Did you know Pope Francis granted Catholics the opportunity to obtain a plenary indulgence during the Jubilee Year of Hope?
In a recent interview, ChurchPOP editor Jacqueline Burkepile sat down with Catholic theologian, author, and speaker Dr. Edward Sri to discuss Ascension Press’ new course, The Foundations of Faith: A Journey Through the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Here's the interview below:
The 20-part series offers catechetical teaching, but also a special opportunity for a plenary indulgence.
For the Jubilee Year, Pope Francis declared that Catholics can gain a plenary indulgence for studying the Catechism in community.
“This is really timely,” Dr. Sri told Burkepile. “I don’t know if people know this, but [Pope Francis] drew attention to something we can do in the Jubilee Year—to study the Catechism. He actually attached an indulgence... if you gather with others to study the Catechism, there’s an indulgence attached to it.”
Yes, Catholics who study the Catechism of the Catholic Church in a communal setting can receive a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions.
In addition to studying the Catechism in a communal setting, one must also fulfill the three usual conditions for a plenary indulgence:
1) Go to confession (as soon as possible or after fulfilling the other conditions).
2) Receive Holy Communion (as soon as possible).
3) Pray for the Pope’s intentions. (The Church suggests an "Our Father" and a "Hail Mary" as soon as possible)
One must approach the indulgence with a spirit “completely detached from the affection for a sin,” both mortal and venial. If a soul is not completely detached, the indulgence is partial.
Dr. Sri explains that the goal of the Foundations of Faith course is to deepen one’s understanding of the faith, which many Catholics may never have fully received.
“We end up going to college and getting master's degrees maybe, but we still are operating under like a sixth-grade level understanding of our faith,” he said. “We need to form our minds so we can know and love Jesus more.”
According to Dr. Sri, the Foundations of Faith course guides participants through the Catechism in an accessible format for every Catholic, whether new to the Church or a seasoned Catholic seeking to deepen one’s faith.
The course includes 30-minute video sessions filmed across four continents in over 40 spiritually significant locations.
“We went to the Holy Land… to Rome… the sites of many famous Church councils… Lyon, France, where St. Irenaeus lived… the tomb of St. Therese of Lisieux… the Tower of London where St. Thomas More was held… places where our faith was shaped,” Dr. Sri says.
The course features several high-profile Catholic speakers, including Father Mike Schmitz, Jeff Cavins, Jackie Francois Angel, and Dr. Sri’s wife, Beth Sri. It incorporates a study chart that organizes the pillars of the Catechism and ties them to saints, Church documents, and historical councils, similar to how Jeff Cavins’ Bible Timeline organizes Scripture.
Dr. Sri described the course’s unique experience:
“You can just put your foot in the ocean… or go deep-sea diving. It's great for RCIA, Bible studies, or personal renewal.”
Why it’s so important to study the Catechism in today’s secular culture
“We live in a secular culture that constantly evangelizes us—with its own ideas of love, happiness, marriage, and identity,” Dr. Sri said. “St. Paul told the Christians in Rome, ‘Be transformed by the renewal of your mind.’ That’s what this is about.”
“Every time we learn something new about our Catholic faith," he adds, "it gives us another reason to love Jesus.”
The course is now available, and those interested can watch a free session on the Ascension Press website.