Morals of the Church
Library › Wouters, Manual of Moral Theology › Volume II › Book III. On the Aids of the Christian Life, or on the Sacraments › Treatise V. On Penance › Dissertation II. On the Sacrament of Penance › Appendix. On Indulgences › Part II. On Some Indulgences in Species › Section VIII. On the Jubilee › Chapter III. On the Suspension of Indulgences and Faculties on the Occasion of the Jubilee

Section — Wouters, Manual of Moral Theology

Scholion I. On the Plenary Indulgence at the Point of Death

561.

I. At the point of death only one plenary indulgence can be gained, although the dying person may have a right to it under various titles.1 This holds even if the dying person, because of a less perfect disposition, acquires only partially the plenary indulgence which he acquires.

This indulgence, which is acquired at the last moment of life, cannot be applied to the departed (n. 530). An exception should more probably be made if the matter concerns one who has elicited the heroic act of charity; for he enjoys the privilege of applying to the departed all indulgences which he gains (n. 550).

II. Concerning the various titles from which a dying person can acquire a right to the said indulgence, it is useful to note these things:

  1. It is to be advised that the dying person strive to make several titles his own; for it can happen that the conditions required for some title are not fulfilled, while the conditions established for another title are fulfilled; whence it happens that, with several titles in place, the hope of gaining the indulgence is increased. There is added the fact that several titles can occur without the intervention of a priest, and that the conditions to be fulfilled for different titles especially promote the disposition required for gaining the indulgence.

When an indulgence is granted under the customary conditions, there are required: confession, communion, invocation of the Name of Jesus by mouth, or, if that cannot be done, in the heart, and prompt acceptance of death in satisfaction for sins.

  1. The principal titles are:2

a) The Apostolic blessing at the point of death, concerning which we spoke at length in n. 530 sq.

b) Enrollment in most confraternities.

In order that the indulgences be gained, the customary conditions are for the most part required (n. 494).

c) Enrollment in an Order, religious Congregation, or Third Order; this holds at least for most Congregations and Third Orders.

For a member of an Order and of a Third Order, confession and communion are required, or, if these cannot be done, a penitential invocation of the Holy Name by mouth, or, if that is impossible, in the heart.

d) Use of a cross or another object to which Papal indulgences are attached.

In order that someone acquire the indulgence: 1. he should carry the object upon himself or keep it decently in his house; 2. he should fulfill the customary conditions.

e) Use of a crucifix, that is, a cross with the image of Christ crucified, to which is attached a plenary indulgence at the point of death toties-quoties.3

In order that the indulgence be gained, the dying person: 1. should kiss or in some way touch the crucifix;4 2. should fulfill the customary conditions.

f) Recitation of the acts of faith, hope, and charity.5

It is required only that someone has frequently elicited the said acts in life; it does not matter by what formula he has done this.

g) Recitation of the prayer: Lord my God, from now on I accept from your hand with a calm and willing mind whatever kind of death shall have pleased You, with all its distresses, punishments, and pains.6

It is required that, on whatever day he wishes, after confession and communion have been received, by reciting the said act with charity he accept death from God.

h) Sometimes the Supreme Pontiff grants by name a plenary indulgence to a dying person, with no condition established.

1 Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, January 23, 1901, to II (Collectio, n. 2100).

2 Cf. N. K. Stemmen, 1922, p. 72.

3 Toties-quoties, whose meaning in this case is that any one of Christ's faithful constituted at the point of death may be able to acquire a plenary indulgence through the use of this crucifix (Holy Office, June 10, 1914); in what sense this decree is to be understood was declared and confirmed by the declaration of the Sacred Penitentiary, June 23, 1929 (A.A.S. 1929, p. 510 sq.).

4 Holy Office, January 11, 1914.

5 Raccolta, I, p. 18; Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, January 22, 1756.

6 Raccolta, I, p. 148; Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, March 9, 1904.

The Plenary Indulgence at the Point of Death