sacred Heart of Jesus, Friday following the Octave Day of Corpus Christi The Precious Blood, July 1 The Transfiguration, August 6 The Exaltation of the Holy Cross, September 14 The Feast of Christ the King, last Sunday in October Feast of the dedication of the Archbasilica of Our Savior, November 9 Feast of the dedication of the Basilica of the Apostles Saints Peter and Paul, November 18
On the following feasts of the Blessed Virgin: Immaculate Conception, December 8 The Purification, February 2 Feast of the Apparition of Lourdes, February 11 The Annunciation, March 25 The Seven Sorrows, Friday after Passion Sunday The Visitation, July 2 Our Lady of Mount Carmel, July 16 Our Lady of the Snows, August 5 The Assumption, August 15 Nativity of Our Lady, September 8 Holy Name of Mary, September 12 The Seven Sorrows, September 15 Our Lady of Mercy, September 24 Our Lady of the Rosary, October 7 Maternity of Our Lady, October 11 The Presentation, November 21
On the following feasts of St. Joseph: Feast of St. Joseph, March 19 The Solemnity, Wednesday following the second Sunday after Easter On the following feasts of the Apostles: Sts. Peter and Paul, June 29 St. Andrew, November 30 St. Thomas, December 21 St. John, December 27 St. Matthias, February 24 (or 25) St. Joseph the Worker, May 1 Sts. Philip and James, May 3 St. Barnabas, June 11 St. James the Greater, July 25 St. Bartholomew, August 24 St. Matthew, September 21 Sts. Simon and Jude, October 28
On the following feast days of the Saints: St. Peter's Chair at Rome, January 18 St. Aloysuis Gonzaga, June 21 All Saints, November 1 St. Charles Borromeo, November 4
On the feast day of the individual society, St. Junipero Serra, July 1 On the day set aside for prayer for vocations, World Day of Prayer for Vocations (Good Shepherd Sunday-4th Sunday of Easter)
A plenary indulgence is granted at the moment of death, when the person has confessed and received Holy Communion, or is at least contrite, and when he has devoutly invoked Our Lord's Holy Name, orally if he is able to do so, and in his heart if he is unable to speak. A partial indulgence may be gained for each act of charity or of piety performed by the members to further the ends of the society. All the Masses offered by any priest for the soul of a member who has died in the state of grace are to profit that soul just as if the Masses were offered at a privileged altar.