Section — Konings, Theologia Moralis
§ I. On the Indulgences of the Way of the Cross
1787. - I. Requisites on the part of the Way of the Cross itself. - First of all there is need of the canonical erection of the stations, for which, besides Apostolic faculty (see p. LXXIII. 10), in general the written license of the Ordinary is required.2 The restriction previously subsisting, by which it was provided that in places in which monasteries of the Friars Minor exist the Way of the Cross should not be established in churches not subject to the same Order, His Holiness our Lord Pope Pius IX removed by decree of S. C. I., May 14, 1871, and granted that the stations of the Way of the Cross, the other things otherwise to be observed by law being observed, could be erected everywhere in churches and pious places.1
Nevertheless the faculty itself which is communicated to our Bishops is so restricted that they cannot use it, or subdelegate it to others, "in places, . . . in which . . . Franciscan Fathers are present."
By "Franciscans" are understood "Religious subject to the Minister General of the Friars Minor, both of the Observance and of the Reformed."2 Therefore neither Capuchins nor Conventuals.
By "in places" are understood not dioceses, but "a city, town, village with its respective suburbs, or places adjacent to them."3
But the faculty of our Bishops is not limited to Churches or Oratories, so that also outside them, e.g., in cemeteries or in cloisters, they can erect the Way of the Cross. This is argued from the Resp. of S. C. Indulg., December 14, 1857.4
The Indulgences of the Way of the Cross are annexed only to the Crosses (which must be wooden, and, if they are ornamented with metal, visible), but not to the images, which are not necessary5 nor necessarily blessed.6 - Therefore new images can be substituted without detriment to the Indulgence, provided that all the superimposed Crosses, or the greater part of them, remain.7 - The Crosses can also be transferred from an old panel to a new one, without there being need of a new canonical erection of the stations,1 provided the Way of the Cross remains in the same church.
As regards the arrangement of the stations, some distance between one and another is required.2
After the blessing of the Crosses has been made, there will be no need that the one having the faculty go through the stations; indeed even the affixing and placing of them can be done by any other person, and even at another time privately and without ceremonies.3
The method for erecting the stations of the Way of the Cross, see Rit. Rom. Baltim. 1873, p. 465 sq.; - the formula for making attestation concerning the erection, ib. p. 472.
Notes to nn. 1787-1788 - note sequence 1. (2) Addendum and Corrigendum. - The Most Reverend Archbishop N. N. enjoys an Apostolic indult of erecting the Way of the Cross with the faculty of communicating a license of this kind also to other priests subject to his spiritual jurisdiction. Supported by such an indult, he has bestowed the aforesaid faculty upon the priests of the archdiocese in a general way, so that in individual cases they need not have recourse to him. But since, according to the decrees of the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences set forth above, erections of the Way of the Cross of this kind are deservedly to be considered invalid, hence the humble petitioner, on bended knee, asks that Your Holiness deign to heal in the root all and singular erections of the Way of the Cross existing for the time being in the Archdiocese N. N., which may have been invalid either because of the cause stated in the petition or because of any other cause. - From the Audience of His Holiness held on 21 Oct. 1883: Our Most Holy Lord Leo XIII, Pope by Divine Providence, . . . deigned graciously to grant the requested sanation; but in order to avert in the future any doubt concerning the legitimate erection of the Way of the Cross thereupon, the Parish Priests or Rectors of the churches in which the Way of the Cross was erected in the manner set forth should take care to ask in writing from the Ordinary the required consent for each erection individually. The Pastor, vol. II, p. 23 (125). - For the peace of consciences we add that by Our Most Holy Lord Pope Leo XIII, on 31 July 1883, all defects which have occurred anywhere in the erection of the Way of the Cross were healed. The Pastor, vol. II, p. 21 (121). Notes to nn. 1787-1788 - note sequence 2. (1) Acta, T. VI. p. 327. (2) Prinziv. n. LXVII, n. LXXXIX, n. CXXI, n. CXXXIV, n. CCLI. (3) Ib. n. DCLXXIII. (4) Ib. (5) Ib. n. 494. Dub. 4. n. 567. Acta, T. XI. p. 401. (6) Prinz. n. CCCCLXXXVI. (7) Ib. n. DLXIV. Notes to nn. 1787-1788 - note sequence 3. (1) Ib. n. DLXX. (2) Ib. n. CCVI. (3) n. DXLV, DLXXIII. (4) Prinz. n. DVII. (5) Ib. n. CCXXXVI. (6) Raccolta, p. 90. (7) Prinz. n. DCLXXVI. (8) Ib. n. CCXLIX. Notes to nn. 1787-1788 - note sequence 4. (1) Ulrich, P. III. ch. II. p. 233.
1788. - II. Requisites on the part of those who make the Way of the Cross. - There is not required - the recitation of six Pater, Ave, and Gloria besides the visitation of the stations; - nor Adoramus te, Christe; Pater noster; Ave Maria; Miserere nostri, Domine. S. C. Ind., September 22, 1829.
But there is required:
1) Some motion of the body, ordinarily by proceeding from one station to another, insofar as circumstances (e.g., the multitude visiting the Way of the Cross, the capacity of the place) permit it.4 But in the public exercise of the Way of the Cross, when disturbance can be excited, each person of the people keeping his own place, the priest with two clerics or cantors should go around, stopping at each station, and there reciting the particular accustomed prayers, the others responding alternately.5
2) Meditation - but only some meditation, and according to the capacity of each one - on the Passion.6
3) A visitation, not morally interrupted, of the 14 stations according to their order.7
But an interruption which is made for hearing Mass, receiving Holy Communion, making Confession, and things of this kind, is not moral, since there is no digression to extraneous acts.8
Note. - For gaining the Indulgences of the Way of the Cross by means of a Crucifix blessed for this effect by one having power, there is required:
a) Impossibility (physical or moral) of visiting canonically erected Stations.
b) That the Crucifix be held in the hand while the prayers are recited.
c) That 20 Pater, Ave, and Gloria Patri be recited, namely 1 Pater, Ave, and Gloria for each station; 5 in memory of the 5 Wounds of Our Lord Jesus Christ; and 1 according to the intention of the Supreme Pontiff. No other prayer or meditation is required.1