St. Paul and the Pauline Year

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today begins the Year of St. Paul, which Pope Benedict XVI announced a year ago. Tradition has it that St. Paul was born about the year 8 A.D. and so 2008 marks the bimillenium of his birth. What does this mean, dedicating a year to St. Paul? According to the Holy Father, this year will offer us an opportunity to study the life and letters of St. Paul, which are found in the Bible. In addition, the Holy Father is encouraging ecumenical meetings for prayer and dialogue with other Christians. We know that St. Paul’s letters are widely read by Christians of all denominations, and so this year gives us the opportunity to read and share the richness of St. Paul’s writings with the hope that increased understanding of the great Apostle will help all Christians grow toward unity.

In Rome one of the four major basilicas is named St. Paul outside-the-walls, where St. Paul is buried. Pope Benedict said, "In the papal basilica and Benedictine abbey attached to it, there can take place a series of liturgical, cultural and ecumenical events, as well as various pastoral and social initiatives, all of them inspired by Pauline spirituality.

"Special attention can also be given to pilgrims who from various places will want to go to the tomb of the Apostle in a penitential way in order to find spiritual benefits.” (Homily of Pope Benedict XVI, announcing the year of St. Paul).

However, if you can’t travel to Rome there is a way to make a local pilgrimage here in Orange County. Bishop Brown has designated three churches as pilgrimage destinations for the Pauline Year. They are:

• St. Cecilia, 1301 SE Sycamore St. Tustin (for Mid Orange County), Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano (for South County), and S
• St. Angela Merici, 585 South Walnut Ave., Brea (for North Orange County).
  

In making a pilgrimage you are embarking on a spiritual journey. In order to reap the fruits of this journey there is a “plenary indulgence” offered for those who fulfill the following requirements when visiting these churches:

N20. § 1. To gain a plenary indulgence, in addition to excluding all attachment to sin, even venial, it is necessary to perform the indulgenced work and fulfill the following three conditions: sacramental confession, Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the intention of the Sovereign Pontiff.

§ 2. A single sacramental confession suffices for gaining several plenary indulgences; but Holy Communion must be received and prayer for the intention of the Holy Father must be recited for the gaining of each plenary indulgence.

§ 5. The condition of praying for the intention of the Holy Father is fully satisfied by reciting one Our Father and one Hail Mary; nevertheless, one has the option of reciting any other prayer according to individual piety and devotion, if recited for this intention.

The Holy Father concluded his homily on St. Paul with these words:

"May he (St. Paul) guide us and protect us in this bimillenary celebration, helping us to advance in the humble and sincere search for the full unity of all the members of the mystical body of Christ."

Guard your people, who rely on the patronage of your apostles Peter and Paul, O Lord, and keep them under your continual protection. Through Christ our Lord. Amen

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand