A treatise on indulgences

CONTENTS. PART I. INDULGENCES IN GENERAL. CHAPTER I. THE DEFINITION OF INDULGENCES 1 CHAPTER II. ON THE EXISTENCE OF INDULGENCES. Art. I. Of the punishment due to sin 3 II. On the spiritual treasure of the Church 6 III. On the power of granting Indulgences 9 CHAPTER III. ON THE NATURE OF INDULGENCES. Art. I. An Indulgence is a real absolution from the temporal punishment due to sin 17 II. By an Indulgence the Church offers to the justice of God a compensation equivalent to the debt remitted 18 CHAPTER IV. ON THE EFFECTS OF INDULGENCES. Art. I. Effects of Indulgences with regard to the living 20 Quest. 1. What is the real value of the punishment remitted before God by an Indulgence? 21 Quest. 2. What is to be thought of Indulgences of ten, fifteen, or twenty thousand years? 23 Quest. 3. Do Indulgences release us from the obligation of doing penance? 24 Quest 4. Can the penance imposed in confession be discharged by an Indulgence? 25 Quest. 5. What is the meaning of these words, sometimes found in Bulls of Indulgences, de paenitentiis injunctis, to which are frequently added, et injungendis? 27 Art. II. Effects of Indulgences with regard to the souls of the faithful departed 27 Sect. 1. The application of Indulgences to the souls of the faithful departed 28 Sect. 2. How Indulgences benefit the dead 30 Sect. 3. What is required for the application of Indulgences to departed souls 32 Quest. 1. Is it necessary to be in a state of grace, to apply validly an Indulgence to a departed soul? 33 Quest. 2. Are Indulgences applicable to all classes of the departed? 34 Quest. 3. When the application of an Indulgence is free, as is often the case, is it better to gain it for the dead than for one's self? 35 CHAPTER V. HOW INDULGENCES ABE DIVIDED 36 CHAPTER VI. CONDITIONS REQUIRED FOR GRANTING INDULGENCES. Art. I. Of those who have the power of granting Indulgences 38 Quest. Can the Pope and Bishops gain the Indulgences which they grant to the faithful? 42 II. Of the causes for which Indulgences may be granted; and of the proportion between the means and the end. 42 Art. III. The manner of procuring and accrediting Indulgences 47 Sect. 1. On asking for Indulgences 47 Model of a petition to the Pope to obtain an Indulgence 49 Sect. 2. Authenticity of Indulgences 50 IV. The length of Indulgences 53 Cessation of real Indulgences 55 Indulgences attached to a transferable feast 56 CHAPTER VII. THE CONDITIONS NECESSARY FOR GAINING INDULGENCES. Art. I. Dispositions required in him who wishes to gain an Indulgence 58 Sect. 1. They who wish to gain an Indulgence must be in a state of grace 58 Quest. 1. Does an affection to venial sin prevent the gaining of the Indulgence? 59 Quest. 2. Does he receive the fruit of an Indulgence who, whilst complying with the conditions, commits a venial sin? 59 Sect. 2. Of the intention necessary for gaining an Indulgence 60 II. The works prescribed for gaining an Indulgence 61 Sect. 1. Of the Confession prescribed for gaining a plenary Indulgence 62 Quest. 1. Are those who are guilty of venial sins only bound to go to confession in order to gain the Indulgence? 63 Quest. 2. Can he who goes to confession a few days before a festival, gain a plenary Indulgence which might occur in the interval? 65 Quest. 3. To have a claim to the Indulgence, is it necessary in these frequent confessions always to receive absolution? 66 Sect. 2. On the necessity of Communion for gaining an Indulgence 66 Quest. May communion be received with the intention of obtaining certain graces for one person, and of gaining the Indulgence for one's self? 66 Sect. 3. Prayers ordinarily required for gaining a plenary Indulgence 68 Quest. 1. What and when are the prayers to be said, in order to gain the Indulgence? 68 Prayer 69 Quest. 2. Would a person be deprived of the fruits of the Indulgence, who, through ignorance, impossibility, or inadvertence, failed to recite these prayers, omitted a part, or wholly neglected them at the precise time, but said them a little too soon, or a little too late? 71 Quest. 3. May more than one plenary Indulgence be gained on the same day? 72 Quest. 4. Can an Indulgence be gained by the performance of what is obligatory? For instance, can an Indulgence be gained which is attached to the "Veni Creator," &c. in reciting the Divine office, if the intention be formed? Can a penitent gain an Indulgence attached to what is prescribed as a penance, or to what he is already bound to by vow? 73 Quest. 5. May Indulgences be gained for the living, as they may for the dead? 74 CHAPTER VIII. OF FALSE OR APOCRYPHAL INDULGENCES. Art. I. Rules to discern whether an Indulgence be false or apocryphal 76 II. Indulgences which have been declared false or apocryphal, or revoked 78 PART II. OF INDULGENCES IN PARTICULAR. CHAPTER I. PRIVILEGED ALTARS. Quest. 1. Is it necessary that the intention of the Mass should be for that soul to which the Indulgence is to be applied? 80 Quest. 2. Should the Mass be a Requiem Mass, and consequently in black? 81 Quest. 3. When the Mass of the day is said, ought a prayer for the deceased to be said, according to the intention proposed in the application of the Mass? 82 Quest. 4. What is the meaning of the clause usually inserted in briefs for erecting privileged altars : "dummodo in dicta ecclesia tot Missa quotidie celebrentur?" 82 Quest. 5. What is implied by this other clause, usually inserted in briefs of Indulgences : "Volumus autem ut si alias Christi fidelibus" &c.? Would a privileged altar in a church render null the concession of a general Indulgence obtained for this same church, without mentioning this privilege? 85 Quest. 6. If a privileged altar be destroyed, in order to build a new one, or if its place be changed, does it lose its privilege? 86 Quest. 7. Is it necessary to say at a privileged altar the Masses for which fees have been given on this condition? And if a priest has engaged to say more Masses than he is able, how must he act? 86 Quest. 8. Is it necessary for the valid application of a plenary Indulgence attached to a privileged altar, to confess habitually every week, or on the eve of the day on which the application is made? Is it necessary also to say the prayers ordinarily prescribed for plenary Indulgences? 87 CHAPTER II. INDULGENCES AT THE HOUR OF DEATH. Formula to be used in the application of the plenary Indulgence in articulo mortis 91 Quest. 1. Is it necessary to say the "Confiteor," when the Indulgence is given immediately after extreme unction 94 Quest. 2. May this Indulgence be given to persons who are senseless? 94 Quest. 3. May this Indulgence be reiterated during the same illness? 94 Quest. 4. Can a person receive several plenary Indulgences during the same sickness? 96 Quest. 5. When, by reason of a personal indult, of a cross, medal, &c. any one has the privilege of a plenary Indulgence at the hour of death, what is to be done to receive its application? 97 CHAPTER III. INDULGENCE OF THE FORTY HOURS. Quest. 1. Is it necessary that the Blessed Sacrament be exposed during forty entire hours? 99 Quest. 2. Is it necessary, in order to gain the Indulgence, to pray before the Blessed Sacrament on each of the three days? 100 CHAPTER IV. INDULGENCES OF THE WAY OF THE CROSS. Establishment of the Way of the Cross 102 Indulgences attached to the Way of the Cross 105 Conditions required for gaining these Indulgences 106 Indulgences for the sick, and others who cannot visit the stations 108 CHAPTER V. INDULGENCES OF THE AGONY OF OUR SAVIOUR 109 CHAPTER VI. INDULGENCES ATTACHED TO BEADS. Art. I. Chaplets or Crowns of our Saviour 111 Crown of our Saviour 111 Crown of the Five Wounds of our Saviour 115 Crown of the Precious Blood of our Saviour 117 Prayer 118 An Offering of the Blood of our Saviour 119 Crown of the Sacred Heart of Jesus 121 II. Chaplets or Crowns of the Blessed Virgin 124 Crown or Chaplet of the Seven Dolours of the Blessed Virgin 124 The Rosary 126 Indulgences attached to the recitation of the Rosary 128 The ordinary Chaplet or Beads 128 Bridgetine Beads 129 Beads simply indulgenced 131 Crosses and Medals 133 Observations on Beads, Crosses, and Medals 134 Quest. 1. In what do Bridgetine Beads differ from beads simply indulgenced? 137 Quest. 2. Is a priest, who has obtained from Rome the faculty of blessing beads, crosses, and medals, and of attaching to them the same Indulgences as His Holiness, thereby empowered to confer the Indulgences of Bridgetine Beads? 137 Quest. 3. Can a priest empowered to bless beads, under the term used at Rome "coronas deprecatorias ," also bless and indulgence rosaries and crowns of our Saviour? 138 Quest. 4. When a priest has obtained the power of blessing with the Indulgences of St. Bridget a certain number — two thousand for example — of crosses, medals, and chaplets, can he bless two thousand of each, or must he confine himself to two thousand in all? 139 Quest. 5. Can a priest bless with the Indulgences of St. Bridget chaplets already indulgenced, or of whose blessing there is a doubt? 139 Quest. 6. Can a ring with ten marks be considered a corona deprecatoria, and indulgenced as a chaplet? 140 Quest. 7. What form of prayer ought to be used in blessing and indulgencing crosses, medals, or beads? 140 Blessing for crosses and medals 140 CHAPTER VII. INDULGENCES ATTACHED TO WORKS OF PIETY IN HONOUR OF THE SACRED HEARTS OF JESUS AND MARY. Prayer 143 Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Mary 145 CHAPTER VIII. INDULGENCES ATTACHED TO THE "VENI CREATOR," THE LITANIES, THE "ANGELUS," THE "SALVE REGINA," THE "SUB TUUM," AND THE "STABAT MATER." Sect. 1. Indulgence for the "Veni Creator" 146 Sect. 2. Indulgences for the Litanies of Jesus and the Blessed Virgin 146 Sect. 3. Indulgences for the "Angelus" 147 Sect. 4. Indulgences for the "Salve Regina" and the "Sub Tuum" 149 Sect. 5. Indulgence for the "Stabat Mater" 150 CHAPTER IX. INDULGENCES ATTACHED TO DIFFERENT PRACTICES IN HONOUR OF GOD. Sect. 1 Indulgences for the " Tersanctus" and the "Gloria Patri" in honour of the Holy Trinity 150 Sect. 2. Indulgences for praising the Holy Name of God 152 Sect. 3. Indulgences for reciting acts of Love in form of a Crown 152 Acts of the Love of God 153 Sect. 4. Indulgences for acts of Faith, Hope, and Charity 156 Sect. 5. Indulgences for resignation to the will of God 157 CHAPTER X. INDULGENCES ATTACHED TO PRACTICES OF DEVOTION IN HONOUR OF OUR SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST. Sect. 1. Indulgences for the invocation of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary 157 Sect. 2. Indulgences for honouring the birth of Jesus Christ 159 Sect. 3. Indulgence for a prayer before a crucifix 159 Sect. 4. Indulgences for visiting the Blessed Sacrament 161 Sect. 5. Indulgences for adoring the Blessed Sacrament, and for frequent communion 163 Sect. 6. Indulgence for an ejaculatory prayer to the Blessed Sacrament 163 Sect. 7. Indulgences attached to the office of the Blessed Sacrament 164 Sect 8. Indulgences for the "Pange lingua" and for the "Tantum ergo" 165 CHAPTER XI. INDULGENCES ATTACHED TO PRACTICES IN HONOUR OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN AND OTHER SAINTS. Sect. 1. Indulgences for the Month of Mary 165 Sect 2. Indulgences for a prayer in honour of the Blessed Virgin and St Anne 166 Sect. 3. Indulgence for an ejaculatory prayer in honour of the Immaculate Conception 166 Sect 4. Indulgences for preparing for Festivals of the Blessed Virgin 167 Sect. 5. Indulgences for a prayer in honour of St Michael 167 Sect. 6. Indulgence for a prayer to our Angel Guardian 169 Sect. 7. Indulgences for prayers in honour of St Joseph 169 Sect. 8. Indulgences for prayers in honour of SS. Peter and Paul 171 Sect. 9. Indulgences for the Festival of St. Francis of Paula 176 Sect. 10. Indulgences attached to devotions in honour of St. Aloysius of Gonzaga 176 Prayer to St. Aloysius of Gonzaga 177 CHAPTER XII. INDULGENCES ATTACHED TO MENTAL FRAYER, TEACHING THE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE, AND PRATERS FOR THOSE IN THEIR LAST AGONY AND FOR THE DEAD. Sect. 1. Indulgences for mental prayer 178 Sect. 2. Indulgences for teaching the Christian doctrine 178 Sect. 3. Indulgences for those who pray for the dying 179 Sect. 4. Indulgences for the Office of the Dead, for the Gradual Psalms, and Penitential Psalms 180 Sect. 5. Indulgence attached to a prayer for the dead 180 Sect. 6. Indulgence for the "De profundis" 181 Sect. 7. Indulgences for those who pray that Christians may be preserved from sudden death 181 Prayers 182 CHAPTER XIII. INDULGENCES PECULIAR TO ECCLESIASTICS. Prayer 185 Prayer 186 CHAPTER XIV. INDULGENCES PECULIAR TO RELIGIOUS 186 PART III. CONFRATERNITIES AND SODALITIES. CHAPTER I. CONFRATERNITIES IN GENERAL. Art. I. The name and origin of Confraternities 190 II. Rules to be observed in establishing Confraternities 192 III. Confraternities in relation to Bishops 198 IV. Confraternities in relation to Parish Priests 200 CHAPTER II. CONFRATERNITIES IN PARTICULAR. Art. I. Confraternity of the Rosary 202 Indulgences granted to the Members of the Confraternity of the Rosary 204 Conditions necessary for gaining the Indulgences of the Confraternity of the Rosary 209 The Living Rosary 209 II. Confraternity of the Scapular, or of our Lady of Mount Carmel 210 Indulgences of the Confraternity of the Scapular 211 Admission into the Confraternity of the Scapular 213 Obligations of the Members of the Confraternity of the Scapular 215 Privilege of the Bull "Sabbatina" 216 Art. III. Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament 218 Indulgences granted to the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament 219 Establishment of the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament 222 Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament 223 IV. Confraternity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus 224 Establishment of the Confraternity of the Sacred Heart, and the admission of Members 226 Indulgences attached to the Confraternity of the Sacred Heart 228 Practices of the Confraternity of the Sacred Heart 230 V. Confraternity of the Holy Hour 231 Spiritual advantages of the Holy Hour 232 Conditions of the Indulgence of the Holy Hour 232 VI. Confraternity of our Lady Auxiliatrix of Munich 233 Admission into the Confraternity of our Lady Auxiliatrix of Munich 234 Spiritual advantages of the Confraternity of our Lady Auxiliatrix of Munich 235 VII. Confraternity of our Lady Auxiliatrix of Namur 237 Indulgences of the Confraternity of our- Lady Auxiliatrix of Namur 237 Admission into and obligations of the Confraternity of our Lady Auxiliatrix of Namur 240 VIII. Confraternity of our Lady Auxiliatrix of Mans 241 IX. Confraternity of the Holy and Immaculate Heart of Mary 241 Conditions of association to the Archconfratemity 242 Practices observed by Members of the Arch-confraternity 243 Spiritual advantages of the Archconfratemity 243 X. The Catechisms of St. Sulpice 244 XI. On the Association of the Propagation of the Faith 246 XII. Brief remarks on some other Confraternities or Religious Associations 248 XIII. Of the Congregations usually formed in houses of education, and sometimes in parishes 250 Indulgences granted to the Congregation of the Annunciation 252 The Plenary Indulgences 252 The Partial Indulgences 253 Indulgences applicable to the dead 255 Other Privileges 255 Conditions for gaining the Indulgences of the Congregation 256 Remarks on the utility of Confraternities, and the obligations contracted in them 257 PART IV. THE JUBILEE. CHAPTER I. ON THE NAME AND DIFFERENT KINDS OF JUBILEES. Art. I. The ordinary Jubilee at Rome 260 Sect. 1. History of the ordinary Jubilee at Rome 261 Sect. 2. Ceremonies of the ordinary Jubilee at Rome 263 II. The ordinary Jubilee in the other dioceses of the Catholic world 265 Quest. If the Pope should die before the expiration of the term fixed for the Jubilee, may the faithful still continue to gain it? 267 III. The extraordinary Jubilee 268 CHAPTER II. THE CONDITIONS OF THE JUBILEE. Art. I. The works of piety common to ordinary and extraordinary Jubilees 271 Sect. 1. The Procession 271 Sect. 2. Confession 271 Quest. 1. When must this confession be made? At the commencement, the middle, or the end of the prescribed works of piety? 273 Quest. 2. Is a person obliged to confess twice, who is bound to make his Easter communion, but who also wishes to gain the Jubilee? 273 Sect. 3. Communion 274 Quest. 1. Will a Communion which is made by a person who really thinks he is in a state of grace, when he is not, suffice for the Jubilee? 275 Quest. 2. Will one communion satisfy for an Easter communion and a jubilee? 276 Sect. 4. Visits to the churches 276 Quest. 1. Is it necessary, in order to gain the jubilee at Rome, to enter the basilicas by the holy door 277 Quest. 2. Do those who, haying commenced their journey to Rome, die on the road, or are detained by sickness or other cause, or, being arrived at Rome, are unable to finish or even commence their stations, gain the Indulgence? 278 Quest. 3. Is it necessary to say any prayers in visiting the churches? 278 Quest. 4. Ought the prayers to be vocal? 278 Quest. 5. How long should a person pray? 279 Quest. 6. Should silence be observed in going from church to church? 279 Quest. 7. If the crowd be so great as to prevent ingress to the church, what must be done? 279 Quest. 8. May a person visit a church twice on the same day, and thus satisfy the intentions expressed in the Bull, which requires a certain number of visits ; or would a person satisfy for two days in counting from the first to the second vespers? 280 Quest. 9. Can a Bishop increase or diminish the number of stations fixed by the Pope? 281 Quest. 10. If there are pot four churches in a diocese, or if they are too far distant, what must the Bishop do? 281 Quest. 11. May a person make his stations in a neighbouring parish? 281 Quest. 12. If a church or chapel designated by the Bishop should fall down or be burnt during the time fixed for the stations, what must be done? 282 Art. II. Works of piety peculiar to extraordinary Jubilees 282 Sect. 1. Fasting 282 Sect. 2. Alms 284 Quest. 1. If the person on whom the alms is bestowed be poor in appearance only, would the giver gain the Indulgence? 286 Quest. 2. But if a person gave his alms to another to bestow on the poor, and this latter foiled to do so, or if he gave it after the time fixed for the Jubilee had expired, would he gain the Indulgence? 286 Quest. 3. Ought the alms to be given during the week appointed for fasting? 287 CHAPTER III. PRIVILEGES OF THE JUBILEE. Art. I. The privilege peculiar to the faithful 288 II. Privileges granted directly to confessors, but indirectly to penitents 288 Sect. 1. Privilege of absolving from reserved cases, and from censures 289 Sect. 2. Power of dispensing from irregularity 290 Sect. 3. The privilege of commuting vows 292 Quest. 1. Can a jubilee confessor commute a vow made never to ask the commutation of a vow? 296 Quest. 2. Can the vow of never committing sins of incontinence be commuted? 296 Quest. 3. Is a confessor bound to commute a vow when asked? 297 Sect. 4. The prorogation of a Jubilee 298 Sect. 5. Commutation of the works prescribed 299 CHAPTER IV. OF THOSE WHO CAN GAIN A JUBILEE Quest. 1. May a traveller gain a Jubilee during his journey? 302 Quest. 2. Can a Bishop approve a strange priest, and communicate to him the Jubilee privileges, which he should receive at the hands of his own diocesan? 303 Quest. 3. Can a person who is indifferent about a particular Jubilee, and enters on a journey a few days before the expiration of the term of the Indulgence, gain it on his return? 303 Quest. 4. Can a Jubilee be gained more than once? 304 Quest. 5. When the Pope does not express himself particularly on this question, can the Jubilee be gained several times? 304 Quest. 6. When there is an absolute certainty that the Jubilee has been published at Rome, can a person who is about to die, or about to proceed on a long journey, gain the Jubilee, before it has been published in his own diocese? 305 Quest. 7. Is there any obligation of gaining a Jubilee? 305 Quest. 8. Can a Jubilee have different degrees in its application? 305 Quest. 9. May one person gain the Jubilee for another? 306 CHAPTER V. THE SUSPENSION OF INDULGENCES DURING THE JUBILEE. 306 SUPPLEMENT. New Decision concerning Privileged Altars 311 Digitized by Google.
Translation of Traité dogmatique et pratique des indulgences, des confréries, et du jubilé
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