Celebrating 50 years of Archbishop Emeritus Samuel J. Aquila’s priesthood could offer a massive spiritual benefit.
Summer is fast approaching, offering a reprieve from school, vacation time from work and plenty of opportunity for outdoor adventure.
But the spiritual life doesn’t slow down, and Denver Catholics have the opportunity to receive major grace in this season!
Priestly Anniversary
On June 5, 1976, a young Samuel J. Aquila lay prostrate on the floor of the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver. Then-Archbishop James Casey would place his hands on his head, pray over him and anoint his hands. That day, the young man was consecrated to God’s service in the Catholic Church — though he had no idea where that service would lead him.
Fast forward 50 years, now-Archbishop Emeritus Samuel J. Aquila prepares to celebrate 50 years of priesthood on June 5, 2026. Over those years have come various blessings and graces, challenges and difficulties, from Denver to Fargo, North Dakota, and back to Denver. Through it all, though, Archbishop Emeritus Aquila can’t help but express gratitude for God’s abiding presence, guidance and love.
To commemorate the Jubilee of his priesthood, the Archdiocese of Denver is hosting a celebration at the St. John Paul II Center for the New Evangelization in Denver (1300 S Steele Street, Denver) on June 5, 2026. The evening will begin with Mass at 4:00 p.m. in the outdoor quad, followed by a block party complete with food, activities and fun.
During this Mass, Archbishop Emeritus Aquila will thank God for all the blessings of the past 50 years of his priestly ministry and renew his promise to God to faithfully fulfill the duties of his vocation. For him and those praying with him at the Jubilee celebration, the Church offers the possibility of a plenary indulgence under the normal conditions.
What is a plenary indulgence, and how do I receive one?
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (1471) and the Code of Canon Law (canon 992), “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.”
In other words, an indulgence removes at least some of the penitential punishment for sins that have already been forgiven, through the “treasury of satisfaction which Christ and the saints won for the remission of temporal punishment” (Indulgentiarum doctrina, 8).
Because we are part of the Body of Christ, we may benefit from the graces God gives his Church because of her holiness and the holiness of her members: “The union of the wayfarers with the brethren who have gone to sleep in the peace of Christ is not in the least weakened or interrupted, but on the contrary, according to the perpetual faith of the Church, is strengthened by a communication of spiritual goods” (ID, 5).
A gift from God through his Church, indulgences — the remission of temporal punishment for our sins — may help us along the way to Heaven. While sins are completely absolved in the sacrament of Confession, an atonement remains necessary. This atonement begins with our penitential practices and prayers and can be enhanced by special opportunities for indulgences granted by the Church, which was given the authority to forgive sins and dispense grace (cf. Matthew 16:19).
The Church sets forth the following conditions for a plenary indulgence to be granted (ID, norm 7):
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Be in a state of grace when the indulgenced work is completed;
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Have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin, even venial sin;
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Have sacramentally confessed one’s sins;
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Receive the Holy Eucharist;
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Pray for the intentions of the pope.
The Church also adds some extra clarification to some of these conditions:
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A plenary indulgence can only be acquired once per day (ID, norm 6).
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One may make a sacramental Confession and receive Holy Communion “within several days before or after the prescribed work” (ID, norm 8).
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One sacramental Confession can satisfy the requirement for several plenary indulgences, but separate receptions of Holy Communion and prayers for the Holy Father are required for each plenary indulgence (ID, norm 9).
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An Our Father and a Hail Mary are suggested prayers for the pope’s intentions (ID, norm 10).
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Indulgences can either be applied to oneself or to the souls of the deceased, but not to other living persons (ID, norm 3). It is worth noting that some indulgences can only be applied to the souls of the faithful departed, like the ones offered by the Church in early November for the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed (All Souls).
