DIOCESE—Although the Christmas season has passed, Catholics in the Diocese of Rockford still have the opportunity to celebrate the Christmas tradition of the nativity scene and receive a powerful spiritual benefit. 

 

This year the Vatican’s Nativity recreates the first Nativity scene, created by St. Francis of Assisi in 1223 in the Italian village of Greccio. On this 800th anniversary, the Apostolic Penitentiary is granting a plenary indulgence to all faithful who, through Feb. 2, will visit a Nativity scene in a church or parish entrusted to the Franciscan family. This indulgence is a remission of all temporal punishment due to sin. 

 

The faithful may obtain this indulgence under the usual conditions: 

 

-- Sacramental confession; 

 

-- Eucharistic communion (these may be done in any parish).  

 

The last condition is prayer before a Nativity scene in a Franciscan church/oratory/chapel. In the Diocese of Rockford, those locations include the Poor Clares’ chapel, St. Margaret Mary Church in Algonquin, and St. Rita Parish in Rockford where Father Joel Lopez, OFS, is assigned.

 

—Information provided by Father Joel Lopez, OFS.