§ 2. On The Jubilee

1735. DEFINITION. A Jubilee is a solemn plenary Indulgence with annexed privileges, granted by the S. Pontiff to those performing certain works.

It differs only accidentally from another plenary indulgence, namely by reason of solemnity and of the privileges and graces which are annexed to it. - Yet the primary motive of the concession is not that the faithful gain the Indulgence, but rather in general that they be provoked to true penance, and so obtain God's mercy or liberation from public calamities. It is also sometimes proclaimed to foster reverence and obedience toward the Holy See: for the solemn Indulgence of a Jubilee greatly profits toward the attainment of this end.

DIVISION. A multiple Jubilee is distinguished.

1. The GREATER or ordinary Jubilee, which regularly occurs every twenty-fifth year, which is called the HOLY YEAR; and the LESSER or extraordinary Jubilee, which is granted by individual Supreme Pontiffs after the exaltation of each one, or in other particular circumstances. - The greater Jubilee is customarily granted to the City, or to Rome alone, for an entire year, which having elapsed, it is extended to the whole World for a shorter time: otherwise with the lesser Jubilee.

2. The GENERAL Jubilee, which is granted to the whole World (as the greater Jubilee, and often also the lesser Jubilee); and the PARTICULAR Jubilee, which is granted to some province, city, or community.

Note. In interpreting Bulls of Jubilee, the RULES handed down by Benedict XIV are to be observed, to which not even the Bull of Jubilee itself is opposed, according as, with regard to both an ordinary and an extraordinary Jubilee, Pius IX declared on March 15, 1852.²⁵

1736. As to these, the BULL by which the Jubilee is granted must primarily be consulted. - But those things which hitherto, according to the statutes of Benedict XIV²⁶ and the mind of approved authors, in the time of the extension of the greater Jubilee to the whole Catholic World, have been accustomed to be granted, are summarily the following:

A) Directly for the PENITENT: Faculty of choosing a confessor from among those approved by the Bishop of the place where the confession is made. - Hence, any Regulars, Oblates, Tertiaries, etc., for the confession required for gaining the Jubilee, without the license of Superiors, can choose any priest from among the said approved ones, even a secular priest; but Nuns strictly so called, and their novices, can choose someone from among those approved by the Ordinary of the place for hearing the confessions of Nuns, whether approved for this end generally, or for other monasteries.²⁷ - But one once approved for Nuns, whether as ordinary or as extraordinary, but whose approbation, for example because of the lapse of the prefixed term, has ceased, can also be chosen by the aforesaid Nuns for the Jubilee, "unless it is established that the same confessor was afterward positively reproved by the same Ordinary on account of demerits which concern the confessions themselves." Thus the S. Penitentiary.²⁸

B) Directly for the CONFESSOR and indirectly for the penitent.

I. Faculty of absolving, for the forum of conscience only, "from excommunication, suspension, and other ecclesiastical sentences and censures, imposed or inflicted by law or by man for any cause whatever, reserved even to the Ordinaries of places" and to the Pontiff and S. See, "although in a special form, and which otherwise in a concession, however broad, would not be understood as granted, as well as from all sins and excesses, however grave and enormous, reserved even to the same Ordinaries and Pontiff...."²⁹ - Nor does it hinder (as is taught more probably and more commonly) if someone sinned in confidence of the Jubilee.³⁰

Yet from this broad faculty there are EXCEPTED: 1. Formal heresy externalized, although occult, unless the power of absolving from it is expressly indicated³¹ (This power, with those things preserved which must be preserved by law, was granted in the last Jubilees, celebrated at the time of the Vatican Council and thereafter). 2. Cases and censures reserved in the Constitution Sacramentum Poenitentiae of Benedict XIV (see nn. 1772 and 1780). 3. Absolution of those who have been excommunicated, suspended, interdicted by name, or declared or publicly denounced to have fallen into other sentences and censures by the Holy See or by some Prelate or apostolic judge; unless within the time of the Jubilee they have made satisfaction, and have come to agreement with the parties where there was need.³²

II. Faculty of dispensing from irregularity, yet occult, incurred because of violation of censures, through the exercise of Order.

III. Faculty of commuting simple vows (not excepting a vow not to seek commutation),³³ even sworn and reserved to the Apostolic See³⁴ (cf. n. 2191, 2).

But from this faculty are excepted: 1. Vows of perpetual chastity and of entering Religion (cf. n. 645, q. 2); 2. Vows in favor of a third party, if they have already been accepted, unless the third party renounces his right (cf. n. 647). Therefore vows emitted in some religious Community are also excepted.³⁵ 3. Penal vows preservative from sin, unless the commutation is made into another work which equally or more conduces to preservation.³⁶

Let it be noted: 1. These absolutions, commutations, dispensations cannot be made, without a special concession, outside the act of sacramental confession.³⁷ - See the Response of the S. Penitentiary, March 16, 1865.³⁸

2. Each faithful person can enjoy these things only one time during the Jubilee; but it is not necessary that all things be applied to him at the same time, or by the same confessor; yet they can be applied only to those "who have sincerely and seriously determined to obtain the Jubilee, and with this intention of gaining it and of fulfilling the remaining works necessary for gaining it, approach confession."³⁹

1737. I. For the GREATER or ORDINARY Jubilee, three conditions are usually required, namely:

1. DEVOUT VISITATION OF CHURCHES, namely of those which in the City are designated by the S. Pontiff, and outside the City by the Ordinaries of places, by praying piously in them according to the intention of the Pontiff, for example by reciting five Pater and Ave, or equivalent prayers. - It does not hinder if, while you cannot enter the church to be visited because of the multitude of men, you pray in the vestibule, or before the doors, or in the cemetery, or before the locked door of the church. But if several altars are prescribed to be visited, they must be visited in such a way that by some movement at least of the body you turn yourself to each one, with the intention of visiting it, then reciting the prayers due.² If in some place only one church exists, from the general decree of the S. C. of Indulgences issued on March 15, 1852,³ the faculty is given to Ordinaries of granting that all the prescribed visitations be performed in this church. But these visitations in the same church must be distinguished from one another, so that each time it is necessary to enter it and to go out from it. Thus from the declaration of the S. Penitentiary, January 26, 1875.⁴

2. VALID CONFESSION, even if only formally integral (cf. n. 1731).

3. COMMUNION, made in the state of grace, or in which at least first sanctifying grace is conferred per accidens,⁵ namely if someone indisposed, but in good faith and attrite, approaches the Sacred Table (cf. n. 1395).

II. For the EXTRAORDINARY Jubilee, besides the three enumerated conditions, there are usually prescribed:

1. A FAST of three days, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. But a strict fast is prescribed, in which only fasting foods may be eaten, unless commutation is obtained (cf. Decision of the S. Penitentiary, March 16, 1865).⁶ - 2. ALMS, either indeterminate, that is, some alms; or determinate, according to the ability of each one. But it is not necessary to expend money; it suffices to give another thing estimable by price, for example clothing, etc.

Note. For a PARTICULAR Jubilee, attention must be paid to the tenor of the Indult granted. - Ordinarily only three things are required, namely Confession, Communion, and visitation of some church.

1738. Three things here come TO BE NOTED: 1. To gain the Indulgence of a Jubilee, works already due from another title do not suffice. Hence: 1) a fast already prescribed, for example by reason of Ember Days, does not suffice, unless the S. Pontiff has granted this, for example by determining, or permitting to be determined, the Lenten time for gaining the Jubilee. 2) Annual confession does not suffice, unless this is expressly granted. 3) Paschal Communion does not suffice, even if the Jubilee is celebrated at Eastertide. Thus the S. Penitentiary, January 26, 1875. Yet sometimes the S. Pontiff has benignly granted that it suffice.⁷ 4) Finally, the visitation of a church while someone assists at Mass on Sunday does not suffice.

2. To confessors is granted the FACULTY OF COMMUTING the works prescribed into other works, otherwise not due and of almost the same nature; not indeed to all indiscriminately, but only to those who are in physical or moral impossibility of fulfilling the common conditions. And when it is granted that the faithful can gain the indulgence of the Jubilee several times, the works enjoined can also be commuted several times (S. Penitentiary, March 18, 1886).⁸ Yet it must be adverted that this faculty can be exercised only within the act of confession (as was said above, n. 1737, note 1), and is not extended to all the works prescribed. For Confession is never commuted; Communion, however, is commuted only for children, and also, as it seems, for those laboring under chronic illness (from the general concession of Pius IX reported in n. 1733, q. 7, which does not except the Jubilee); finally prayers cannot be commuted, even if the visitations of churches are commuted. Thus Benedict XIV, Constitution Inter praeteritos, § 53.

3. The Jubilee, at least from more recent Indults, can be PROROGUED into another but proximate time, in favor of travelers, navigators, and generally of those who are impeded by some transitory obstacle from completing all the prescribed works within the very time of the Jubilee. - Hence, if on the last day someone, for example because of a broken fast or the postponement of absolution, were prohibited from communicating, he would rightly obtain a prorogation of the Jubilee from the confessor.

1739. Questions. Q. 1. What QUANTITY of alms must be expended?

Resp. "In this, the words of the Indult are especially to be attended to; for if it is said: As much as to each one according to his ability shall have seemed good, then the quantity must be proportioned to the abilities of each one; hence it will suffice for a poor man to give an obol, not for a rich man. - But if it is said simply: Whoever shall have given alms, one must distinguish: if the Pope asks it only for exercising mercy toward the poor, then it suffices to give any sum whatever; otherwise, if alms is demanded as a subsidy for some pious work."⁹

Q. 2. Whether the POOR are bound, in order to gain the Jubilee, to give alms?

Resp. Affirmative. Because no one is so poor that he cannot at least give an obol. - But for Religious, children in the household, wives, and servants it suffices if alms is expended by their Superiors with their knowledge. - But if the Superior refuses to expend it, a commutation must be sought.¹⁰

Q. 3. Whether a certain ORDER is required in executing the conditions of the Jubilee?

Resp. Negative, for this is not expressed in the Bulls. - But the last work must be placed in the state of grace. But if someone after confession falls into mortal sin, although he is not bound to repeat the visitations, etc., he is nevertheless bound to confess again, nor does it suffice to be contrite, if he wishes to gain the Jubilee.¹¹

Q. 4. Whether all works must be performed in ONE AND THE SAME place?

Resp. Negative, for the S. Penitentiary (in the year 1875) declared: "works begun in one place can be fulfilled and completed in another, where someone must spend his life by reason of office, service, or marriage." - Likewise, to the question: "whether he gains the Jubilee who fulfills the prescribed conditions in another diocese, where he does not have domicile, if he observes the ordinances of the Ordinary of the place where he is staying?" it was answered: Affirmative.¹²

Q. 5. Whether confession made on the VIGIL of the first day of the Jubilee suffices?

Resp. Negative, and the reason is that all works must be done within the interval of time established for gaining the Jubilee. - Yet confession can be begun either on the vigil or before, provided it is finished during the time of the Jubilee. And the whole confession can be performed in that part of the vigil which follows first Vespers; because the first day, according to ecclesiastical custom, is usually computed from first Vespers; and this is constantly observed in the ordinary Jubilee of the City, as is clear from the Bull Peregrinantes of Benedict XIV, May 5, 1749, § 5.¹³

Q. 6. Whether all the enjoined works must be completed in ONE week?

Resp. 1. Affirmative, as regards FASTS. This is clear from the formula usually appended, which sounds thus: "Those who have taken part in the procession, or have visited the churches, and have fasted on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday of one of the two weeks, and likewise have confessed their sins and been refreshed with holy Communion, and have bestowed alms, etc." Therefore the three fasts must be done in the same week.¹⁴ - 2. As regards OTHER WORKS, in more recent Indults it has been expressly declared that they do not have to be completed necessarily within the same week. Thus Pius IX, November 20, 1846, and Leo XIII, March 12, 1881. - Indeed, sometimes the whole year is granted for fulfilling any conditions whatever (Encyclical, December 22, 1885).

Q. 7. Whether the Jubilee can be gained SEVERAL TIMES?

Resp. The Jubilee of the HOLY YEAR in the City, but not outside, can be gained by someone several times; and the same faculty is usually granted as to extraordinary Jubilees. But each one can enjoy the favors annexed to the Jubilee only once. Thus all,¹⁵ and the S. Penitentiary has expressly declared it concerning several particular Jubilees.

Q. 8. Whether he sins gravely who, after he has been absolved from reserved cases, afterward DOES NOT FULFILL the works enjoined?

Resp. Negative, with the common opinion. "The reason is because an obligation of this sort is not considered imposed either from the nature of the Jubilee, or from the precept of the Pontiff or confessor." But he who, with the true intention of gaining the Jubilee, has been absolved from censures, or dispensed in a vow or irregularity, does not relapse if afterward, his will having changed, he does not gain the Jubilee, even culpably.¹⁶

Q. 9. Whether he who confessed in the time of Jubilee, and FORGOT or WITH CAUSE OMITTED to confess his RESERVED sins, can then be absolved by any confessor?

Resp. 1. Affirmative, if the confessor had the express intention of absolving also from reserved sins. Thus all. - 2. The same is more commonly and more probably admitted, although the confessor did not think about this; because the penitent, by force of the Jubilee, acquired the right to the favor of the Pontiff, so that from that time he can be absolved by any confessor.¹⁷ - 3. But if someone began a confession within the Jubilee, which materially imperfect confession must be deferred longer, he will be able to be absolved from all reserved sins either then or afterward.¹⁸

Q. 10. Whether by an INVALID confession in the Jubilee reserved censures are absolved, and the reservation of sins is removed?

Resp. Negative, according to St. Alphonsus.¹⁹ The reason is that the Pontiff grants such a faculty for this end, that the faithful may gain the indulgence of the Jubilee. Therefore he is not presumed to grant it in favor of those who, because of an invalid confession, cannot gain the indulgence.

1740. Note. During the time in which the Jubilee of the HOLY YEAR is celebrated at Rome (but not during the time in which it is extended to the World): 1. Outside the City are SUSPENDED faculties or privileges both of absolving from cases reserved to the Apostolic See and of commuting vows, dispensing from irregularities, etc.; whether these faculties were conceded in view of indulgences, or for other causes. Thus Benedict XIV.¹ There are excepted (unless something else is clear from the Bull): 1) the faculties of the S. Inquisition and its ministers; 2) faculties conceded to Bishops by the Council of Trent; 3) faculties of Regular Superiors to be exercised with their subjects; 4) faculties of Missionaries whom the Holy See sends, or the S. Congregation de Propaganda Fide; 5) faculties which the S. Penitentiary gives to Missionaries for places of missions; 6) faculties which perhaps the confessor has either obtained from the S. Penitentiary, or has as subdelegated by his own Ordinary after the manner of a habit for the internal forum and only in the act of sacramental confession (S. Penitentiary, year 1875).²

2. Similarly, in the holy year there are suspended (unless otherwise established, as in the Jubilee of the year 1875) all indulgences both plenary and particular which have been conceded for the living, and which are neither real nor local; but those conceded for the dead are not suspended. Indeed, from the concession of Benedict XIV, through the whole year of Jubilee, all Indulgences can be applied to the dead, not even those excepted which otherwise were not applicable to them.

Yet among indulgences for the living, some are EXCEPTED from suspension, namely: 1. Indulgences for the dying; 2. Indulgences for the prayer Angelus Domini; 3. Indulgences for visitation of the Most Holy Sacrament solemnly exposed; 4. Indulgences for those who accompany the Most Holy Sacrament carried to the sick; 5. all Indulgences which are conceded by someone other than the Pope. These things are deduced from the Constitutions of Benedict XIV and Leo XII.³