On Indulgences in Particular

"Whether in erections of this sort, which are made outside the ambit of Convents of the Friars of the Order of St. Francis, as much of the Observance as of the Reformed and Recollect, there is required the license of Ordinaries, and also the consent in writing of parish priests and other Superiors? Resp. Affirmatively." S. C. Indulg. 28 Aug. 1752.

"1. Whether erections of the Stations of the Way of the Cross are null, which were made without the consent in writing of the Parish Priest in hospitals, churches, chapels, and houses of Congregations of Sisters, by law not exempt from parochial jurisdiction, but in fact, according to the custom prevailing in France, administered independently from the parish priest by a chaplain nominated by the Bishop. 3. Whether the consent of the Ordinary in writing is required under penalty of nullity in individual cases for each erection of stations, or whether it suffices that it be given generically for stations to be erected in a certain number of churches or oratories without specific designation of place? Resp. To the 1st: Negatively. To the 3rd: Affirmatively to the first part, Negatively to the second. S. C. Indulg. 21 June 1879.

"The S. C.... judged that it must be prescribed that, in erecting Stations of this sort in the future, both the deputation of the priest erecting and the consent of the local Superior, as well as the deputation, consent, and license of the respective Ordinary, or Prelate, and Parish Priest, and also of the Superiors of the church, monastery, hospital, and pious place where an erection of this sort shall happen to be made, as aforesaid, must be expedited in writing and not otherwise, and must be shown whenever there shall be need, under penalty of the nullity of the erection itself to be incurred by the very fact." S. C. Indulg. 3 Aug. 1748.

"Concerning the erection of the Way of the Cross, the necessary and opportune faculties having first been obtained from the Apostolic See, all and singular things which regard such erection are to be done in writing, namely both the petition and the concession of the same erection; the instrument of these is to remain in the codices, or in the acts of the Episcopate, and at least a testimony is to be inserted in the codices of the parish, or of the place, where the aforesaid stations have been erected." S. C. Indulg. 23 Sept. 1841.

"There is no determined time for drawing up the document of erection, but the reason is plain of itself, that this be done as quickly as possible, lest doubt arise in the future concerning the aforesaid canonical erection." S. C. Indulg. 10 Feb. 1844.

"Whether the indulgences annexed to the exercise of the Way of the Cross can be gained as many times in the day as that exercise is repeated? Resp. It is not established." S. C. Indulg. 10 Sept. 1885.

Note: By force of special faculties, the S. C. Indulg. on 31 July 1881 convalidated all Stations of the Way of the Cross hitherto invalidly erected.

"Most Blessed Father, Fr. Bernardinus of Portu Romatino, Minister General of the whole Order of Friars Minor of St. Francis, prostrate at the feet of Your Holiness, humbly sets forth that very often the faithful who are prohibited by a legitimate impediment from performing the exercise of the Holy Way of the Cross are also impeded from gaining the indulgences annexed to the exercise of the Way of the Cross by using a Crucifix blessed for this effect, because they do not possess one, as happens in poor families, in hospitals, and in other pious places of this kind.

Hence, that devotion toward the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ may be increased more and more, and lest the faithful, especially souls detained in purgatory, because of the exposed lack of a Crucifix, be shut out from participation in the aforesaid indulgences, the Orator supplicates with earnest prayers that Your Holiness deign benignly to extend to the Crucifixes commonly called of the Way of the Cross the indult conceded by Pius Pope IX of holy memory with respect to the Rosary, on the day 22 Jan. 1858 (Decret. authent., n. 384), so that all Christian faithful of either sex, reciting in common the prescribed twenty Pater, Ave, and Gloria, may be able to gain the indulgences annexed to the exercise of the Way of the Cross, although they do not hold in the hand the blessed Crucifix, and that it suffice that only one person, whoever that person may be from the community, hold it in the hand, and that all the rest, all other cares being put aside, compose themselves for making prayer, together with the person who holds the Crucifix. Which grace, etc.

Our Most Holy Lord Pope Leo XIII, in the audience held on the day 19 Jan. 1884 by the undersigned Secretary of the Sacred Congregation placed over Indulgences and Sacred Relics, benignly assented for the grace according to the things sought, according to the tenor of the Indult already conceded for the recitation of the Most Holy Rosary, namely that the Christian faithful of whom in the prayers should so compose themselves for performing the pious exercise of the Way of the Cross together with the person who holds the Crucifix, that they can gain the indulgences of the Way of the Cross. The present is to be valid in perpetuity without any expedition of a Brief. All things whatsoever to the contrary notwithstanding."

What things are to be observed by Orders of Regulars, Archconfraternities, and Congregations in instituting or erecting and aggregating Confraternities or Congregations? Resp. Cf. Decree of the S. C. Ind. 8 Jan. 1861. Ordinaries of places can freely designate Parish Priests as Rectors or Moderators of pious Confraternities, and other pious unions canonically erected. S. C. Ind. 8 Jan. 1861; Decreta Authent., nn. 388, 389; Acta S. Sed. Vol. 2, p. 57 ff., 362; Wolfgang Muehlbauer, Decr. Authent., s.v. Confraternitas.

"Whether valid is the enrollment of the faithful in the Confraternity of Carmel, which is made by Priests indeed having the faculty, but without the form prescribed in the Ritual and Breviary of the Order of Carmelites having been observed? Resp. Affirmatively, provided that the priests having the faculty do not fail in substantials, namely in the Blessing and Imposition of the habit and in the reception into the Confraternity." S. C. Ind. 24 Aug. 1844. The same holds also for the other scapulars. S. Indulg. C. 27 Apr. 1887. Cf. Acta S. Sed. Vol. 1, p. 241 ff., 367 ff.; Vol. 4, p. 219 ff., 237 ff.; Vol. 6, p. 330 ff.; Vol. 19, p. 558.

Whether the imposition of a Scapular made upon a little child, not yet having the use of reason, is valid? Resp. Affirmatively. S. C. Ind. 29 Aug. 1864.

Whether Scapulars are valid if the parts of each Scapular are so arranged that one depends from the shoulders, another from the breast, although all are connected by one cord? Resp. Affirmatively. S. C. Ind. 29 Aug. 1864. But the Scapulars must be distinct, "not indeed one single scapular, on which small pieces of cloth of diverse color are sewn." S. Indulg. C. 27 Apr. 1887. The Scapular of the B. V. M. of Mount Carmel, for the sake of honor and devotion, is to be blessed and imposed separately and distinctly, and not cumulatively and commingled with the other four or more scapulars. The contrary Indult, previously given in perpetuity, has been revoked and restricted to a decade. S. C. Indulg. 27 Apr. 1887. Cf. Acta S. Sed. Vol. 19, p. 554 ff.

"From the Indult of Gregory XVI of holy memory, 30 Apr. 1838, it is no longer necessary for acquiring indulgences that the names of the faithful who receive scapulars of the B. M. V. of Mount Carmel be inscribed in the book of the Confraternity: it is asked whether the same must be said of other Scapulars approved by the Holy See? Resp. Negatively." S. Indulg. C. 18 Aug. 1868. This Gregorian Indult was revoked by the Holy Father Leo XIII on 27 Apr. 1887. Acta S. Sed. Vol. 19, p. 556. Those receiving and wearing the blue scapular of the B. M. V. Immaculate, or the red one of the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, do not constitute a Confraternity. S. Indulg. C. 27 Apr. 1887.

It was sought that the Supreme Pontiff "deign to heal all invalid receptions to the Sodality or Union of any Scapular whatsoever, nevertheless performed in good faith." "On the day 20 July 1884, Leo XIII deigned benignly to concede that those enrolled with some defect, as in the prayers, henceforth can gain the indulgences proper to the individual Scapulars."

"If this Indulgence is imparted immediately after sacramental absolution, the rest being omitted, the Priest is to say absolutely:

May Our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave to blessed Peter the Apostle the power of binding and loosing, absolve you from every bond of offenses, that you may have eternal life and live forever and ever. Amen.

By the most sacred Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ, by the prayers and merits of the Most Blessed ever Virgin Mary, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, of our Blessed Father N., and of all the Saints, by the authority committed to me by the Supreme Pontiffs, I impart to you a plenary indulgence of all your sins. In the name of the Father + and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." Decr. Authent., n. 444.

Petitions: "1. That the condition of visiting a Church, often prescribed generically for gaining Indulgences, can be fulfilled by persons of either sex living in community and under rule, by visiting the domestic Oratory. 2. That the infirm or those worn out by old age, living in community and under rule, who cannot visit Churches or Oratories or execute other things prescribed for Indulgences, nevertheless may be able to gain Indulgences by fulfilling other pious works to be prescribed at the judgment of the Confessor. 3. That in the case in which some moral impediment is present, to be judged by the prudent judgment of the Confessor, of visiting some Church, for example of Regulars or a Parochial Church, which by law would have to be visited for gaining some indulgence, this visitation of the designated Church can, at the judgment of the Confessor, be commuted into another pious work, for example into the visitation of another Church. 4. That, 1st, some Indulgence be conceded to the Christian faithful piously and devoutly receiving a blessing from Priests, especially neomysts; and, 2nd, that likewise some Indulgence be conceded to those piously and devoutly assisting at the first Mass of newly ordained priests.

Resp. To the 1st: It is not expedient. To the 2nd: Affirmatively. To the 3rd: Negatively. To the 4th: To the first part, Negatively; to the second part he deigned to concede, the things to be observed by law being observed, a Plenary Indulgence to the Priest celebrating his first Mass and to his blood-relatives up to the third degree inclusive, who shall have been present at that first Mass; but to the other Christian faithful standing by, an Indulgence of seven years and as many quarantines.

What is required that someone acquire indulgences in the recitation of the prayer Angelus Domini, or Regina Coeli? Resp. It is necessary to recite them when the bell gives the signal, and with knees bent, except on Sundays from the vespers of each Saturday, and in Paschal time, on which they must be said standing. But Leo XIII "benignly deigned to indulge that all Christian faithful who, detained by a legitimate impediment, not with knees bent nor at the signal of the bell, have recited the versicles Angelus Domini, etc., with three angelic salutations, the other versicle Ora pro nobis, etc., and the prayer Gratiam tuam, etc., but in Paschal time the Antiphon Regina coeli, etc., with the versicle and proper prayer; or if they do not know how to say from memory or read the aforesaid versicles, Antiphon, and Prayers, have worthily, attentively, and devoutly recited five times the Angelic Salutation either about midday or toward evening, can gain the Indulgences mentioned above." S. C. Indulg. 3 Apr. 1884.

"1. Whether the Indulgence of five hundred days, as often as the Lord's prayer or the angelic salutation is devoutly said on Rosaries blessed by the Crucigers, is to be revoked: a) either as apocryphal, or by reason of doubtful authenticity? b) Or as indiscreet, or by reason of indiscreet concession? c) Or on account of other extrinsic reasons? And insofar as negatively to all parts of the 1st doubt: 2. Whether the same Indulgence is to be held ratified and confirmed, or rather should be said not to need ratification and confirmation? 3. Whether, for acquiring the same Indulgence, it is necessary to recite the entire Rosary devoutly? 4. Whether it is expedient that the privilege of blessing Rosaries with application of the Indulgence, which the Members of the Crucigers enjoy, be conceded also to other Priests? Resp. To the 1st: Negatively in all things. To the 2nd: It does not need it. To the 3rd and 4th: Negatively."

"... Therefore, consulting in this manner for the salvation of souls, as far as it was permitted to Us in the Lord, We have taken care to enlarge and render easier the pious custom of applying the plenary Pontifical Indulgence to the children of the Church constituted in the article of death; and, the faculty having been permitted to Venerable and Beloved Sons, Bishops and Prelates of Churches, of subdelegating other Priests for this effect, both in Cities and in Dioceses, We think that no small alleviation has been brought by Us to their anxieties and solicitudes. Nevertheless We wish it declared to them that it was not Our purpose to exempt them altogether from this office of paternal charity, of approaching by themselves miserable sick persons desiring to obtain plenary absolution in the final article, but to aid their piety opportunely, lest, while they themselves are detained by other pastoral cares, they must grieve that the faithful committed to them migrate from this life destitute of so great a spiritual benefit. But those who rejoice to exercise a pious work of this sort by themselves - which indeed We trust all will do as often as they shall not have been legitimately impeded - should remember that this must be furnished not merely toward the more noble and powerful of this age, but also toward the poor and men of lowly lot. Concerning this matter, the 28th homily of Our predecessor St. Gregory the Great on the Gospels, at chapter IV of John, There was a certain ruler, whose son was sick at Capharnaum, can usefully be read; in it he observes the wonderful and heavenly manner of acting of Our most loving Redeemer Jesus Christ, who, invited to visit the sick son of the ruler, refuses to go, but declares that He will go to the servant of the Centurion even not invited. What is this, that the ruler asks that He come to his son, and yet He refuses to come; but He is not invited to the servant of the Centurion, and yet He promises that He will go bodily? He does not deign to be present by bodily presence to the son of the ruler; He does not disdain to meet the servant of the Centurion.

And since the Roman Ritual enjoins upon Priests, who piously aid the faithful laboring in their final agony, or minister to them the Sacraments of the Church, that if the sick person can obtain a plenary Indulgence conceded by legitimate authority, they recall it to his mind and propose what things he ought to do to obtain it; but of those who have been reduced to a state of this sort, some indeed with full cognition retain the entire use of speech, while others have lost the faculty of speaking, although previously they had given indications of sincere contrition and, while still using reason, do not cease repeatedly to give it: therefore, that all the aforesaid more certainly may be able to obtain the fruit of the Indulgence, We command the aforesaid Priests that by every means they strive to excite dying faithful persons to elicit new acts of sorrow for sins committed, and to conceive most fervent affections of charity toward God; but especially to receive death itself from the hand of the Lord with an even and willing soul. For this work We especially impose and enjoin upon those constituted in an article of this sort, by which they may prepare and dispose themselves for obtaining the fruit of the plenary Indulgence." Constitution of Benedict XIV, Pia Mater. Cf. Acta S. Sed. Vol. 11, p. 405 ff.

"Lest, for the Christian faithful living in places of the Missions in whatever part of the World, and constituted in the final crisis of life, there be lacking those spiritual helps which the Catholic pious Mother Church is accustomed mercifully to impart to her children departing from this world, Our Most Holy Lord Clement XIV, Pope by divine providence, on account of the eminent charity by which he paternally embraces them, most lovingly concedes to all and singular Reverend Fathers and Lords, Patriarchs, Archbishops, Bishops, Apostolic Vicars, and also Reverend Prefects or Superiors of Missions, both of the secular clergy and of the regular, now existing in places of Missions, as above, or existing at whatever time, permanently, the faculty of imparting the Blessing with plenary Indulgence to the aforesaid faithful reduced to the final agony, with this extension also, that they can and may communicate a faculty of this sort to Priests and respectively to Missionaries subject to their jurisdiction, nevertheless only for the places of their Dioceses or for the districts of the Missions, provided that in imparting this Blessing the formula prescribed by Benedict XIV of holy memory in the Constitution given 9 Apr. 1747, which begins Pia Mater, to be registered below, is observed.

But since it will easily happen that some of the aforesaid Christian faithful depart from this life without having been fortified by the Sacraments of the Church, and without the assistance of any Priest, therefore His Holiness, from the rich fountain of apostolic benignity, bestows also upon them a plenary Indulgence, if, contrite, they shall have invoked the name of Jesus at least in the heart, and shall have received death from the hand of the Lord with that Christian submission of soul and humility of spirit which is fitting, and shall have commended their soul into the hands of their Creator. That this last part of the Decree may become known to all the Christian faithful, let the aforementioned Prelates and Superiors take care and strive to publish it repeatedly in their Dioceses and Missions, and especially at the time of holy visitation." S. C. de P. F. 5 Apr. 1772.

"According to the Indult conceded by the Holy See, all Missionaries have by communication the faculty of bestowing the plenary Indulgence upon those constituted in the article of death. But since they rarely find faithful persons constituted precisely in the article of death, it comes about that some bestow the said Indulgence where there is only danger of death, although it does not seem to be very nearly imminent; but others, according to the strictness of the words, do not apply it except at the time when the agony seems near; and then, when they do not observe so near a danger of death, either by means of medals to which, by authority of the Holy See, Indulgences of this sort are annexed, which they give to the faithful, or by invocation of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, as has been conceded by several Supreme Pontiffs, they warn the faithful to place the conditions by which they may merit to obtain so great a benefit. If the S. C. judges that it should determine which course should rather be adhered to, all of us, as many as we are, will stand ready for the judgment of the Holy See. Resp. To that which is controverted among the Missionaries concerning the time of imparting the plenary Indulgence to those constituted in the article of death, the S. C. judged that circumstance of time sufficient for it to be rightly conferred which suffices for conferring Extreme Unction itself, namely when the infirm person, by force of disease, is seen to verge toward death. Nor is a nearer time of agony to be awaited, in which the sick person, scarcely master of himself, is plainly unequal to bringing forth those motions of soul which the Roman Ritual demands, so that the fruit of so great a benefit, as also of Extreme Unction, may be more richly received. Wherefore it will be the duty of Missionaries, after sacramental Unction has been applied to the infirm person, to excite the same to conceive in soul those things which are read in the same Ritual book, and soon after to fortify the same with so notable a benefit of plenary remission; and to furnish this especially then, when they foresee that they will not return." S. O. Jan. 1780.

"Whether the Apostolic Blessing with Plenary Indulgence in the article of death can be given after the last Sacraments have been conferred, when indeed danger of death is present, but not imminent? Resp. Affirmatively." S. Indulg. C. 19 Dec. 1885. Acta S. Sed. Vol. 18, p. 414.

"Whether the Blessing with plenary Indulgence according to the Constitution of Benedict XIV, Pia Mater, 5 Apr. 1747, is to be imparted to children who, because of defect of age, have not yet made first Communion? Resp. Affirmatively." S. R. C. 16 Dec. 1826.

"Whether the plenary Indulgence in the article of death can be conceded to those condemned to death, while they are being led to undergo it, or on the same day on which they are to undergo it? Resp. Affirmatively, when it can be done." S. C. de P. F. 10 Aug. 1841.

"Whether the apostolic Blessing can be imparted several times when a new danger of death returns? Resp. Negatively, while the infirmity remains, although prolonged; but affirmatively if the infirm person has recovered, and afterward from whatever cause returns into a new danger of death." S. Indulg. C. 24 Sept. 1838.

"1. Whether by force of the preceding resolution (Valentinen., 5 Feb. 1841, by which an infirm person cannot in the same article of death gain the plenary Indulgence to be imparted by several Priests having the faculty) it is prohibited that, to an infirm person remaining in the same danger of death, the plenary Indulgence in the article of death, which is commonly called the Papal Blessing, be imparted several times by the same or by several Priests having this faculty? 2. Whether by force of the same resolution it is likewise prohibited that, to an infirm person placed in the same circumstances as above, the plenary indulgence in the article of death be imparted several times by several Priests having this faculty under a diverse title, by reason of aggregation to the Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary, of the Holy Scapular of Mount Carmel, of the Most Holy Trinity, etc.? Resp. Affirmatively to both, the Valentinen. resolution remaining firm under the day 5 February 1841." S. Indulg. C. 12 March 1855, 12 June 1884.

"1. Whether the plenary Indulgence in the article of death, which is usually conceded without another declaration added, is to be taken in the true article of death, or in the presumed, or finally in both? 2. Whether the plenary Indulgence in the article of death is to be conceded to all asking? 3. Whether the contrite, but neither confessed nor refreshed by Most Holy Communion, obtain the plenary Indulgence which the Roman Pontiffs everywhere bestow upon suppliants for the article of death? Resp. To the 1st: It is to be taken in the true article only. To the 2nd: It is to be conceded to all asking. To the 3rd: Contrite persons of this sort gain the Indulgence, if the Pontiff in his concession does not require Confession or another similar thing." S. C. Ind. 23 Apr. 1675.

For gaining the Indulgence of a privileged Altar, the application of the Mass is not necessary. S. R. C. 31 Jan. 1848. The soul to be liberated from Purgatory by it, according to the mind of the one conceding, is only one, namely that which either has been designated, or is remitted to divine compassion to be chosen, or, if no soul at all has been thought of, whichever has pleased God. S. R. C. 29 Feb. 1864, 19 June 1880.