The Gift of Plenary Indulgences

The celebration of the Jubilee Year is not only an extraordinary occasion for benefiting from the great gift of indulgences which the Lord gives us through the Church, but it is also a fitting opportunity to recall the catechesis on indulgences to the attention of the faithful. In general, the gaining of indulgences requires certain prescribed conditions (below, nn. 3, 4), and the performance of certain prescribed works (nn. 8, 9, 10 indicate those specific to the Holy Year).

The faithful, who out of devotion to the Blessed Mother and Our Lord, Jesus Christ,  may visit the National Shrine Grotto to gain the following indulgences:

• By individual visitors - on all feast days of Our Lady, on all Saturdays and on all Sundays.
• By members of a pilgrimage group - on any day of the year.

To gain the Plenary Indulgence all pilgrims are requested to:

• fulfill the usual conditions of reconciliation, Holy Communion and prayers for the intention of the Holy Father, and
• recite at the Grotto Cave the Hail Mary together with the invocation
  ​"O Mary, Virgin and Mother of God, pray to Jesus for me."

A Partial Indulgence of 500 days each time a visit is made to the National Shrine Grotto and the Hail Mary is said together with the above mentioned invocation and prayers are said for the intention of the Holy Father.

Prayer and Devotion​

• Request a Prayer
• Light a Candle
• Mass Enrollment
• Share your Blessings​