180. Plenary Indulgence at the Article of Death

1. Candidus, a priest, asks: 1.º Whether a plenary indulgence at the article of death is acquired, during life, by the sick person when he has fulfilled all the enjoined works, or after his death. 2.º Whether, if someone then fulfills several pious works to which a plenary indulgence at the article of death is attached, he gains all these indulgences.

R. To the 1st. In the Case, someone does not acquire the plenary indulgence after his death; for then it would no longer be an indulgence for a living person at the article of death, but for a deceased person. Likewise the sick person does not acquire it while his life is still lasting, when, for example, he has already fulfilled all the works; for if in reality he does not immediately die, there would not be a true article of death, but only, at most, a presumed one. S. C. Indulg., Apr. 23, 1675. Therefore the sick person does not acquire it except at the true article of death, which consequently death itself in reality follows. The reason is that the end of the Supreme Pontiffs granting a grace of this sort is that for those dying nothing remain to be expiated after this mortal life, and that, by this remission of sins, being truly contrite for sins, they be brought immediately to possess eternal beatitude.

To the 2nd. From the very nature of the plenary indulgence at the article of death, explained in the above manner, it is clear that the sick person acquires it only once. Nevertheless, those several works to which this same indulgence is attached are useful for making it more secure. If perhaps the sick person does not gain it by one work, he can gain it by another work. Nor is it valid to say that someone can gain one such plenary indulgence for himself, another or others for the souls of Purgatory. For it is clear from the very nature of a plenary indulgence at the article of death that it is altogether personal and is applied only to the dying person.