The Faculty of Blessing Things with the Application of Indulgences

I. One who has received the faculty of blessing crosses, medals, scapulars, rosaries, etc., with the application of indulgences, is not bound to exhibit it to the Ordinary unless this is expressed in the concession.¹ One who has obtained the faculty of privately blessing pious things with the application of indulgences cannot use that faculty publicly, for example in a church or oratory before the faithful gathered there and holding in their hands the things to be blessed.²

II. As regards the form or rite to be observed in blessings, hold these things:

1. The ordinary or customary form - which is done by forming the cross over the thing to be blessed, without pronouncing any formula and without sprinkling holy water - suffices for crosses, medals, and rosaries, except, however, rosaries of the Most Holy Rosary and of the Seven Sorrows;³ it also suffices for crucifixes with a plenary indulgence at the point of death; likewise for the crucifix of the Way of the Cross in favor of the faithful who are impeded; and it always seems to suffice when no proper form is prescribed. In that case, the sign of the cross with the words "In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," together with the sprinkling of holy water over the object to which indulgences are to be attached, certainly suffices.⁴

2. The proper form must be used for rosaries of the Most Holy Rosary and of the Seven Sorrows, for crosses of the stations of the Way of the Cross, for a plenary indulgence at the point of death or the Apostolic Blessing, as it is called, for enrollment in the Confraternity of the sacred Scapular, etc.⁵

Cardinals, by canon 239, § 1, 5° and 6°, from their promotion enjoy the faculty of blessing everywhere, by the sign of the cross alone, with all the indulgences customarily granted by the Holy See, rosaries and other prayer-beads, crosses, medals, statues, and scapulars approved by the Apostolic See, and of imposing them without the burden of registration; likewise, by a single blessing, of erecting in churches and oratories, even private ones, and other pious places, stations of the Way of the Cross with all the indulgences which have been imparted to those performing such a pious exercise; and also of blessing for the faithful who, because of illness or another legitimate impediment, cannot visit the sacred stations of the Way of the Cross, Crucifix images with the application of all indulgences attached by the Roman Pontiffs to the devout exercise of the same Way of the Cross.

¹ Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, February 5, 1841.

² Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, January 7, 1843.

³ Cf. Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, April 14, 1840; January 7, 1843; February 29, 1864; Holy Office, May 18, 1914 (A.A.S., p. 346).

⁴ Cf. Beringer-Steinen, cited work, I, n. 836.

⁵ Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, February 5, 1841; March 12, 1855; February 29, 1864; March 22, 1879.

"1. It is fitting that one who desires to obtain the faculty of blessing chaplets, crosses, rosaries, medals, etc., with the application of the Apostolic indulgences and those of Saint Bridget should present a petition furnished with commendatory letters from his own Ordinary if he belongs to the secular clergy, but, if he is a religious, from the Superior of his Order or Institute approved by the Holy See.

"2. In order that the aforesaid faculty be exercised validly, it will be necessary that the priest be approved for hearing sacramental Confessions, at least of men.

"3. For the lawful exercise of that faculty, the consent of the Ordinary of the place in which one wishes to use it is required, the Decree of this Sacred Congregation of 8 June 1888 remaining in force with respect to exempt religious. It is desirable that this consent be express; nevertheless, tacit or implicit consent also suffices, and, in some case when it cannot practically be done otherwise, even consent prudently presumed suffices." Instruction of the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, 14 June 1901; A. S. S., vol. 34, p. 124 ff.

Question 3. How practically is the application of these Indulgences made?

Resp. Our Most Holy Lord Pius X "deigned to decree and declare:

"In blessing several similar or diverse objects of religion, which are offered joined or commingled to a priest furnished with several faculties, and to be enriched in themselves with indulgences by force of diverse faculties, one sign suffices for several blessings and attachments of indulgences. And the declaration is not extended to metallic medals to be substituted for scapulars, concerning which in the decree of the S. Office given on the day 16 December, in the year 1910." S. C. S. Off. (S. D. I.), 18 May 1914.