The Way of the Cross

The Way of the Cross is: "A pious exercise by which the whole series of the Lord's passion, expressed in painted tablets where this can conveniently be done and distributed into several stations, is proposed for contemplation in the manner in which pilgrims visiting the City of holy Jerusalem look upon the very places where Christ suffered, recalling and frequenting them."¹

We shall speak first of the erection of the Way of the Cross, then of the indulgences attached to it and of acquiring them, and then of the Crucifix of the Way of the Cross.

¹ Constitution of Benedict XIII Inter plurima, March 9, 1726.

I. The power of erecting the Way of the Cross belongs:

1. To Cardinals, who from their promotion in Consistory enjoy the faculty of erecting by a single blessing, in churches and oratories, even private ones, and in other pious places, stations of the Way of the Cross with all the indulgences which have been imparted to those performing a pious exercise of this kind (canon 239, § 1, 6°).

2. To Bishops, even titular ones, who from receiving authentic notice of canonical provision having been completed can do the same as Cardinals, but with the rites prescribed by the Church (canon 349, § 1, 1°).

3. To Apostolic Vicars and Prefects, in their territory (canon 294, § 1).

4. To Superiors of the Order of Friars Minor, even excluding the Capuchin and Conventual Minors.¹ Now:

a) The Minister General, by himself or through others, can erect Stations everywhere in the world; the Provincial Minister, within the Province; the Guardian or President, within his own guardianship or district - not to be taken too rigorously, since Benedict XIV left to the judgment of pastors the choice of the religious man whom they judged more suitable, so that with the license of his local superior he might proceed to make the erection.²

b) The Minister General can delegate the faculty of erecting within and outside the Order; he can also grant authority of subdelegating. The other Superiors are wholly without this right, and furthermore can delegate for the erection of the Way of the Cross only their own subjects who are approved preachers or confessors.³

Note. The competent authority in the Order of Friars Minor, from whom the faculty is requested, commonly restricts this to places where the said Order does not exist. By the name of places here are meant a city, town or village, with the respective suburbs or places adjacent to them, but not a parish, or a whole diocese, or any other section or part of a diocese.⁴

¹ Cited Monita, n. I.

² Stein, p. 32.

³ Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, December 14, 1857 (Decreta authentica, n. 382, to I and II).

⁴ Brief of Clement XII Exponi nobis, January 16, 1731, together with the Rescript of the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, March 15, 1884; cited Monita of Clement XII, nn. III and IV. From practice it seems that what is read as prescribed in the cited Decree, n. III, is not to be taken so strictly: "But where the Way of the Cross should be erected outside a church... care must always be taken that it begin from a church or sacred place, or have its end as far as a church or sacred place" (Sleutjes, n. 19).

II. Places suitable for erection are: churches, public and semi-public oratories; likewise private or domestic oratories in which there is the privilege of celebrating Mass; likewise common and decent places of convents, seminaries, hospitals, and other pious places; finally public and decent places under the open sky, as in cemeteries, at the entrance of churches, in gardens, in groves. For private or domestic oratories in which Mass cannot be said, a special indult is required.¹

Nothing also prevents several Ways of the Cross from being erected in the same place.²

¹ Cf. cited Monita, n. IV.

² Cited Monita, n. III; Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, June 20, 1838 (Decreta authentica, n. 261), January 30, 1839 (Decreta authentica, n. 270, to II), November 23, 1878 (Decreta authentica, n. 442, to I).

III. Required documents. Before the erection, under penalty of nullity, the following are required in writing: 1. the deputation of the priest erecting, unless he himself is the Superior;² 2. for individual cases, the license of the Ordinary of the place, the consent of the pastor, and the consent of the superiors of the church, monastery, hospital, or pious place where the Stations of the holy Way of the Cross are to be set up.³ Nevertheless:

1. The license of the Bishop is not required if the matter concerns an exempt place, such as churches, oratories, and internal places of exempt religious;⁴ but strictly domestic oratories and other decent places of private houses are not excepted.⁵

2. Nor is the consent of the pastor required if the matter concerns places which by law, or at least in fact, for example by force of diocesan statute, are exempt from the jurisdiction of the pastor;⁶ but in the latter case, the consent of the rector to whom the place has been entrusted is required. Nor is the consent of the pastor demanded for strictly private oratories and other decent places of private houses.

3. It suffices that the deputation, license, and consent to be exhibited in writing be implicit. Hence if, for example, the Bishop has deputed someone in writing to erect the Way of the Cross in a determinate place, no other document expressing the license is required.

An instrument of the completed erection must be drawn up and signed by the erector's own hand.⁷ Furthermore, the petition and concession of the erection are to be preserved in the episcopal archive; the other documents, such as the instrument of erection of which we have spoken, in the archive of the place.⁸ These things, however, are not prescribed under penalty of nullity.⁹

¹ Cf. Sleutjes, Instructio de Stationibus S. Viae Crucis.

² Cf. Brief of Clement XII Exponi Nobis and Brief of Benedict XIV Cum tanta.

³ Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, September 26, 1892, to IX.

⁴ Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, September 26, 1892, to VI.

⁵ Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, June 21, 1879 (Decreta authentica, n. 445, to I); September 26, 1892.

⁶ Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, September 25, 1841 (Decreta authentica, n. 294).

⁷ Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, August 3, 1748 (Decreta authentica, n. 175); September 25, 1841 (Decreta authentica, n. 294).

⁸ Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, August 6, 1890, to IV.

⁹ Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, August 6, 1890, to IV.

IV. Matter of erection. For validity there are required fourteen wooden crosses visible to those standing by.¹ Although no decree clearly prescribes that the crosses must be visible as wooden, nevertheless this is the mind of the legislator. To the crosses are joined, though not necessarily,² tablets, whether painted or sculpted, which represent the same mysteries of the passion as the Stations of the holy Way of the Cross at Jerusalem.

¹ Cited Monita, n. III; Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, June 20, 1838 (Decreta authentica, n. 261); January 30, 1839 (Decreta authentica, n. 270, to II); November 23, 1878 (Decreta authentica, n. 442, to I).

² Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, November 13, 1837 (Decreta authentica, n. 258); September 20, 1839 (Decreta authentica, n. 275, to I).

V. Form of erection is constituted by the blessing and affixing of the crosses, and of the tablets if they are used, with some distance preserved.

1. The blessing of the crosses is required for validity;¹ the tablets, if they are present, can be blessed,² but do not have to be blessed. The blessing of the crosses must be made by a legitimate minister, in the place where the Way of the Cross is to be erected.³ If, however, the Way of the Cross is to be erected in a monastery of nuns, it is not required that the one erecting enter the cloister, but it suffices that he bless the crosses at the grates.⁴ Besides this, the blessing can be made both before and after their affixing.⁵

2. The affixing of the crosses, for example to a wall or upon benches, provided these are immovable and sufficiently upright, likewise belongs to validity.⁶ Nevertheless, it makes no difference whether it is done before or after the blessing, by the erector himself or by another; and if it is done by another, it is not required that the erector be present, so that after the blessing has been made he can depart.⁷

3. Some distance between the various stations is required, so that validity would be lacking if the whole way were completed in very few paces.⁸ It does not matter, however, whether the way begins on the Gospel side or on the Epistle side.

¹ Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, January 30, 1839 (Decreta authentica, n. 270, to II).

² Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, September 28, 1838 (Decreta authentica, n. 246, to IV) indeed declares that images, or tablets, are never blessed; but since the formula for blessing them has been retained in the Roman Ritual, the said declaration should be understood so that it is not of necessity that the images be blessed.

³ Cf. Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, September 26, 1872.

⁴ Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, June 21, 1879 (Decreta authentica, n. 447).

⁵ Cited Monita, n. VIII.

⁶ Cf. Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, December 16, 1760 (Decreta authentica, n. 223, to II).

⁷ Cf. Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, August 22, 1842 (Decreta authentica, n. 311, to I and II); June 21, 1879, n. 447; September 26, 1892, to II.

⁸ Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, August 26, 1752 (Decreta authentica, n. 194, to I).

VI. Invalidation of the erection has place:

1. If all the crosses originally blessed, or at least seven, perish, whether simultaneously or successively.¹ In this case a new erection is required; but that new erection or renewal in the same place is made by the blessing alone of new crosses, without the license of the Bishop and consent of the pastor being required again, provided these can be presumed to persevere.² Delegation, however, must be made in writing.³

In the case in which the crosses perish in a smaller number, the erection is not invalidated, and it suffices to substitute other crosses for the lost ones without a blessing.⁴

2. If the crosses are definitively transferred to another place;⁵ but not if they are removed for a time, or are arranged in the same place in another way.⁶

In the case in which the crosses are definitively transferred to another place in which the Way of the Cross had not yet been erected, all and each of the conditions must be fulfilled which were fulfilled in the former erection. But if in that other place the Way of the Cross had already been lawfully erected, the blessing of the transferred Way of the Cross suffices, after delegation granted in writing has been had, and without renewal of the other documents, provided the license of the Bishop and consent of the pastor are presumed to persevere.

The privilege of the Way of the Cross does not cease if, the old church having been destroyed, a new one is built in almost the same place and under the same title, and the same crosses which had been affixed in the old church are affixed there.⁷

¹ Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, January 30, 1839 (Decreta authentica, n. 270, to V).

² Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, January 11, 1896.

³ Cf. Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, August 22, 1844 (Decreta authentica, n. 328).

⁴ Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, January 30, 1839; September 20, 1839 (Decreta authentica, n. 270, to V; n. 275, to II).

⁵ Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, January 30, 1839 (Decreta authentica, n. 270, to IV).

⁶ Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, September 20, 1839 (Decreta authentica, n. 275, to III); August 22, 1842 (Decreta authentica, n. 311, to IV); August 20, 1844 (Decreta authentica, n. 328).

⁷ Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, January 11, 1896.

VII. Convalidation of the erection, or sanation of its invalidity, belongs to the Sacred Penitentiary, which will not omit to designate the conditions to be fulfilled.

I. Attached indulgences. By Decree of the Sacred Penitentiary,¹ all and each of the Indulgences previously granted in performing the Way of the Cross have been abrogated, and the following new indulgences have been established: all the faithful who, whether individually or in company, with heart at least contrite, perform the pious exercise of the lawfully erected Way of the Cross according to the prescriptions of the Holy See can gain:

1. A plenary indulgence as often as they complete the pious exercise itself.

2. Another plenary indulgence, if on the same day on which they have performed the mentioned pious exercise, or even within a month after it has been performed ten times, they approach the Sacred Synaxis.

3. A partial indulgence of ten years and as many quarantines for individual stations, if perhaps, for any reasonable cause, they have not brought the exercise begun to the end.

¹ October 20, 1931 (A.A.S. 1931, p. 522).

II. Acquisition of the indulgences. In order that the indulgences be acquired, there are required:

1. Visitation of the Stations, by going from one station to another.¹ Now:

a) In a private exercise, or one performed by individual persons, passage from one Station to another is always required "insofar as either the multitude of persons who visit them or the narrowness of the place where they are erected permits."²

b) In a public exercise, or one performed after the manner of a public sacred function, when disturbance can be excited, it suffices that, each one of the people keeping his own place, the priest with two clerics or cantors go around, and, stopping at each station, recite there the particular customary prayers, the rest responding alternately.³ But in the case in which, because of the size of the church or other circumstances of the place, the priest reciting prayers at each station can scarcely, or not even scarcely, be understood, it suffices that the same prayers be recited by the priest from the pulpit, from which he is understood by all, provided that another priest with two clerics or cantors goes around and stops at each station.⁴

c) In a common exercise, namely one performed by several at the same time but not after the manner of a public function, passage of all is required unless the narrowness of the place stands in the way; if this stands in the way, in the case in which the matter concerns a religious community, it suffices that one, even a layperson or woman, go around and, stopping at each station, recite the prayers.⁵

2. Meditation on the passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ; nor is any vocal prayer prescribed.⁶ Meditation on the passion in general suffices, and that however brief and according to each one's capacity.⁷

3. The exercise performed morally in one stretch.⁸ A brief interruption for any cause, indeed a longer one from a religious cause, does not stand in the way.⁹

¹ Cited Monita, n. VII.

² Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, February 26, 1841 (Decreta authentica, n. 287).

³ Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, July 23, 1757 (Decreta authentica, n. 210).

⁴ Sacred Congregation of Propaganda Fide, March 1, 1884.

⁵ Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, February 27, 1901; May 7, 1902.

⁶ Cited Monita, n. 6.

⁷ Cf. Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, June 2, 1838 (Decreta authentica, n. 259); Raccolta, n. 88.

⁸ Cf. Raccolta, n. 88.

⁹ Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, January 22, 1858 (Decreta authentica, n. 385, to I); Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, December 16, 1760 (Decreta authentica, n. 223, to IV).

I. Notion. By Crucifixes of the Way of the Cross are understood crosses with an image of the Redeemer, to which the indulgences of the Way of the Cross are attached, as will be explained under III. Now the indulgences are affixed not to the cross, but to the image of Christ, so that this image can be transferred from one cross to another without danger to the indulgences.¹ Besides this:

1. The image of the Crucified must be prominent, so that a cross with an image of the Redeemer depicted or impressed does not suffice. This is deduced from the authentic document of concession which is preserved in the archive of the convent of St. Bonaventure in Rome.² But crucifixes cast in bronze in such a way that the image of the divine Redeemer is indeed slightly prominent, yet cannot be detached or separated from the cross, do suffice.³

2. The image must be of brass or of any other non-fragile material.⁴ Under the name of fragile material here tin and lead also seem to be included, just as will be said of objects to which papal indulgences are attached (n. 536). The cross seems able to be made of any material.

¹ Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, May 24, 1883.

² Cited authentic document; Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, August 8, 1859 (Decreta authentica, n. 387, to II).

³ Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, May 24, 1883.

⁴ Cited authentic document; Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, August 8, 1859 (Decreta authentica, n. 387, to II).

II. Attachment of indulgences.

1. The power of attaching indulgences to Crucifixes of the Way of the Cross belongs:

a) To Cardinals and Bishops, according as was said in n. 524 about the Way of the Cross itself (canon 239, § 1, 6°; canon 349, § 1, 1°).

b) To Superiors of the Order of Friars Minor; of these, the Minister General alone can delegate the faculty either to subjects or to outsiders.¹

2. For attaching indulgences, the sign of the cross made with the intention of applying the indulgences suffices.² Several crucifixes can also be blessed in a group by a single sign of the cross;³ likewise crucifixes to which other indulgences have already been attached⁴ (n. 546).

¹ Rescript of the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, cited, March 15, 1884.

² Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, April 11, 1840 (Decreta authentica, n. 281, to V); January 7, 1843 (Decreta authentica, n. 313, to II and IV).

³ Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, March 11, 1855 (Decreta authentica, n. 363).

⁴ Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, January 29, 1820 (Decreta authentica, n. 249, to III).

III. Attached indulgences and their acquisition.

1. To the Crucifix of the Way of the Cross are attached the same indulgences as to the Way of the Cross, that is, both the plenary indulgence attached to the Way of the Cross itself, and the plenary indulgence attached to the Way of the Cross by reason of Communion (n. 531).¹

2. For acquiring the indulgences set forth, these things are required:

a) Of itself, there is required:

a) That someone be impeded by illness or another cause from visiting the stations of the Way of the Cross.² A moderately grave cause seems to suffice.

b) That the Crucifix be held in the hand during the recitation of the prayers, of which immediately.³ If the prayers are recited in common, it suffices that one person hold the Crucifix in the hand, and that the others, other concerns having been set aside, compose themselves for reciting the prescribed prayers together with the person who holds the Crucifix.⁴ It is said "other concerns having been set aside," that is, at least those external occupations which impede internal attention.⁵

c) That meanwhile twenty Our Fathers, Hail Marys, and Glory Bes be recited, with heart at least contrite and devoutly: namely, one for each station, five in memory of the holy Wounds of Christ, and one according to the mind of the Supreme Pontiff.⁶

d) That in the use of the crucifix there be meditation on the Lord's Passion, or at least a pious recollection of the same.⁷

Note. If someone, once the recitation has been begun, has been unable for a reasonable cause to recite all the prescribed Our Fathers, Hail Marys, and Glory Bes, instead of the plenary indulgence he obtains a partial indulgence of ten years and as many quarantines for each Our Father with Hail Mary and Glory Be recited.⁸

b) Incidentally, so to speak, these things hold:

a) If some sick person, without grave inconvenience or difficulty, cannot recite twenty Our Fathers, Hail Marys, and Glory Be prayers, he can gain the indulgences either by kissing, or even only by looking, with affection and a contrite mind, upon some Crucifix blessed for this purpose, shown to him either by a priest or by some other person, and by reciting some brief prayer or ejaculatory prayer in memory of the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ our Lord.⁹

b) If someone, by force of illness, is able only to kiss or only to look at the Crucifix blessed for this purpose, but not to add an ejaculatory prayer, he is not prevented from obtaining the plenary indulgences.¹⁰

¹ Sacred Penitentiary, October 20, 1931 (A.A.S. 1931, p. 522).

² Cited authentic document.

³ Cited authentic document.

⁴ Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, January 19, 1884. The document is held in the archive of the General Curia of the Order of Friars Minor (Sleutjes, p. 67).

⁵ Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, November 13, 1893.

⁶ Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, August 8, 1859 (Decreta authentica, n. 387, to I).

⁷ Sacred Penitentiary, December 14, 1917, to IV (A.A.S. 1917, p. 30).

⁸ Sacred Penitentiary, October 20, 1931 (A.A.S. 1931, p. 522).

⁹ Sacred Penitentiary, March 25, 1931 (A.A.S. 1931, p. 167).

¹⁰ Sacred Penitentiary, October 20, 1931 (A.A.S. 1931, p. 522).

"Whether, for gaining the indulgences granted for the visitation of the fourteen Stations of the Way of the Cross, the recitation of six Our Fathers, Hail Marys, and Glory Bes is required in addition to the aforesaid visitation of the Stations? - Response. For obtaining the indulgences granted for the visitation of the fourteen Stations of the Way of the Cross, nothing else is required than, while meditating on the Passion of our divine Redeemer Jesus Christ, to proceed from one Station to another, insofar as the multitude of persons visiting the aforesaid Stations or the capacity of the place in which they have been erected permits. Thus the matter stands from the Bull Inter plurima of Benedict XIII, 3 March 1726, confirmed by another Bull, Exponi nobis, of Clement XII, dated 16 January 1731, and the Decree of the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences dated 3 April 1731, and also the Brief of Benedict XIV which begins Cum tanta, dated 30 August 1741. Hence it is that We adore You, O Christ; the Our Father; the Hail Mary, etc.; and Have mercy on us, O Lord, are only a laudable custom introduced by the pious Christian faithful into the exercise of visiting the Stations of the Way of the Cross. In witness whereof .... 22 September 1829."

"Most Blessed Father, Fr. Bernardinus of Portu Romatino, Minister General of the whole Order of Friars Minor of St. Francis, prostrate at the feet of Your Holiness, humbly sets forth that very often the faithful who are prohibited by a legitimate impediment from performing the exercise of the Holy Way of the Cross are also impeded from gaining the indulgences annexed to the exercise of the Way of the Cross by using a Crucifix blessed for this effect, because they do not possess one, as happens in poor families, in hospitals, and in other pious places of this kind.

Hence, that devotion toward the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ may be increased more and more, and lest the faithful, especially souls detained in purgatory, because of the exposed lack of a Crucifix, be shut out from participation in the aforesaid indulgences, the Orator supplicates with earnest prayers that Your Holiness deign benignly to extend to the Crucifixes commonly called of the Way of the Cross the indult conceded by Pius Pope IX of holy memory with respect to the Rosary, on the day 22 Jan. 1858 (Decret. authent., n. 384), so that all Christian faithful of either sex, reciting in common the prescribed twenty Pater, Ave, and Gloria, may be able to gain the indulgences annexed to the exercise of the Way of the Cross, although they do not hold in the hand the blessed Crucifix, and that it suffice that only one person, whoever that person may be from the community, hold it in the hand, and that all the rest, all other cares being put aside, compose themselves for making prayer, together with the person who holds the Crucifix. Which grace, etc.

Our Most Holy Lord Pope Leo XIII, in the audience held on the day 19 Jan. 1884 by the undersigned Secretary of the Sacred Congregation placed over Indulgences and Sacred Relics, benignly assented for the grace according to the things sought, according to the tenor of the Indult already conceded for the recitation of the Most Holy Rosary, namely that the Christian faithful of whom in the prayers should so compose themselves for performing the pious exercise of the Way of the Cross together with the person who holds the Crucifix, that they can gain the indulgences of the Way of the Cross. The present is to be valid in perpetuity without any expedition of a Brief. All things whatsoever to the contrary notwithstanding."

1080. • QUESTION. For gaining the Indulgences granted for the visitation of the fourteen stations of the Way of the Cross, is the recitation of six Paters, Aves, and Glorias required in addition to the visitation of the aforesaid stations?

RESPONSE. For obtaining the Indulgences granted for the visitation of the fourteen stations of the Way of the Cross, nothing else is required than to pass from one station to another while meditating upon the Passion of the divine Redeemer Jesus Christ, insofar as the multitude of persons visiting the aforesaid stations, or the capacity of the place in which they are erected, permits. The matter is thus evident from the Bull Inter plurima of Benedict XIII, 3 March 1726, confirmed by another Bull, Exponi nobis, of Clement XII, dated 16 January 1731, and by a Decree of the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences dated 3 April 1731, and also by the Brief of Benedict XIV which begins Cum tanta, dated 30 August 1741. Hence it is that We adore Thee, O Christ; Our Father; Hail Mary, etc.; and Have mercy upon us, O Lord, are only a praiseworthy custom introduced by pious faithful of Christ into the exercise of visiting the stations of the Way of the Cross. In testimony whereof, etc. 22 September 1829.

653. 1° Notion. The Way of the Cross is a pious exercise by which the Passion of the Lord is proposed to be contemplated in various stations which are passed through, in the manner in which pilgrims visit the stations of the Way of the Cross in Jerusalem. The indulgences acquired by this exercise are the same as one would gain by visiting the Jerusalem stations; these indeed are many, both plenary and partial; but, to avoid abuses, it has been prohibited that they be enumerated in pulpits or written in the little shrines. All are applicable to the souls of Purgatory. - From the documents it is not established that indulgences annexed to this exercise can be acquired as often as it is repeated.³

² Cf. Instructio de Stationibus S. Viae Crucis erigendis visitandisque, Quaracchi, 1888; Putzer, Comment. in Fac. Apostol., nn. 205-210.

³ Lehmkuhl, II, p. 408. Cf. Resp. Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, September 10, 1882.

654. 2° Conditions for gaining the indulgences. Some are required for the canonical erection of the stations, others for the manner of performing this exercise.

(A) For canonical erection there are required: (a) authority in the one erecting; this resides as ordinary and supreme in the Roman Pontiff; as ordinary and subordinate in the Superiors of the Franciscan Order; as delegated in those who are deputed by the Roman Pontiff or by the Order of St. Francis.⁴ The delegation must be had in writing, under penalty of nullity, and, before its use, must be exhibited to the Ordinary, if the erection is made in a place not exempt from his jurisdiction.

⁴ In the United States of America, Bishops have the faculty of erecting stations of the Way of the Cross in places of their diocese in which Franciscans are not present, and of delegating this power to priests exercising the sacred ministry.

(b) The consent of the Ordinary of the place in which the Way of the Cross is to be erected, given in writing for any erection, under penalty of nullity; likewise the written consent of the pastor or of the Superiors of the place in which the Way of the Cross is to be erected, if it is erected outside the bounds of the convents of St. Francis.¹

¹ Decret. authent., nn. 175, August 3, 1748, and 445, June 21, 1879.

(c) A suitable place, that is, decent and not liable to irreverence; under this name come churches, public and private oratories, domestic rooms which are not destined for profane uses, cemeteries, even open-air places, provided that the little shrines erected for the individual stations are protected by railings, lest animals freely enter there, etc. - Crosses can be affixed not only to walls, but also to benches, provided that these are immovable and sufficiently upright.²

² Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, September 14, 1904; in Acta, vol. XXXVII, p. 395.

(d) The blessing of the crosses. Fourteen crosses are required, which are wooden and visible to those standing by, without the image of the Crucified; they ought not to be covered with iron crosses,³ but they can be gilded, silvered, or adorned with various colors. Images, or painted tablets, which represent the Passion of Christ are indeed useful for fostering devotion, but are not necessary; they can be separated from the crosses.

³ Decret. authent., n. 442, November 23, 1878.

The crosses are blessed, according to the formula contained in the Appendix to the Roman Ritual, by a priest enjoying the proper faculties, and morally present in the place of erection. But the affixing of the crosses can be done by any other person, yet in such a way that there is some distance between one station and another, and the way is not completed in only a few steps.⁴

⁴ Decret. authent., n. 194, August 28, 1752; n. 311, August 22, 1842.

(e) After the erection, an instrument must be drawn up, signed by the one erecting, in which are described the petition and concession of the erection, and also the consent of the Superiors, in one word, all essentials which have been performed; let two copies be made, of which one is to be kept in the archives of the concessionary, the other in the episcopal Curia, for perpetual memory of the matter.

(f) A new erection is not required on account of an accidental change in the crosses, for example, if, removed for a time, they are restored to the same place, or are better arranged in the same church, or if, the old church having been destroyed, a new one is built under the same title and in nearly the same place; or if new crosses are substituted for old ones, yet in a lesser part; or if they are renewed, their substance being preserved.⁵ - It is otherwise if the crosses were essentially destroyed or changed in the greater or half part.⁶ For a new erection in the same place the consent of those whom it concerns can be presumed.

⁵ Decret. authent., nn. 323; 258; 264; 270; 375.

⁶ Decret. authent., n. 311, August 22, 1842; n. 223, December 16, 1760, ad 1.

655. (B) On the manner in which the exercise of the Way of the Cross must be performed. (a) The individual stations must be visited, by moving locally from one to another, insofar as the multitude of people and the narrowness of the place permit, even in a public exercise, if disturbance is not feared.¹ But if in a public exercise this local movement is morally impossible, it suffices that the priest with two clerics or cantors go around, and, stopping at each station, recite there the customary prayers, the others responding in their place.² One priest could also recite the prayers in the pulpit, provided that another visits the stations. Nevertheless it is advised that the faithful rise at the individual stations and genuflect with the priest.

¹ Decret. authent., n. 100, April 3, 1731.

² Decret. authent., n. 210, August 6, 1757. In religious communities of brothers and sisters, in place of a priest with two clerics, only one from the brothers or one from the sisters can go around and stop at each station and recite the customary prayers, Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, February 27, 1901, and May 7, 1902. (Acta, vol. XXXV, pp. 254-255.)

(b) All the stations must be visited in one continuous course, without notable interruption; nevertheless a rather long interruption through a religious action, for example, to hear Mass or to perform confession, does not hinder the gaining of the indulgences;³ otherwise it must be said of a profane action.

³ Decret. authent., n. 223, December 16, 1760, ad 4.

(c) At each station it is necessary to meditate, however briefly, on that part of the Passion which corresponds to each station, or at least on any phase of the Passion, but not on the Passion in general. No vocal prayers are required; nevertheless the pious practice is counseled of eliciting at the individual stations a brief act of contrition and reciting a Pater and Ave.

656. 3° On Crucifixes of the Way of the Cross. By this name are understood crosses with the image of the divine Redeemer, to which are applied the indulgences of the Way of the Cross to be gained. This privilege, at the request of the Franciscans, was kindly granted by Clement XIV, so that the sick or others impeded might be able to gain the indulgences of the Way of the Cross. To enjoy this privilege, it is required:

(a) That on the cross there be an image of the Redeemer, raised in relief, and from solid material, and that this be blessed by one of the Franciscans of the stricter observance, or by another regularly delegated by the Superiors of the Order.

(b) That there be infirmity, or another legitimate impediment to performing the exercise of the Way of the Cross, for example, excessive distance from the church, or difficulty of approaching the church.

(c) That there be recited, with contrite heart, in one continuous course, while holding the blessed Crucifix in the hand, twenty Pater, Ave, and Gloria, namely fourteen for the stations, five in honor of the Wounds of Christ, and one according to the intention of the Roman Pontiff. From the decree of December 14, 1917, meditation on the Lord's Passion is also required, or at least pious remembrance of the same. - If several perform this exercise in common, it is enough that the Crucifix be held by any one of the community, with whom the others devoutly join themselves. - If anyone, on account of grave infirmity, is unequal to reciting these prayers, he can gain the indulgences by reciting once an act of contrition, or the invocation: "We beseech Thee, therefore, help Thy servants whom Thou hast redeemed with precious blood"; provided that at least in mind he follows the recitation, made by another standing by, of three Pater, Ave, and Gloria.

Recently, August 16, 1901, sodalities of the living Way of the Cross were instituted, enjoying the same privilege.¹

¹ Cf. Acta, vol. XXXIV, pp. 121-123; Ami du Clergé, vol. XXIII, p. 1072.

1787. - I. Requisites on the part of the Way of the Cross itself. - First of all there is need of the canonical erection of the stations, for which, besides Apostolic faculty (see p. LXXIII. 10), in general the written license of the Ordinary is required.² The restriction previously subsisting, by which it was provided that in places in which monasteries of the Friars Minor exist the Way of the Cross should not be established in churches not subject to the same Order, His Holiness our Lord Pope Pius IX removed by decree of S. C. I., May 14, 1871, and granted that the stations of the Way of the Cross, the other things otherwise to be observed by law being observed, could be erected everywhere in churches and pious places.¹

Nevertheless the faculty itself which is communicated to our Bishops is so restricted that they cannot use it, or subdelegate it to others, "in places, . . . in which . . . Franciscan Fathers are present."

By "Franciscans" are understood "Religious subject to the Minister General of the Friars Minor, both of the Observance and of the Reformed."² Therefore neither Capuchins nor Conventuals.

By "in places" are understood not dioceses, but "a city, town, village with its respective suburbs, or places adjacent to them."³

But the faculty of our Bishops is not limited to Churches or Oratories, so that also outside them, e.g., in cemeteries or in cloisters, they can erect the Way of the Cross. This is argued from the Resp. of S. C. Indulg., December 14, 1857.⁴

The Indulgences of the Way of the Cross are annexed only to the Crosses (which must be wooden, and, if they are ornamented with metal, visible), but not to the images, which are not necessary⁵ nor necessarily blessed.⁶ - Therefore new images can be substituted without detriment to the Indulgence, provided that all the superimposed Crosses, or the greater part of them, remain.⁷ - The Crosses can also be transferred from an old panel to a new one, without there being need of a new canonical erection of the stations,¹ provided the Way of the Cross remains in the same church.

As regards the arrangement of the stations, some distance between one and another is required.²

After the blessing of the Crosses has been made, there will be no need that the one having the faculty go through the stations; indeed even the affixing and placing of them can be done by any other person, and even at another time privately and without ceremonies.³

The method for erecting the stations of the Way of the Cross, see Rit. Rom. Baltim. 1873, p. 465 sq.; - the formula for making attestation concerning the erection, ib. p. 472.

1788. - II. Requisites on the part of those who make the Way of the Cross. - There is not required - the recitation of six Pater, Ave, and Gloria besides the visitation of the stations; - nor Adoramus te, Christe; Pater noster; Ave Maria; Miserere nostri, Domine. S. C. Ind., September 22, 1829.

But there is required:

1) Some motion of the body, ordinarily by proceeding from one station to another, insofar as circumstances (e.g., the multitude visiting the Way of the Cross, the capacity of the place) permit it.⁴ But in the public exercise of the Way of the Cross, when disturbance can be excited, each person of the people keeping his own place, the priest with two clerics or cantors should go around, stopping at each station, and there reciting the particular accustomed prayers, the others responding alternately.⁵

2) Meditation - but only some meditation, and according to the capacity of each one - on the Passion.⁶

3) A visitation, not morally interrupted, of the 14 stations according to their order.⁷

But an interruption which is made for hearing Mass, receiving Holy Communion, making Confession, and things of this kind, is not moral, since there is no digression to extraneous acts.⁸

Note. - For gaining the Indulgences of the Way of the Cross by means of a Crucifix blessed for this effect by one having power, there is required:

a) Impossibility (physical or moral) of visiting canonically erected Stations.

b) That the Crucifix be held in the hand while the prayers are recited.

c) That 20 Pater, Ave, and Gloria Patri be recited, namely 1 Pater, Ave, and Gloria for each station; 5 in memory of the 5 Wounds of Our Lord Jesus Christ; and 1 according to the intention of the Supreme Pontiff. No other prayer or meditation is required.¹

677. The indulgence of the Way of the Cross. - The exercise of the Way of the Cross was instituted for gaining all the indulgences obtainable by a real visit of the stations of the Way of the Cross in Jerusalem, that is, of the journey of Our Lord Jesus Christ from the praetorium to the place of Calvary. - For this, a) on the part of the Way of the Cross there is required: 1) that it be legitimately erected; 2) that there be 14 visible wooden crosses; 3) that they have been blessed in the place itself (morally speaking) in which the stations are erected, and affixed before or after the blessing, a certain distance being preserved between them: the rest is not necessary; b) on the part of the faithful there is required: 1) the visit of each station, or local movement from one to another; 2) meditation on the Passion according to each one's capacity at each station; 3) the exercise performed in one moral stretch, or not morally interrupted. In a public exercise, if local movement of the people would cause disturbance or is impossible because of the narrowness of the place, it suffices that the priest, or in the chapels of religious communities, one of the brothers or one of the sisters, go around the stations, while the multitude of those hearing remains in its place.

Erection has been granted to the Order of Friars Minor; others, excepting a privilege such as Cardinals and Bishops personally have, cannot erect unless they have obtained from the Holy See the delegated faculty. For validity it now suffices that "the priest erecting, asked for this, be furnished with the due faculty" (S. Poen., Mar. 1, 1938), and the license of the Ordinary of the place in writing is no longer required. But for liceity let the permission of the Ordinary of the place be present, or presumed permission, if he cannot easily be approached.

But since, authentic documents having been lost, there was doubt concerning the indulgences granted to the exercise of the Way of the Cross, in order to remove all doubt for the future, Pius XI, as is clear from the decree of the Sacred Penitentiary, Oct. 20, 1931, deigned to decree that: All the faithful who, whether singly or in company, at least with a contrite heart, have performed the pious exercise of the Way of the Cross, legitimately erected, according to the prescriptions of the Holy See, can gain:

a) A plenary indulgence toties quoties they complete the pious exercise itself.

b) Likewise another plenary indulgence if on the same day on which they performed the mentioned pious exercise, or even if within a month from the same performed ten times, they have approached the holy Synaxis.

c) A partial indulgence of 10 years for each station, if perhaps they have not brought the exercise begun to completion, for any reasonable cause.

The same indulgences can be gained by the legitimately impeded faithful, if they have a crucifix of the Way of the Cross blessed by one having the power and hold it in the hand (or one holds it in place of all), and at the same time there are recited by them, without notable and moral interruption, 14 Our Fathers, Hail Marys, and Glory Bes, one namely for each station, then 5 in honor of the five wounds of the Lord, and 1 according to the intention of the Supreme Pontiff (S. C. Indg., Sept. 16, 1859). And if someone for a reasonable cause is impeded from holding the crucifix in the hand, it suffices to carry it with him during the recitation (S. Poen., Nov. 9, 1933). A cross, however, does not suffice, but the image of the Crucified must be present, and indeed in solid and not fragile material. The sick who cannot recite the said prayers can acquire the indulgences either by kissing or even only by looking, with affection and a contrite mind, at some Crucifix blessed for this purpose, shown to them either by a priest or by some other person, and by reciting, if they can, some brief prayer or ejaculatory prayer in memory of the Passion and death of Jesus Christ our Lord (S. Poen., Mar. 25, 1931, and Mar. 18, 1932).

This was confirmed by the mentioned decree of Oct. 20, 1931, and indeed "so that those who for a reasonable cause have not been able to recite all the prescribed Our Fathers, Hail Marys, and Glory Bes, obtain for a plenary indulgence a partial indulgence of 10 years for each Our Father with Hail Mary and Glory Be recited; and if someone, by force of illness, can only kiss or only look at a Crucifix blessed for this purpose, but cannot add an ejaculatory prayer, he is not impeded from obtaining the plenary indulgence."

Apostolic Indulgences are called those which the Roman Pontiff is accustomed to attach to pious objects, such as crosses, prayer-beads and medals, while he blesses them.

Question 1. What are the conditions for gaining these Indulgences?

Resp. They are the following: 1°. That the faithful of Christ carry some one of the stated objects on their own person.

2°. But if this is in no way done, it is required that they keep it in their own room, or another decent place of their habitation, and before it devoutly recite the prescribed prayers.

3°. Images engraved by printing, painted images, and likewise crosses, crucifixes, small statues, and medals made of tin, lead, or other fragile or consumable material are excluded from the concession of the apostolic blessing.¹

4°. Images must represent Saints who either have already been canonized in the customary form, or have been described in duly approved martyrologies. - S. Off., 5 Sept. 1914. - A. A. S., vol. 6, p. 503.

¹ Cf. Addenda, p. 1140, n. 101.

Question 2. Whether our Priests could, by delegation, concede Apostolic Indulgences?

Resp. Affirmatively, speaking generally, for to our Bishops there was conceded not only the faculty of applying these Indulgences, but also "of communicating this same faculty with presbyters functioning in the sacred ministry." - I said, speaking generally, because in fact this communication was not found in all dioceses. - Cf. now S. C. Consistorialis, 25 Apr. 1918. See Can. 349, § 1; 239, § 1, n. 6; 913, n. 1.

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.

Many scapulars are given today, but here briefly there will be spoken only of the scapular of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, which is the most ancient and more common. But for the other scapulars special treatises can be consulted.

Question 1. What are the Indulgences attached to the scapular of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel?

Resp. They are many, and both partial and plenary; these latter are conceded on the following days:

1°. On the day of reception of the scapular, with confession, communion, and some prayer made according to the intention of the Supreme Pontiff nevertheless supposed.

2°. On the feast day of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, or on the Sunday next following, or also on any day whatever within the Octave, with the same aforesaid conditions nevertheless observed.

3°. On the day of the Immaculate Conception, Nativity, Presentation, Annunciation, Visitation, Purification, and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary: likewise on the feast day of St. Joseph, St. Simon Stock [16 May], St. Anne, St. Michael, and St. Teresa: likewise on one of the fourth weekdays of any month and besides on any day whatever, once in the year. Cf. Acta S. S., vol. 19, p. 557. But to gain these indulgences, besides the aforesaid conditions, the visitation of some church of the Carmelite Order is required, and where this is lacking, of the parish church; and if not even this can be performed, the faculty of making a commutation is given to the confessor.

4°. In the article of death. - Cf. Maurel-Beringer, n. 88.

Question 2. What are the other privileges of this scapular?

Resp. Besides plenary indulgences, and not a few other partial ones, two great privileges of this scapular must be remembered, namely that of a happy death, and that which is called Sabbatine. To obtain the first privilege, which rests upon the very words of the Blessed Virgin Mary, "Dying in this, he will not suffer eternal fire," it is required that someone has been duly marked with the scapular, and die with it suspended from the neck. But to gain the other privilege, which consists in this, that someone will be freed from the penalties of Purgatory shortly, or at least on the Sabbath after death, the following conditions are required: 1°. that chastity be observed according to one's own state; 2°. that the little office of the Blessed Virgin Mary be said daily, and for those who do not know how to read, that abstinence be observed on every Wednesday and Sabbath through the year, except the case in which the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ has fallen on one of these days. - Yet observe: 1°. that those who recite the Roman Breviary daily are not held to recite the little office of the Blessed Virgin Mary; 2°. that in a case of necessity a confessor, furnished with due faculty, can commute this recitation and abstinence into another pious work. - Cf. Benedict XIV, de Festis, lib. 2, cap. 6. - Maurel, n. 88.

Question 3. What are the conditions that someone may be said to be duly marked with this scapular?

Resp. On the part of the scapular it is required that it be of due material and color. On the part of the subject, that it be worn continuously and in the manner of a scapular. But on the part of the one giving it, that it be blessed and imposed by a priest having the faculty. Now:

1°. The material of this scapular is wool, and indeed woven, although some ornaments can be added.¹

2°. The color ought to be dark brown, or almost black.

3°. Continuous wearing imports that it not be deserted for a long time, or indeed for a short time but with the intention of rejecting it altogether, so that in either case someone can be said to have willed to renounce such devotion.

4°. Wearing in the manner of a scapular signifies that this is had suspended from the neck in such a way that one part is over the breast and the other between the shoulders, and therefore he would not observe this condition who carried the scapular with himself in some pocket of his garment, or somehow sewn upon the clothes.

5°. The blessing and imposition of the scapular ought to be done by a priest having the faculty, and through the prescribed formula which is had in the Roman Ritual, p. 476. Our Bishops were able to communicate the faculty of erecting the Confraternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, as is clear from the Extraordinary Faculties T. n. 21, in which is contained the faculty of enrolling the faithful in those Confraternities, of blessing and imposing the scapulars of the same. Thus S. Off., 11 May 1898.

¹ Cf. Addenda, p. 1153, n. 130.

It is helpful here to report the following responses of the S. Congregation of Indulgences:

I. "Whether one and the same scapular, once blessed, can validly be imposed upon several in turn, only the formula of reception or imposition being repeated over each?

II. Whether the formula of this kind accustomed to be employed in the act of imposition of scapulars is essential, so that someone is judged duly to have received the scapular and has the right to the Indulgences conceded to those bearing it; or whether, without loss of the Indulgences, it can be omitted, especially in sickness or another urgent case?

To I. Affirmatively; yet in such a way that the first Scapular, which the one enrolled ought thereafter to put on, be blessed.

To II. Both as regards the first and as regards the second part, the words which are substantial are to be pronounced, according to the form of the Decree of this S. Congregation of the day 24 August 1844, which has itself thus: - Urbis - Whether the enrollment of the Faithful in the Confraternity of the Blessed Virgin of Mount Carmel is valid, which is made indeed by priests having the faculty, yet the form described in the Ritual and Breviary of the Order of Carmelites not having been observed? - The Sacred Congregation responded: Affirmatively, provided priests having the faculty are not deficient in substantial things, namely in the Blessing and imposition of the habit, and in reception into the Confraternity." Thus declared the S. C. on the day 24 Aug. 1844.

By the general twofold Decree of the S. Office, 16 Dec. 1910 and 5 June 1913: 1. To all the faithful duly enrolled, or to be enrolled, in one or several approved scapulars (except those proper to Third Orders), it is permitted hereafter to wear decently upon their own person one single medal of metal in place of the same, whether one or several; 2. By carrying this thus, they can gain all spiritual favors, with the proper laws of each being observed, and all indulgences attached to each; 3. This medal ought to bear on one side the image of the Most Holy Our Lord Jesus Christ showing his Most Sacred Heart, on the other, that of the Blessed Virgin Mary; 4. This medal must be blessed with as many distinct blessings as there are scapulars regularly imposed for which, according to the pleasure of those asking, it is to suffice; 5. The several blessings can be given by one sign of the cross: for example, one for the scapular of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, another for the second approved scapular, etc., or according to the order in which one was enrolled in the diverse scapulars; 6. These blessings ought to be made by a priest powerful with the ordinary or delegated faculty of blessing the respective scapulars; they are licitly made by such a privileged priest distinct from the one enrolling; 7. A priest powerful with the faculty of imposing scapulars can, by one sign of the cross for each scapular, publicly bless all the Most Holy Medals which the faithful have in the Church or in some convent, although these Medals are not seen nor known individually; 8. The blessing can be imparted to Most Holy Medals for persons not yet enrolled by imposition, but to be enrolled afterward or later; but the medals will finally enjoy the favors of the scapulars when the persons shall have been enrolled through regular imposition, and therefore it is not necessary that the persons already be enrolled before the Most Holy Medals can be blessed for them; 9. Many medals can be blessed, which afterward are to be distributed to any persons whatever, of whom some are already inscribed in the scapulars, and others not enrolled; 10. The faithful are held to wear the medal either at the neck or otherwise, yet decently, upon their own person; Hilgers is of the opinion that if someone has the medal attached to the prayer-beads or rosary which he continually carries with himself, it does not seem necessary at night to wear it around the neck or in another way upon the person, but it suffices if he leaves it in the clothes near himself; but others speak more strictly, although these also say that attention should not be paid to a brief interruption; 11. Each medal must be blessed; but, on the contrary, not the scapular, for when someone already duly enrolled in the Confraternity has lost the scapular or lays aside one worn out, the new scapular does not need a new blessing. Nevertheless Pius X vehemently desired that the faithful continue to carry scapulars in the same way as they had been accustomed until now.

Pius X benignly conceded that all soldiers from the land and maritime forces constituted under arms could, at their pleasure, legitimately at any time be enrolled in sacred scapulars, and remain definitively enrolled in them, and gain the attached indulgences and graces, on this condition only, that they carry the metallic medal prescribed by decree of the supreme S. Congregation of the S. Office of the day 16 December 1910 and duly blessed, nor nevertheless be held first by the law of receiving the cloth scapulars, as is proper: indeed, during the present war Benedict XV granted to every priest the faculty of enriching medals with the several blessings of scapulars for the utility of soldiers. S. Off., 10 Nov. 1914.

According to Benedict XIV, that pious exercise which is commonly called the Way of the Cross is to be numbered among the principal acts of piety to be performed by the faithful, both because it is excellent in itself, and because it has been enriched with many indulgences. The origin of this pious exercise was the very devotion of the faithful visiting those holy places which have been marked by the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ; for to these the Church had conceded many indulgences, and in the course of time extended them also to those who would recollect with pious meditation certain imitations of those places. Therefore we know that several indulgences have been attached to the pious exercise of the Way of the Cross, but it is difficult, indeed even prohibited, to enumerate them. - Cf. Maurel-Beringer, n. 60.

Question 1. What is required for the canonical or valid erection of the Way of the Cross to be made by a priest?

Resp. Before the erection of the Way of the Cross the following formalities are required for validity: 1. A written faculty given by competent authority to the priest who is to erect the Way of the Cross; 2. Before each erection, permission of the Ordinary given in writing, Decr. Auth. n. 445 ad 3; 3. Consent of the Parish Priest given in writing, if the erection is made in places which are subject to the jurisdiction of the Parish Priest; 4. Consent given in writing of the Superior of the monastery or church in which the Way of the Cross is to be erected. Acta S. Sedis, v. 25, 317 ad 9, ad 10 and ad 11. - Cf. Beringer, Die Ablässe, pp. 278 and following. Certainly the license of the Bishop is not required for those places which are exempt from his jurisdiction.

Question 2. What does the clause "in places . . . in which there are no Franciscan Fathers" import?

Resp. "By places in which the Order of Friars Minor Observant of St. Francis of Assisi does not exist is to be understood a city, town, village, with their respective suburbs, and the places adjacent to them. In cities and generally places in which two dioceses have been constituted, those faculties which are proper to certain Orders, and which were conceded by special indult with the clause: 'provided that in the said place no convent of the same Orders is found,' can be exercised in that part of the city or place in which no convent of the said Orders is present, but is present in another." S. C. Indulg., 28 Aug. 1903.

Question 3. What are the other conditions required for a valid erection?

Resp. Besides the mentioned delegation it is required: 1°. that the Crosses be wooden, and 2°. that the Stations be somewhat distant from one another. But because the indulgences are properly attached to the Crosses, these can be transferred to other Images without detriment to the indulgences. - Cf. Acta S. Sedis, vol. 11, p. 401.

Question 4. What are the conditions required on the part of the faithful?

Resp. It is required: 1°. that the faithful go around the Stations without moral interruption, and 2°. that they meditate somewhat on the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to the capacity of each one. Now in the public exercise of the Way of the Cross the faithful can retain their place, and it suffices that only the priest with the Ministers go around. Besides, also in the private exercise the manner of going around must be understood according to the circumstances of places and persons. But moral interruption imports turning aside to foreign acts, and therefore to perform confession or receive communion while this pious exercise is being done is not morally to interrupt it. - Cf. Prinzivalli, nn. DVII, CCXXXVI, DC, LXXVI, and CCXLIX.

Question 5. Whether someone can gain the Indulgences of the Way of the Cross several times in a day?

Resp. The authors who have written concerning this matter up to now affirm it. Nevertheless, to the Bishop of Périgueux recently it was responded thus by the S. C. of Indulgences, 10 Sept. 1883: "From the documents it is not established that the Indulgences conceded for the pious exercise of the Way of the Cross are gained as often as the aforesaid pious exercise is repeated." - Cf. Nouvelle Revue Théologique, vol. 15, pp. 473 and following.

The indulgence of a privileged altar is a plenary indulgence applicable to the dead, and gainable through the celebration of Mass with the intention of liberating some soul in particular. - The privilege of an altar is twofold, namely real, if the indulgence is attached to the altar itself, and personal, if it is conceded to the person.

§ 1. That it may be indicated that an altar is privileged, nothing else is to be inscribed except: privileged altar, perpetual or for a time, daily or not, according to the words of the concession.

§ 2. For Masses to be celebrated at a privileged altar, under pretext of the privilege, a greater Mass alms cannot be exacted (Can. 918).

Question 1. How great and what kind is the efficacy of this privilege?

Resp. This efficacy the S. Congregation of Indulgences thus declared on the day 28 July 1840: "By the indulgence attached to a privileged altar, if the mind of the one conceding and the use of the power of the keys is considered, there is to be understood a plenary indulgence which immediately liberates the soul from all penalties of Purgatory; but if the effect of application is considered, there is to be understood an indulgence whose measure corresponds to the good pleasure and acceptance of divine mercy."

Question 2. Whether this Indulgence can profit several souls of the dead?

Resp. Negatively, as is established both from various declarations of the S. C. of Indulgences and because this indulgence can be applied only to that soul for which the Mass is said. This rule, namely that the indulgence of a privileged altar is applicable to one soul only, is valid even in the case of a Mass celebrated for several deceased persons. S. C. Indulgent., 29 Feb. 1864; 19 June 1880; 19 Dec. 1885. Nor is the day of the commemoration of all the dead excepted, on which all altars enjoy this privilege. - Cf. Beringer, Die Ablässe, p. 449 and following. - Acta S. Sedis, vol. 13, p. 139. When someone says Mass for several or all the dead, it is best to determine the soul to whom he wishes to apply the indulgence.

§ 2. All altars of the church through those days on which the supplication of the Forty Hours is performed in it are privileged (Can. 917).

Question 3. Whether for gaining this Indulgence it is required that a Mass of Requiem, or of the Feria or Vigil with the proper prayer of the deceased, be celebrated?

Resp. Negatively; thus the S. Office responded on 20 Feb. 1913: "For gaining the indulgence of a privileged altar, as they call it, it is no longer required in the future under penalty of nullity that a Mass of Requiem, or of the feria or vigil with the proper prayer of the deceased, be celebrated: Yet this is laudably done, when it is permitted and fitting, for the sake of piety toward the deceased."

Question 4. Whether Bishops have the faculty of conceding the Privilege of an Altar?

Resp. Affirmatively, and indeed both personal and real.

Bishops, Abbots or Prelates nullius, Vicars and Prefects Apostolic, and major Superiors of an exempt clerical religion, can designate and declare one privileged daily perpetual altar, provided that another is not had, in their cathedral, abbatial, collegiate, conventual, parochial, quasi-parochial churches, but not in public or semi-public oratories, unless they are united to a parochial church or subsidiary to the same (Can. 916).

Note. - A priest who has made the HEROIC ACT, or oblation of all his satisfactions in favor of the souls which are in Purgatory, enjoys by the fact itself the personal privilege of the altar. - Cf. Prinzivalli, n. DCXLIII. Acta S. Sedis, vol. 18, pp. 337 and following.

The heroic act of charity toward souls detained in Purgatory consists in this, that a faithful Christian, whether by some formula being used or even only mentally, offers to God Almighty, for the souls of Purgatory, all satisfactory works which he himself, as long as he shall live, will perform, and also all suffrages which after death could in any way come to him. Many faithful Christians most devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary . . . have been accustomed somehow to deposit satisfactory works and suffrages of this kind into the hands of the Blessed Virgin, to be distributed by Her according to Her merciful good pleasure in favor of the souls of Purgatory. This act has been enriched by the Supreme Pontiffs with manifold favor. Among the satisfactory works offered in this act are comprehended indulgences applicable to the dead. This oblation is not satisfied by those who reserve to themselves indulgences conceded for the living; but these indulgences are to be applied to the dead according to the Indult conceded to those emitting this act. That deposition of satisfactions into the hands of the Virgin Mary is not an integral or prescribed part of the heroic act, but is a pious accessory devotion to the act, to be commended to the faithful. The plenary indulgence of a personal privileged altar must be applied by the priest who emitted the act to the soul for whom he celebrates Mass; for in this manner the privilege of the altar is conceded by the Supreme Pontiff.

But any faithful person can revoke the heroic act as it shall please him. S. C. Indulg., 19 Dec. 1885; 20 Feb. 1907.¹

¹ Cf. Addenda, p. 1092, n. 23.

By various titles the faithful can obtain a plenary indulgence in the article of death. Those have a right to it who often in life and also in the hour of death invoke the Most Holy name; who often have poured forth the prayer Angele Dei; who often in life make acts of Faith, Hope, and Charity; who keep with themselves some one of the objects which are enriched with Apostolic Indulgences; who are joined to certain Confraternities; in these cases the indulgence enters of itself. Generally the conditions are: communion or at least an act of contrition, invocation of the Most Holy name made by mouth, or, if it cannot be done by mouth, by heart, and acceptance of death from the hand of God. To the recitation of the following Prayer Pius X attached a plenary indulgence, 9 Mar. 1904: "O Lord my God, from this moment now, whatever kind of death, as it shall please Thee, with all its anxieties, penalties, and sorrows, I receive from thy hand with an equal and willing mind." The same His Holiness conceded that all the faithful who, on a day to be chosen by them, duly cleansed by sacramental confession and refreshed by the sacred Synaxis, with a true affection of charity toward God, have brought forth the aforesaid act, can gain a plenary indulgence in the very article of death.

§ 2. To the Parish Priest or another priest who assists the infirm there is the faculty of conceding to them the apostolic blessing with plenary indulgence in the article of death, according to the form handed down by approved liturgical books; let him not omit to impart this blessing (Can. 468).

Now, with relation to the conditions of gaining this indulgence, and the manner of imparting it, there exist several decrees of the S. C. of Indulgences, of the principal of which this is the summary:

1°. A priest does not validly confer this indulgence if the formula prescribed by the Supreme Pontiff is omitted, nor does the lack of the book excuse him. - 5 Feb. 1841.

2°. The infirm person cannot in the same article of death gain this indulgence several times, given by several priests having the faculty of imparting it. - Ibid.

3°. This indulgence cannot be imparted several times during the same infirmity, even if long-lasting. - 12 March 1855.

4°. The Blessing must be conferred only once in the same state of illness. - 20 Sept. 1775.

5°. But it can be repeated if the infirm person has recovered, and then, from whatever cause, falls into a new danger of death. - 12 Feb. 1842.

6°. Of itself it is not to be repeated because perhaps Extreme Unction must be repeated. - 20 June 1836.

7°. The indulgence is received, that is, the gain of the indulgence properly is had, only in the true article of death. - 23 Apr. 1615.

8°. It is valid, although the Blessing was conferred on an infirm person existing in the state of mortal sin. - 20 June 1836.

9°. It is also valid, and the Blessing is not to be repeated, if the sick person after its reception has fallen into sin. - Ibid.

10°. Both validly and licitly it is conceded to those who, even culpably, have not been refreshed by the sacraments from the beginning of the illness, and suddenly are inclining toward destruction. - 20 Sept. 1775. - Cf. Lehmkuhl, n. 564. - Irish Ecclesiastical Record, Sept. and Nov. 1883; and Feb. 1884. - The Pastor, vol. 3, pp. 279 and following; and vol. 4, pp. 209 and following.

11°. It is also required that the dying person invoke the Most Holy Name of Jesus by mouth, or, if this cannot be done, at least by heart (S. C. Indul., 22 Sept. 1892), and receive death from the hand of the Lord with an equal and willing mind. - Cf. Beringer, Die Ablässe, p. 486.

12°. The Sacred Congregation of Indulgences on 23 Jan. 1901 responded that a dying person can gain the plenary indulgence conceded for the article of death only once, that is, in the true article of death, even if he has a right to it by various titles.

13°. Those condemned to death who duly prepare themselves for dying are sharers of this grace.