Article 16

It is forbidden to all, in whatever manner, to spread indulgences that are apocryphal and proscribed or revoked by the Holy Apostolic See. Those which have already been spread are to be taken from the hands of the faithful.

Character of the article

86. 1. By this first article concerning indulgences, severity is exercised against apocryphal indulgences, yet in such a way that simple faithful are burdened with no excessive weight. Wherefore:

Force of the law

2. The spreading of apocryphal and proscribed or revoked indulgences is strictly prohibited; to ecclesiastical Superiors is commended the care of taking them from the hands of the faithful; but upon the faithful themselves who have received such sheets or booklets nothing is directly enjoined. Therefore it will be sufficient if they obey commands which are promulgated concerning this matter by their Superiors. Thus the common opinion.

What apocryphal, proscribed, revoked indulgences are

3. Apocryphal indulgences are those which have not emanated from legitimate power; proscribed, those which have been pierced by a positive decree; revoked, those which were legitimate but afterwards abrogated.

Norms for discerning apocryphal Indulgences

4. On August 3-10, 1890, the Sacred Congregation promulgated these norms, by which true Indulgences could be distinguished from counterfeit ones:

Rule I. All indulgences which are contained in the most recent collection published by the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences¹ are authentic.

Rule II. General indulgences which are not exhibited in the above-said collection, or which are said to have been granted after the Collection was published, are then only to be held as authentic when the autograph document of the granting of the same has been recognized by the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, to which, under penalty of nullity, it must be exhibited before they are published.

Rule III. Indulgences granted to Orders and religious Congregations, Archconfraternities, Confraternities, Archsodalities, Sodalities, pious Unions, pious Societies, certain more celebrated Churches, pious Places, and Objects of devotion, which are contained in Summaries recognized and approved by the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, and published in print by its authority or permission, are to be held authentic.

Rule IV. Indulgences, whether general or particular, are not to be held as authentic which are contained in books, in booklets, in summaries, in sheets, in little papers, or even in images, printed without the approval of competent authority; which approval is to be granted after diligent review, and distinctly expressed.

Rule V. Apocryphal, or now entirely revoked, are all indulgences of a thousand or many thousands of years, at whatever time they may be said to have been granted.

Rule VI. Plenary indulgences are to be held suspect which are asserted to have been granted to those reciting only a few words: excepting Indulgences at the moment of death.

Rule VII. As apocryphal are to be rejected indulgences which are carried about in booklets, sheets, or little papers, printed or manuscript, in which, from slight or even superstitious causes and uncertain revelations, or under illusory conditions, indulgences and graces exceeding usage and measure are promised.

Rule VIII. As counterfeit are to be rejected sheets and booklets in which there is promised to the faithful reciting one or another prayer the liberation of one or several souls from Purgatory; and Indulgences which are commonly added to the said promise are to be held as apocryphal.

Rule IX. Indulgences of more recent asserted concession, if they are extended to an unusual number of years or days, are to be held as apocryphal, or at least as gravely suspect.

¹ The collection is entitled: Raccolta di orazioni e pie opere per le quali sono state concesse dai Sommi Pontefici le Indulgenze, Rome, Propaganda Fide, 1898.