177. On the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary

1. Certain nuns, who daily recite, according to their Constitutions, the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, would like to add at the end of the same office commemorations of St. Joseph, St. Francis, and St. Anthony of Padua. Can they?

R. They can indeed add commemorations of St. Joseph, but as regards the other commemorations there is need of a special Indult. Monit. Eccles., v. 6, p. 1, p. 68. But according to Ephemerides liturgicae, July 1892, p. 115, the Indult which permits adding the commemoration of St. Joseph is not general, but for a particular case on account of a pre-existing practice. Cf. S. R. C., Feb. 27, 1883, Rhedonen., ad 3.

2. Veronica asks whether, for gaining the indulgences of the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Sabbatine privilege attached to the scapular of the same Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, it is necessary to recite the aforesaid office in the Latin language.

R. Affirmatively. S. C. Indulg., Aug. 18, 1868; May 6, 1887; Sept. 13, 1888. A. S. S. v. 21, p. 191; I. M. 1367.