The Suspension of Indulgences and Faculties on the Occasion of the Jubilee

330. Definition and Division. 1. A jubilee is called a solemn plenary indulgence granted by the supreme pontiff with attached faculties.

2. A distinction is made between the ordinary jubilee, or the greater jubilee, which recurs every 25th year; and the extraordinary, or lesser jubilee, which the supreme pontiff grants in particular circumstances.

a. A jubilee differs from another plenary indulgence only accidentally, namely by reason of the solemnity and the faculties which are attached to it.

b. The ordinary jubilee has already been received by custom in the Church from the year 1475. It is customarily granted first to the City alone; it lasts through an entire year, which is called the holy year; then it is extended to the whole world for a shorter time.

c. The supreme pontiff grants an extraordinary jubilee after his own exaltation, and in addition according to his judgment, either on certain greater solemnities or in particular necessities of the Church. An extraordinary jubilee is customarily celebrated at the same time at Rome and in the whole world.

d. During the course of the holy year, several faithful who cannot travel to Rome, as nuns, the sick, those detained in prisons, etc., can gain at home the indulgence of the ordinary jubilee. Moreover those who during the passing holy year, either at Rome or at home, have gained the jubilee, can again gain it in the following year, in which it is extended to the whole world.²

e. For the ordinary jubilee only three conditions are customarily prescribed: confession, communion, and visitation of churches; for the extraordinary jubilee there are required besides these fasting and alms. The faithful can gain the ordinary jubilee in the City as often as they perform the prescribed works; but in the World generally only once. Sometimes, however, the power has been granted of gaining it twice, once for oneself and once for the dead. With regard to an extraordinary jubilee there is no rule; therefore it must be learned from the bull whether it can be acquired once or several times.

¹ Bellegambe, Enchiridion theologico-practicum de iubilaeo; Pasquatigo, Theoria et praxis magni iubilaei atque etiam extraordinarii; Theodorus a Spiritu Sancto, Tractatus historico-theologicus de iubilaeo; Bellarmine, De indulgentiis et iubilaeo; Beringer-Hilgers, Die Ablasse 14, pp. 569-589 f.; Patr. Bastien, De iubilaeo anni sancti (Rollarii flandr.: De Meester, 1901). For solving questions which arise concerning the jubilee, the constitutions of Benedict XIV must be consulted, especially Convocatis (25 Nov. 1749) and Inter praeteritos (3 Dec. 1749). From the declaration of the S. C. Indlg. (15 March 1852, authentic decree n. 353), in both the ordinary and extraordinary jubilee all the rules of Benedict XIV are to be observed which are not opposed to the bull of the jubilee.

² Benedict XIV, constit. Benedictus Deus.

331. Conditions Required for Gaining the Jubilee, concerning which the rule must be noted: works already owed from elsewhere do not suffice for gaining the jubilee.¹

1. Confession and communion. a. Confession must be made within the time established for gaining the jubilee; therefore a confession made on the vigil of the jubilee does not profit, but a confession made after first vespers of that day on which the jubilee begins does profit. For the ordinary jubilee in the City, according to ancient custom, is customarily begun from first vespers.

b. Confession already owed by another title, e.g., from the precept of the Church, and paschal communion do not suffice for gaining the jubilee without a special concession; but viaticum does suffice for gaining the jubilee.²

c. He who, after confession has been made but before he has placed the last prescribed work, has fallen into mortal sin, must repeat confession (it does not suffice to elicit perfect contrition); but he is not bound to repeat the other works already performed.³

2. Visitation of churches. Which churches must be visited and how often, at Rome the supreme pontiff designates, outside Rome the bishop designates; and in them, according to the intention of the pontiff, five Our Fathers and Hail Marys, or equivalent prayers, must be recited.

a. In places where there is only one church, the bishop can grant that all visitations can be made in it.⁴ But visitations which are made in the same church must be so distinguished from one another that on each occasion it is necessary to enter it and go out of it.

b. The bishop can also designate a public oratory to be visited, provided Mass is habitually celebrated in it.⁵

c. Excluding a special privilege, religious cannot gain the jubilee by visiting their own church. But if they cannot visit the churches designated by the ordinary, each one must request a commutation from his own confessor.⁶

d. If several churches must be visited once in the day, all must indeed be visited on that day; however, the day can be computed not only according to the civil manner, but also according to the ecclesiastical, namely from first vespers until twilight of the following day.⁷ Hence it can happen that, when today's visitations have been completed after first vespers of the same day, the visitations of the following day can already be instituted either wholly or in part.⁸

e. If the same church must be visited several times, the visitations can be made either on the same day or on distinct days, unless something else is established in the bull.⁹

f. Because works already owed from elsewhere do not suffice for gaining the jubilee, it does not suffice for the prescribed visitation to recite prayers for the jubilee while one is assisting at Mass by precept; but it suffices to recite prayers for gaining the jubilee before or after Mass.

g. Each person can perform the prescribed visitations either in his own domicile or elsewhere, provided he visits the churches designated in the place where he has determined to perform the visitations.¹⁰

3. A fast of three days, namely Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, with abstinence from meats.

a. In the last jubilees Leo XIII, by the words "using only fasting foods," had prescribed a strict fast, by which abstinence also from eggs and milk-products is required; Pius X, on the other hand (in 1904), prescribed only one day of fasting and granted to bishops the faculty of permitting eggs and milk-products in those places where it is difficult to use fasting foods.¹¹

b. It is not lawful to observe the fast prescribed for gaining the jubilee on a day on which a fast has already been commanded by the Church, unless this is expressly permitted in the bull.

c. The three prescribed fasts must be observed in the same week, unless the bull permits something else.

d. The fast prescribed must be observed also by those who by reason of age are either not yet or no longer bound to fast, likewise all who otherwise are excused or dispensed from fasting. But if they cannot perform this, the confessor can commute the fast into other pious works.¹²

4. Alms are prescribed either indeterminately: according to the judgment or devotion of each one, or more determinately: according to the faculties of each one; but it is not necessary that money be given, but some other thing estimable in price can be given.

a. For gaining the jubilee even the poor must give the prescribed alms; but it suffices to give a small coin.

b. If only some alms is prescribed indeterminately, any quantity suffices; but if it is prescribed according to the faculties of each one, the quantity which suffices for a poor person does not suffice for a rich person, but some proportion must be present between the alms and the faculties of the giver.

c. Alms can also be given through another, provided it is done with the knowledge of those very persons for whom it is distributed. Therefore the father of a family can give the prescribed alms for his wife and children; a religious superior for his subjects; a rich person for a poor person, provided it is distributed with their knowledge. Moreover religious and the poor can request the commutation of this work from their own confessor.

Notes. 1. No certain order is required in fulfilling these conditions, provided the last work is performed in the state of grace.

2. Formerly they thought that the works prescribed for gaining an extraordinary jubilee had to be performed in the same week;¹³ but now it is certain that this is not necessary.¹⁴

3. It is not necessary that the works be performed in one's own diocese; but either all or some of them can be performed in another diocese, provided the prescriptions of that bishop in whose diocese the works are done are observed.¹⁵

If someone changes domicile after he has already begun the prescribed works in the place of the prior domicile, he can perform the remaining works in the new domicile.

¹ Constit. Inter praeteritos, n. 53.

² S. Poenitent., 28 March 1900.

³ Constit. Convocatis, n. 47.

⁴ S. C. Indl., 14 March 1852, n. 353.

⁵ S. Poenit., 15 Jan. 1886.

⁶ S. Poenit., 24 April 1886.

⁷ Constit. Inter praeteritos, n. 8, 11, 13.

⁸ S. Poenit., 20 Feb. 1900.

⁹ S. Poenit., 15 Jan. 1886.

¹⁰ S. Poenit., 14 May 1879.

¹¹ S. Poenit., 23 March 1904.

¹² S. C. Indl., 10 July 1869, n. 425.

¹³ S. Alphonsus, n. 537.

¹⁴ S. Poenit., 6 March 1865.

¹⁵ S. Poenit., 15 Jan. 1886.

332. Special Faculties which are customarily granted to confessors during the jubilee:

1. Of absolving even regulars; nevertheless nuns strictly so called can be absolved only by confessors approved for nuns; but nuns of simple vows can once choose for themselves a confessor simply approved.¹

Since by the Code of Canon Law the power of absolving religious of either sex has now already been granted by the law itself to all confessors, this faculty is superfluous for future jubilees.

2. Of absolving from all sins and censures reserved to the bishop or to the Roman pontiff, even in a special manner.

Exceptions are: a. the cases reserved by the constitution Sacramentum poenitentiae, namely absolution of an accomplice, if the crime has been committed three or more times,² and calumnious denunciation of a priest for the crime of solicitation. b. The absolution of those who have been excommunicated, suspended, interdicted, or publicly denounced as bound by censure by the Roman pontiff or by another prelate by name. In the last jubilees the faculty of absolving these persons (named in the latter place) was granted, if they had satisfied the competent authority, or, if during the time of the jubilee they could not satisfy, provided they had promised that they would do this as soon as possible.

3. Of dispensing from an irregularity contracted through violation of a censure, provided it is occult.

4. Of commuting vows (not excepting a vow not to seek commutation), even sworn vows and vows reserved to the supreme pontiff.

a. Exceptions are: a. vows of perpetual chastity and of entrance into religion; b. vows made in favor of a third party and accepted by him, unless he has renounced his right; g. penal vows emitted for removing the danger of sin, unless the commutation is made into a work which is equally useful for removing the same danger.

b. He who, in a confession instituted for gaining the jubilee, has forgotten either to confess a reserved sin or censure, or to ask for commutation of vows, can afterward, even after the time of the jubilee has already elapsed, obtain absolution or commutation from any confessor: for the reservation has been removed through the confession instituted for gaining the jubilee, and through that confession he has acquired the right for obtaining the commutation.

c. For commuting vows a special cause is not required, but the very reason of the jubilee suffices. Nevertheless it must be noted that the faculty of simply commuting vows is granted, not merely of commuting them by dispensing.³

5. Of commuting for a just cause the prescribed works into other works not otherwise owed and of almost the same nature, with the exception, however, of confession, communion, and the prayers to be recited according to the intention of the supreme pontiff.

a. A commutation which is made without a just cause is invalid. Therefore if, for example, fasting were changed into another work only because of the penitent's repugnance toward fasting, the commutation would not be valid: for it is required that the penitent be in physical or moral impossibility of fulfilling the prescribed work. If, however, the confessor in good faith judged a cause insufficient in itself to be sufficient, the commutation would be valid.

b. Because the faculty of dispensing is not granted, it is necessary that the substituted work not be notably less than that which was enjoined by the supreme pontiff, unless perhaps the penitent were very weak.

c. For children who have not yet been admitted to holy communion, the prescribed communion can be commuted into another pious work, unless through the bull of the jubilee the faculty is granted of simply dispensing them from communion; but only in the act of sacramental confession.⁴ Marc (n. 1738) judges that holy communion can also be commuted for those suffering from a chronic illness, who for that reason cannot receive holy communion, something which because of the recent dispensation from fasting granted to sick persons of this kind is no longer necessary.

d. If it is granted that the faithful can gain the indulgence of the jubilee more often, the prescribed works can also be commuted more often.⁵

¹ S. Poenit., 17 Jan. 1900.

² Leo XIII grants the faculty of absolving from the crime of absolution of an accomplice admitted twice by the constitution Temporis quidem, 1900.

³ S. Poenit., 1 Nov. 1899.

⁴ S. Poenit., 30 Jan. 1886.

⁵ S. Poenit., 18 March 1886.

333. On the Use of These Faculties.

1. Confessors cannot use these faculties without a special concession except in sacramental confession.¹

2. They can use them only once for the same penitent, even if the indulgence can be acquired several times; but it is not necessary that all the faculties be applied in the same confession or that all be applied by the same confessor. The commutation of the prescribed works is excepted, which can be made several times where it is lawful to gain the indulgence several times.

Therefore to him who, the first time he gains the jubilee, has used the granted faculties, they cannot be applied again, even if the indulgence can be acquired more often; but to him who did not need the granted faculties when he gained the jubilee the first time, they can afterward be applied, provided the jubilee can be acquired more often and he repeats the prescribed works for gaining the jubilee. Whether a penitent to whom the granted faculties have been applied when he confessed can again be absolved by force of the jubilee if he falls into a censure before he has fulfilled the prescribed works or not is not certainly clear. Lehmkuhl (n. 555, 695) probably affirms it, and the holy see confirmed his opinion for the jubilee of the year 1901.²

3. Confessors cannot use these faculties except with penitents who have a sincere will of gaining the jubilee, and therefore of fulfilling the prescribed works, and who approach confession with this intention.³

a. If a penitent who has approached confession with this disposition has been absolved from censures and has obtained commutation of vows, but afterward does not fulfill the works prescribed for gaining the jubilee, he can enjoy the faculty once granted, but he commits sin, which nevertheless does not exceed venial sin.⁴

b. Through a sacrilegious confession reservations and censures are not removed; for the penitent does not bring the disposition which is a necessary condition in order that the privileges of the jubilee can be applied to him.⁵

¹ Constit. Inter praeteritos, n. 63.

² S. Poenit., 25 Jan. 1901.

³ Benedict XIV, const. Inter praeteritos, n. 62 and 86.

⁴ S. Alphonsus, n. 537.

⁵ Benedict XIV, Inter praeteritos, n. 62. S. Alphonsus, ibid.

334. Suspension of Graces. In order that the faithful may be more strongly attracted to undertake the Roman pilgrimage and to gain the jubilee in the City, during the holy year indulgences are suspended everywhere, with few exceptions, and in the World also the faculties of confessors, which revive when the holy year has elapsed. Namely:

1. Indulgences, both plenary and partial, granted by the Roman pontiff; but these are not suspended:

a. Indulgences applicable to the dead; indeed all indulgences which otherwise could be acquired only by the living the faithful can gain for the dead in that year;¹

b. the indulgence granted in the article of death;

c. indulgences granted for the prayer Angelus Domini;

d. the partial indulgence granted for visitation of the most holy sacrament solemnly exposed, when the adoration of forty hours is being made;

e. the indulgences granted to those who accompany the most holy sacrament, carrying a candle, when it is borne to the sick;

f. the indulgence of the Portiuncula of Assisi to be gained (outside Assisi we can gain this indulgence, like the others which can be acquired toties-quoties, only for the dead);

g. indulgences granted by a prelate inferior to the pope, whether habitually or transiently.

2. Faculties granted by the holy see, and indeed:

a. the faculty of absolving from cases and censures reserved to the Roman pontiff;

b. the faculty of commuting vows, whether the commutation is made simply or by dispensing;

c. the faculty of dispensing in irregularities;

d. the faculty of dispensing in impediments, even of marriage, granted either to private persons or to communities.

Therefore during the holy year the faculties of dispensing in abstinence and fasting do not cease, nor the faculty of attaching papal indulgences to rosaries, crosses, medals, etc., nor the faculty of giving the papal blessing at the end of missions, and other faculties of this kind which do not pertain to the four headings enumerated above.

Moreover, from the faculties themselves suspended by the bull of the jubilee some are excepted which remain in their force; ordinarily the following are excepted:

a. Faculties granted by the Sacred Penitentiary to missionaries, which are exercised in mission places and on the occasion of missions.

Some understand by missionaries only those who labor in regions of infidels; others probably extend this exception also to missionaries who in our regions devote themselves to giving missions.

b. Faculties granted to bishops either by the Council of Trent through c. Liceat, or by common law, or by special privilege for particular cases.

g. Faculties granted to regular superiors for their subjects.

¹ S. C. Indl., 16 Dec. 1749, n. 182.

In order that the City of Rome during the time of the Jubilee may be celebrated by as great a gathering of mortals as can be, during the Holy Year, that is, the year in which the ordinary Jubilee is celebrated in the City - but not during the time in which the said Jubilee is extended to the world, nor in an extraordinary Jubilee - indulgences and faculties outside the City are moderated as follows:

I. All indulgences - even those which have been granted for the living only - can be acquired for the departed. No indulgences can be acquired for the living, except indulgences granted: 1. to those who are constituted at the point of death; 2. for the recitation of the Angelus of the Lord or the Regina Caeli according to the time, and certain others to be assigned in the Bull.¹

II. The faculties of absolving from reserved cases and censures, of commuting vows, of dispensing from irregularities and impediments, are suspended, with these exceptions:

1. Faculties granted in any way through the Code of Canon Law, except those which were granted by privilege.

2. Faculties for the external forum granted in any way to Nuncios, Internuncios, Apostolic Delegates, and also to Ordinaries of places and Superiors of Religious Orders over their subjects.

3. Faculties granted by the Sacred Penitentiary for the internal forum, insofar as they are exercised toward penitents who cannot go to the City without grave inconvenience.²

¹ A.A.S. 1927, p. 306 sq.

² A.A.S. 1927, pp. 307, 308.

"It pleases the Holy See that the indulgences, faculties, and indults granted by the Bull of the Crusade remain in force also in this Jubilee year; and let the Most Eminent Archbishop take care that this favor come to the knowledge of those whom it concerns, by sending letters to the Commissioners of the Crusade in Sicily and to the Archbishop of the Diocese of Naples for the Commissioners of Southern Italy." Sacred Penitentiary, 19 January 1900.

"The Bull of Pius IV, Divina disponente clementia, of 17 July 1561 remaining in force, the Indulgences of the Holy Land granted therein remain valid and in force also in this Jubilee year. - By special and express Apostolic authority, the Sacred Penitentiary graciously grants that the faculties granted by the Sacred Penitentiary to Confessors remain valid and in force this year in favor of all pilgrims in the Holy Places." Sacred Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, 2 April 1900.

"Whether the suspension of faculties made by the Bull Quod Pontificum on 30 September 1899, by reason of the Jubilee, comprehends, with no exception made, the faculties in the printed folio customarily granted by the Sacred Penitentiary to Ordinaries and confessors for the internal forum? - Response. This suspension does not extend to those penitents who, at the time of confession, in the judgment of the Ordinary or confessor, cannot here and now approach the City without grave inconvenience." Sacred Penitentiary, 21 December 1899.

"The Sacred Penitentiary, after mature consideration of the matters set forth, declares that, by the Bull Quod Pontificum, all the faculties which Bishops and Ordinaries have, whether from the common ecclesiastical law, especially that of the Council of Trent, or from a special Indult perhaps granted by the Apostolic See in some particular case for determined persons expressly designated by name, remain valid and in force for both forums and for any cases whatsoever, both occult and public.

"But all the other faculties, whether temporary or perpetual, granted in whatever manner, whether by the Sacred Penitentiary, by some Sacred Congregation, or even immediately by the Supreme Pontiff Himself, cease entirely if they are for the internal forum; if they are for the external forum (of which kind the faculty of dispensing in mixed marriages is to be considered), they remain.

"But in order to make provision for those who are legitimately impeded from approaching Rome, provision was made by the declaration of this Sacred Penitentiary given on 21 December 1899." Sacred Penitentiary, 19 January 1900; M. E., vol. 11, p. 495.

1088. • QUESTION 1. Does the recitation of the confession, that is, the Confiteor, made in the Sacrament of Penance suffice for the prescribed recitation of it when the blessing with an Indulgence at the point of death is to be imparted?

Reply. Negatively, according to the practice and Rubrics, unless necessity urges.

QUESTION 2. Is it necessary to recite the Confiteor three times when sacred Viaticum and Extreme Unction are administered and the Indulgence at the point of death is imparted?

Reply. Affirmatively, according to the practice and Rubrics.

QUESTION 3. Can a sick person gain the plenary Indulgence at the point of death several times from several Priests having the faculty of imparting it?

Reply. Negatively, in the same point of death.

QUESTION 4. Does a Priest validly confer the plenary Indulgence at the point of death if, because a book is lacking, he omits the formula prescribed by the Supreme Pontiff?

Reply. Negatively, because the formula is not merely directive but preceptive. 5 February 1841.

643. This suspension obtains only during the holy year, when the Jubilee is celebrated at Rome, but not in the following year when it is extended to the whole world; nor does it affect the City of Rome itself, but the other parts of the Catholic world. In truth, certain privileges are suspended elsewhere for this reason: that the faithful may be drawn to the City and may there gain the Jubilee.³

³ Cf. Benedict XIV, Bull Cum nos nuper; Leo XIII, Bull Quod Pontificum, in Acta S. Sedis, XXXII, pp. 257-259.

1° All indulgences, both plenary and partial, granted by the Roman Pontiff - but not by an inferior Prelate - are suspended, with the following exceptions:

(a) indulgences for the dead; indeed all other indulgences which at other times can be acquired only by the living, in the holy year are applicable to the dead and can be acquired for them;¹

¹ Acta S. Sedis, XXXII, p. 320.

(b) the indulgence in the article of death;

(c) indulgences for the angelic salutation (i.e., the Angelus Domini) at the ringing of the bell;

(d) the indulgence of ten years and as many quarantines for visitation of the Most Blessed Sacrament exposed for forty hours;

(e) indulgences granted to those who accompany the Most Blessed Sacrament when it is carried to the sick, or who send a candle or torch to be carried by others on that occasion;

(f) the indulgence of the Portiuncula to be gained at Assisi; outside Assisi it can be acquired only for the dead.

644. 2° Faculties granted by the Holy See, but not by Bishops, are suspended, namely:

(a) the faculty of absolving from cases and censures reserved to the Pope; (b) the faculty of commuting vows; (c) the faculty of dispensing concerning irregularities and impediments (under which name certain authors understand matrimonial impediments, though others contradict them). - But, for the Jubilee of 1900, the Sacred Penitentiary declared, December 21, 1899, that the suspension of faculties "does not extend to those penitents who at the time of confession, in the judgment of the Ordinary or of the confessor, cannot here and now approach the City without grave inconvenience"²; now such is the case of most of the faithful. Besides, it declared, December 26, 1899, that this suspension does not extend to faculties granted to Ordinaries for the external forum, and consequently not to the faculty of dispensing concerning impediments of marriage in the external forum. And rightly; for otherwise Bishops, while the holy year is turning, would not be able to provide for the necessities of the faithful, and the concession of the Jubilee would be rather unto ruin than unto edification.

² Acta S. Sedis, XXXII, p. 335.

645. But the following are not suspended, but remain ratified and firm:

(a) the faculties of dispensing in fast and abstinence, of blessing rosaries, medals, crosses, and of annexing papal indulgences to them; the faculty of giving the papal blessing; and others not enumerated above; (b) faculties granted to Bishops by Trent (cap. Liceat) with respect to occult cases, or by common law, or by the Apostolic See for certain persons and cases;³ (c) faculties bestowed by the Apostolic See upon Prelates over Regulars subject to them; (d) finally, faculties granted to missionaries by the Sacred Penitentiary or the Sacred Congregation de Propaganda Fide, to be exercised in the places of Missions and on their occasion; now this can certainly be understood of missionaries who labor in regions of infidels or heretics (and consequently in the United States of America); but it is doubted whether it can also be understood of missionaries who preach in Catholic regions.

³ Acta S. Sedis, XXXII, p. 507.

562. Suspension of graces. One of the principal ends of a jubilee is to induce the faithful to make a pilgrimage during the jubilee to the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul existing at Rome. Therefore, during the Holy Year, many privileges and graces are customarily suspended outside the City (with a few places excepted). In the City privileges and graces are not suspended. When the Holy Year has elapsed, however, all privileges and graces revive. Therefore the following are customarily suspended:

1. All indulgences, both plenary and partial, granted by the Roman Pontiff (but not those given by an inferior prelate), with the following excepted:

a) indulgences applicable to the deceased; indeed, all indulgences which at other times can be acquired only by the living can, during the Holy Year, be applied not to the living, but nevertheless to the deceased.

b) the indulgence at the moment of death.

c) indulgences granted for the prayer The Angel of the Lord.

d) the indulgence of the Portiuncula to be gained at Assisi. Outside Assisi, however, the Portiuncula indulgence, like all other "As Often As" (Toties Quoties) indulgences, can be acquired for the deceased alone. There are also certain other indulgences which are not suspended during the time of the jubilee.¹⁰¹

2. Many faculties granted by the Holy See, for example, the faculties of absolving from cases and censures reserved to the Roman Pontiff, of commuting vows, of dispensing from irregularities, and of dispensing from impediments of marriage. Faculties granted by the law itself are customarily to remain in force, for example, the faculty of absolving in more urgent cases from reserved sins and censures. For the rest, almost nothing certain can be said concerning these matters, since, according to the discipline in force, the old customs are not always observed. Therefore the one certain rule is the Bull itself announcing the jubilee and determining the individual prescriptions.

¹⁰¹ Beringer-Steinen, Die Ablässe¹⁵ I, n. 1214 ff.

708. The apostolic blessing, or general absolution, as it is customarily called, must also be granted to the dying to whom the sacraments are ministered, and can be granted by any priest, according to can. 468, § 2: "to the priest who assists the sick there is the faculty of granting them the Apostolic Blessing with plenary indulgence at the article of death according to the form handed down by approved liturgical books, which blessing he is not to omit imparting."

Therefore under the name of general absolution comes the plenary indulgence which the Supreme Pontiff, by himself or through delegates, imparts to the dying under the form of a blessing: under this respect it is wholly distinguished from the plenary indulgence which, without any blessing, can be gained at the article of death either by those who have with them a blessed or pious object (for example, a cross or tablet), to be carried with them or in the room until death, to which an apostolic indulgence is annexed; or by members of a confraternity to which such a privilege has been conceded.

General absolution can be granted to all adults, or those capable of malice, constituted in grave danger, even from a cause other than disease, who have sought it or probably would have sought it, or have given signs of contrition; - but the indulgence remains suspended and does not obtain its effect except in the true and physical article of death. And therefore it neither should nor can be repeated or given under several titles in the same infirmity however long-lasting, since this is wholly useless, even if afterward the dying person has fallen into a new mortal sin; - but it is only to be repeated if the sick person has recovered and afterward has fallen into a new danger (S. C. Indg., Sept. 24, 1838; Mar. 12, 1855; Feb. 12, 1842).

The conditions required in the sick person for gaining it, from the bull of Benedict XIV, Pia mater, Apr. 5, 1747, are:

a) That he not be excommunicated or manifestly impenitent; but if he is doubtfully disposed, the apostolic blessing should be granted whenever sacramental absolution or Extreme Unction is given, even only under condition.

b) That he have received the sacrament of Penance and the Eucharist, if he can; but if he cannot, the state of grace suffices while he gives forth his last breath.

c) That he offer himself as prepared for accepting whatever shall have pleased God, and for patiently undergoing death itself in satisfaction for the punishments which he himself has deserved by sinning.

d) That he devoutly invoke the Most Holy name of Jesus by mouth if he can, otherwise in heart; and that he elicit an act of sorrow and charity.

The aforesaid indulgence cannot be applied to the dead.