Article — Wouters, Manual of Moral Theology
Article III. On the Indulgence
To the Jubilee is attached a plenary indulgence, to be gained only once, unless it is expressly granted as to be acquired several times. Moreover, in the Jubilee of the Holy Year in the City, it is granted several times to those who repeat the prescribed works.1 Now we must speak about the works which are usually prescribed for gaining the indulgence.
1 Bulls Convocatis, § 52; Inter praeteritos, § 84; Benedictus Deus, § 2.
I. Prescribed works. In the ordinary Jubilee there are commonly prescribed only: confession, communion, and visitation of the designated churches together with prayer according to the mind of the Supreme Pontiff; in an extraordinary Jubilee, besides the works enumerated, fasting and almsgiving are usually enjoined. A few things about each; moreover compare what was said in n. 494.
Confession is necessary even for those who have not sinned gravely, although absolution is not required for these.1 If someone after completing the confession of the Jubilee, but before the last work has been fulfilled, falls into mortal sin, he is bound to confess again, nor does contrition suffice; however, it is not required that the other works, even if already fulfilled in the state of sin, be repeated.2 The annual confession, by which satisfaction is made for the precept by which one constituted in mortal sin is bound, does not suffice.3
Communion, certainly worthy communion; the Paschal communion does not suffice;4 nevertheless in the year 1925, if someone had neglected to receive Paschal communion, communion for the Jubilee also availed for fulfilling the Paschal precept; for the Jubilee, at least of the year 1900, the Sacred Penitentiary declared on March 28, 1900, to 2, that Viaticum suffices.
Visitation of churches. Which churches are to be visited and how often are determined in the City by the Supreme Pontiff, outside the City by the Bishop. In instituting the visitations it is permitted to compute the day either according to civil custom (from midnight to midnight) or according to ecclesiastical custom (from first Vespers up to sunset of the following day).5 When several visitations are prescribed, it is not enough to enter the church once and there recite the prayers several times, but one must go out from the church and enter it again.6 Moreover the visitations must be made with the intention of worshiping God.7
Regulars also are bound to visit the churches designated by the Bishop, unless they enjoy a special privilege; nevertheless commutation can be granted to those lawfully impeded.8
Prayers to be recited. They must be recited in the place to be visited and according to the mind of the Supreme Pontiff. Oral prayers suffice; merely mental prayers do not, to which therefore an oral prayer would have to be added.9 Moreover compare what was said in n. 498.
Fasting is to be taken in the strict ecclesiastical sense, that is, joined with abstinence, and indeed, considering the old law, with abstinence not only from flesh meat but also from eggs and milk products.10 Under the new law, however, fasting no longer includes abstinence from eggs and milk products. Fasting also concerns those who otherwise are not bound to it, such as children and the elderly (St. Alphonsus, VI, 534, 3°); nevertheless there is place for commutation (n. 559).
If almsgiving is enjoined, as devotion suggests, a modest amount suffices; if it is prescribed according to each one's means, a larger amount must be given by the rich. It is indifferent whether money or another thing is given. Religious, wives, and children of families satisfy by consenting to the alms which the Superior or father gives in the name of the whole community or family. Nevertheless religious and the truly poor can ask for commutation (St. Alphonsus, VI, 538, q. 11).
1 Bulls Convocatis, § 46; Inter praeteritos, § 77; cf. Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, May 19, 1759 (Decreta authentica, n. 214); May 6, 1852 (Decreta authentica, n. 359, to IV).
2 Bulls Convocatis, § 42; Inter praeteritos, § 79; cf. Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, November 28, 1759 (Decreta authentica, n. 217, to I).
3 Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, May 10, 1844 (Decreta authentica, n. 327, to I), compared with the Sacred Penitentiary (A.A.S. VIII, p. 351).
4 Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, May 10, 1844 (Decreta authentica, n. 327, to I).
5 Bull Inter praeteritos, § 13; Sacred Penitentiary, January 24, 1875.
6 Sacred Penitentiary, January 25, 1875.
7 Bull Inter praeteritos, § 13.
8 Bulls Convocatis, § 51; Inter praeteritos, § 83.
9 Bulls Convocatis, § 51; Inter praeteritos, § 83.
10 Sacred Penitentiary, March 16, 1865; Bucceroni reports other declarations of the same Congregation, Enchiridion, n. 1065.
II. Things to be noted concerning the prescribed works.
Works owed by law or precept do not suffice, unless the Supreme Pontiff signifies the contrary.1 Hence, as has already been noted, annual confession, Paschal communion, etc., do not suffice.
The prescribed works, even confession and communion, must be done during the time of the Jubilee;2 likewise with the intention of gaining the indulgence; but a habitual intention suffices (n. 501).
The works enjoined, whether all or some of them, can also be fulfilled outside one's domicile, provided that the ordinances of the Ordinaries of the places are observed.3
Finally, it does not matter in what order they are fulfilled, nor is it required that they be done in the state of grace, except for the last work.4
1 Bull Inter praeteritos, § 53; this speaks of debt in any way whatsoever; but since canon 932 speaks only of law and precept, things owed under another title, for example a vow, now seem to suffice.
2 Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, December 9, 1763 (Decreta authentica, n. 231); May 10, 1844 (Decreta authentica, n. 327, to I); canon 931, § 3.
3 Sacred Penitentiary, January 15, 1886, to VI.
4 Bulls Convocatis, § 47; Inter praeteritos, §§ 73-76.
III. Relaxation of the works. To the Supreme Pontiff alone belongs the faculty of dispensing in some work; but to confessors - not, however, of itself to Superiors1 - is granted the faculty of commuting for those morally impeded the prescribed works into other pious works; concerning this, observe:
The faculty of commutation does not include confession; nor communion except for children who have not yet been admitted to first Communion;2 nor the prayers to be recited according to the mind of the Supreme Pontiff.3
Commutation cannot be made into works otherwise owed, unless this is expressly granted;4 nor, as follows from the nature of commutation, can it be made into notably lesser works.
Commutation of itself, that is, considering the norms of Benedict XIV, seems to have to be made in sacramental confession. For thus Benedict XIV established generally concerning the use of faculties.5
Even if the indulgence can be acquired several times, nevertheless the commutation of the works enjoined, considering the Bull of Benedict XIV,6 can be made only once; but the Sacred Penitentiary, March 18, 1886,7 responded that the works enjoined can be commuted several times.
Note. One who foresees that the time for completing the prescribed works will not suffice for him should ask for commutation or, if the Bull permits it, prolongation of the Jubilee.
1 Cf. Sacred Penitentiary, April 23, 1886, to II and III.
2 Considering the kindly mind of the Church, this perhaps can be extended to those very few sick persons who cannot communicate even at home.
3 Benedictus Deus, § 3; Inter praeteritos, § 53.
4 Inter praeteritos, § 53.
5 Inter praeteritos, § 63; cf. Sacred Penitentiary, January 30, 1886.
6 Bull Convocatis, §§ 52 and 39.