Thank you, Suzanne. It is. And points to things to come, too.
Here are the benefits of an Apostolic Blessing I found in Internet:
- **Plenary Indulgence**: Under certain conditions (such as recent confession, reception of Holy Communion, and prayers for the Pope's intentions), the Apostolic Blessing grants a plenary indulgence, remitting all temporal punishment due to sin. This is particularly emphasized for the dying (Apostolic Pardon) or on solemn occasions like Urbi et Orbi blessings.
- **Spiritual Grace and Divine Favor**: It invokes God's blessing, providing spiritual comfort, consolation, and strength to persevere in faith, penance, charity, and good works, potentially leading to everlasting life.
- **Sign of Communion with the Pope and the Church**: As imparted by the successor of St. Peter, it fosters a sense of unity and closeness with the universal Church, affirming the recipient's place within the Catholic community.
- **Encouragement for Special Occasions**: Often granted for milestones like baptisms, confirmations, marriages, anniversaries, ordinations, or religious professions, it serves as a devotional aid to mark and sanctify these events.
- **Extension to Families and Loved Ones**: The blessing can be transmitted to family members, groups, or even objects (like rosaries or images), broadening its spiritual impact.
- **Support for Charitable Causes**: Requests for blessings often involve a donation to the Vatican's Office of Papal Charities, indirectly benefiting the poor and needy through the Pope's almsgiving.
- **Potential Forgiveness of Temporal Punishment**: In forms like Urbi et Orbi, it offers remission of temporal punishment for sins already forgiven, aiding spiritual purification without the need for additional penance in some cases.
- **Accessibility and Transmission**: It can be given directly, by delegation (e.g., to priests), or even remotely (over phone or electronically), making it widely available for the faithful.
Mélanie received an Apostolic Blessings from Pope St John Paul II too. I talked about such blessings, in this article in which I present the Chaplet of the Two Most Holy Hearts as antidote against the Covid vaccines side effects:
Best and blessings,
Felipe
PD: She also received an Apostolic Blessing from Pope Benedict XVI, after his death, in an apparition to her.