LA CROSSE — Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, founder of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, announced on July 31 that Pope Benedict XVI has affiliated the shrine in La Crosse to his Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome.
With this affiliation comes the opportunity for pilgrims visiting the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe to gain plenary indulgences, under the usual conditions. The announcement came on the third anniversary of the dedication of the Shrine Church.
Shrine bonded to papal basilica
“Today, we also have a particular cause to rejoice because our Holy Father has affiliated, has bonded, this church to his Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major, the great pilgrimage church of Rome, dedicated to the honor of the Mother of God,” said Cardinal Burke.
“With the affiliation comes a most generous grant of indulgences, so that pilgrims to this church of Our Lady of Guadalupe may draw more fully upon the rich treasury of the merits of the passion and death of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and of His Sorrowful Mother, and of all the saints who have shared with Him, to an heroic degree, in His suffering and dying,” continued Cardinal Burke.
“In gratitude, let us pray, in a special way today, for the intentions of our Holy Father. Let us also hasten to draw upon his rich gift to us for the sake of the salvation of souls, especially the souls of our brothers and sisters in purgatory.”
A plenary indulgence is the entire remission of temporal punishment due to sin, the guilt of which has been forgiven.
Extraordinary gift
“This is an extraordinary gift from our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI to pilgrims visiting the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe,” said Eugene J. Diamond, the shrine’s director of communications and development.
“Now the faithful from near and far who visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe on organized pilgrimage, and other specific solemnities and feasts during the year, may obtain a plenary indulgence.”
Plenary indulgences may be gained at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe:
• On the patronal feast day of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome: August 5, with which the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is now affiliated;
• On the patronal feast day of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse: December 12;
• On all solemnities of the Virgin Mother of God: January 1, March 25, August 15, and December 8;
• On any day chosen by a pilgrim once a year;
• As many times during the year as the faithful are part of an organized pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse for the purposes of devotion, reform of life, growth in holiness, and greater communion with the Holy Father and all the members of the Church through the intercession of the Virgin Mother of God and Mother of the Church, each of the participants in the pilgrimage may gain a plenary indulgence.
Conditions for gaining the plenary indulgence: visit to the Shrine Church, sacramental Confession (within eight days of fulfilling the other conditions), Holy Communion (within eight days of fulfilling the other conditions) and prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father (e.g., “Our Father,” “Hail Mary,” “Glory Be;” or the “Creed” and an “Our Father”) during the visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Plan a pilgrimage
To learn more about and plan a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, visit www.guadalupeshrine.org or call 877-799-4059.
The Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, faithful to the message of the Blessed Virgin Mary through her appearances on the American continent in 1531, serves the spiritual needs of those who suffer poverty in body and soul. It is a place of ceaseless prayer for the corporal and spiritual welfare of God’s children, especially those in most need.