VATICAN — The Vatican announced and launched today a “Get out of Lent Free Card,” sold exclusively through the Vatican Website. The card, known in the Vatican as the Carta Aurea (or Golden Card in English) is set to sell just in time for Ash Wednesday.

“The sale of the Carta Aurea will generate much-needed revenue to shore up debts in the Vatican Bank,” said Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni. “In return, laypeople will be able to get out of doing Lenten penances ever again, the Easter Triduum included.” Lenten penances generally include fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, abstaining from meat on Fridays, giving alms, saying extra prayers, and “giving up” certain indulgences on an individual basis.

But parishioners may think twice before purchasing the card, due to its hefty price tag. The Vatican website is currently selling the card for €100,000 or approximately $118,800 USD. Third-party vendors are already reselling for an inflated price of €150,000. The Vatican justified the price saying, “the card does not expire, and we only have a limited number of them.”

That limited number is estimated to only be about 5000 cards. There is also speculation that the Vatican will not issue anymore after this year calling it a one-time-deal.

Johnathan Rodney, a prolific card collector and mediocre Catholic said in a written statement to The Roman Caller, “This card is an absolute no-brainer. It’s an investment that I will be able to resell one day for my retirement, and I also get to eat a fat juicy steak on Fridays in Lent.”

Rodney, however, was surprised that he could only purchase one at a time, “I was hoping to buy more than one, and resell, or at least stack them on top of each other, and not have to do penance for the rest of the liturgical year. Is that how that works?”

At press time, the Vatican has only 12 cards left in its inventory.