Saint John of the Cross centenary decree (2025)
Saint John of the Cross jubilee: those prevented
Join a jubilee celebration spiritually when a serious obstacle prevents attendance.
Time required No fixed duration; spiritual union and the prescribed offering.
- When
- 2025-12-14–2026-12-27
- Where
- Where the eligible person is prevented from attending
- Who
- Elderly or sick faithful, and those unable to leave home for a serious reason
- Application
- Self or the departed
The prescribed work
- Detach from sin, unite spiritually with a jubilee celebration before an image, and offer prayers and personal suffering or life’s difficulties to the merciful God.
- Intend to fulfil the usual conditions as soon as possible; the original Latin decree expressly provides for this when seriously impeded.
The work and its conditions
A plenary indulgence also requires complete detachment from every sin, sacramental confession, Holy Communion, and prayer for the Pope’s intentions, subject to the grant’s stated exceptions. The ordinary limit is one plenary indulgence per day.
Conditions common to every indulgence
The person gaining an indulgence must be baptized, not excommunicated, and in the state of grace at least when the prescribed works are completed. There must be at least a general intention to gain indulgences, and the prescribed work must be performed at the time and in the manner required by the grant.
Read the full conditions and norms. The cited grant and its specific provisions govern.
Time required
Read each branch with its own conditions. An editorial estimate is not a prescribed minimum.
Spiritual union when legitimately impeded
Duration varies
Variable; no fixed number of minutes is prescribed.
No fixed minimum number of minutes is stated. Unite spiritually and perform the prescribed prayers or offering in the manner stated in this grant. No duration for suffering is imposed.
Timing sources
- Diocese of Ávila: complete decree and designated churches6 October 2025 decree, original Latin image: coram aliqua imagine and intention to fulfil conditions ubi primum licuerit; diocesan designations
- Discalced Carmelites: jubilee indulgenceJubilee dates, approved places and provisions for the impeded
What the time estimate excludes
- Ordinary travel to and from the venue, and waiting outside the prescribed work
- Separate confession, Communion and prayer for the Pope’s intentions, except where a branch expressly includes the prescribed celebration
- Stated start
- 14 December 2025
- Stated end
- 27 December 2026
Source and exact reference
- Diocese of Ávila: complete decree and designated churches6 October 2025 decree, original Latin image: coram aliqua imagine and intention to fulfil conditions ubi primum licuerit; diocesan designations
- Discalced Carmelites: jubilee indulgenceJubilee dates, approved places and provisions for the impeded
Prayer texts and grants have separate source histories. Consult the grant source for the prescribed work, occasion, and conditions.