Article II: Of Acquiring Indulgences

§ 1. In order that someone be capable of gaining indulgences for himself, he must be baptized, not excommunicated, in the state of grace at least at the end of the prescribed works, and a subject of the one granting.

§ 2. But in order that a capable subject truly gain them, he must have at least the general intention of acquiring them and fulfill the enjoined works at the appointed time and in the due manner according to the tenor of the grant.

A plenary indulgence is understood to be granted in such a way that if someone cannot gain it fully, he nevertheless gains it partially according to the disposition which he has.

Unless something else appears from the tenor of the grant, indulgences granted by a Bishop can be gained both by subjects outside the territory and by travelers, wanderers, and all exempt persons dwelling in the territory.

§ 1. A plenary indulgence, unless something else has been expressly provided, can be acquired only once in a day, even if the same prescribed work is performed several times.

§ 2. A partial indulgence, unless the contrary is expressly noted, can be gained several times in a day, the same work being repeated.

The faithful of either sex who, for the pursuit of perfection or for instruction or education or even for health, live a common life in houses lacking a church or public chapel, established with the consent of the Ordinaries, and likewise all persons dwelling there to minister to them, whenever for gaining indulgences a visit to some undetermined church or some undetermined public oratory is prescribed, can visit the chapel of their own house in which they can by law satisfy the obligation of hearing Mass, provided that they have duly performed the other enjoined works.

No one acquiring indulgences can apply them to others living in life; but all indulgences granted by the Roman Pontiff are applicable to souls detained in purgatory, unless something else is established.

§ 1. For gaining any indulgences whatever, confession perhaps required can be made within the eight days which immediately precede the day to which the indulgence was fixed; communion, moreover, on the vigil of the same day; and both also within the whole following octave.

§ 2. Likewise, for gaining indulgences granted for pious exercises extended over three days, a week, etc., confession and communion can also be made within the octave which immediately follows the completed exercise.

§ 3. The Christian faithful who are accustomed, unless legitimately impeded, either to approach the sacrament of penance at least twice in the month, or to receive holy communion daily in the state of grace and with a right and pious mind, although they abstain from it once or twice during the week, can obtain all indulgences, even without actual confession which otherwise would be necessary for gaining them, except indulgences either of an ordinary and extraordinary jubilee or after the manner of a jubilee.

By a work which one is obligated by law or precept to perform, an indulgence cannot be gained, unless something else is expressly said in its grant; nevertheless one who performs a work enjoined upon him as sacramental penance and perhaps enriched with indulgences can at the same time both satisfy the penance and gain the indulgences.

To one and the same thing or place several indulgences can be attached from various titles; but by one and the same work, to which indulgences are attached from various titles, several indulgences cannot be acquired, unless the required work is confession or communion, or unless something else has expressly been provided.

§ 1. If, for gaining indulgences, prayer in general for the intention of the Supreme Pontiff is prescribed, merely mental prayer does not suffice; but vocal prayer can be chosen at the judgment of the faithful, unless some particular prayer is assigned.

§ 2. If a particular prayer has been assigned, indulgences can be acquired in whatever language the prayer is recited, provided that the faithfulness of the version is established from a declaration either of the Sacred Penitentiary or of one of the local Ordinaries where the language into which the prayer is translated is common; but the indulgences cease entirely because of any addition, subtraction, or interpolation.

§ 3. For the acquisition of indulgences it is sufficient to recite the prayer alternately with a companion, or to follow it mentally while it is recited by another.

Confessors can commute into other works the pious works enjoined for gaining indulgences for those who, detained by a legitimate impediment, cannot perform the same.

Mute persons can gain indulgences attached to public prayers if, together with the other faithful praying in the same place, they raise their mind and pious sentiments to God; and if there is question of private prayers, it is sufficient that they recall them mentally, or pour them forth by signs, or merely run through them with their eyes.