THE GIFT OF THE INDULGENCE
The
celebration of the Jubilee Year is not only an extraordinary occasion for
benefiting from the great gift of indulgences which the Lord gives us through
the Church, but it is also a fitting opportunity to recall the catechesis on
indulgences to the attention of the faithful. The Apostolic Penitentiary is
therefore publishing this sacred notice for the benefit of all who will be
making Jubilee visits.
General Remarks On Indulgences
1. This
is how an indulgence is defined in the Code of Canon Law (can.
992) and in theCatechism of the Catholic Church (n. 1471): "An indulgence is a remission before
God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been
forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain
prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister
of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the
satisfactions of Christ and the saints".
2. In general, the gaining of
indulgences requires certain prescribed conditions (below, nn.
3, 4), and the performance of certain prescribed works (nn. 8,
9, 10 indicate those specific to the Holy Year).
3. To gain indulgences, whether
plenary or partial, it is necessary that the faithful be in the state
of grace at least at the time the indulgenced work is completed.
4. A plenary indulgence can
be gained only once a day. In order to obtain it, the faithful
must, in addition to being in the state of grace:
— have the interior disposition
of complete detachment from sin, even venial sin;
— have sacramentally confessed their sins;
— receive the Holy Eucharist (it is certainly better to receive it while participating in Holy Mass, but for the indulgence only Holy Communion is required);
— pray for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff.
— have sacramentally confessed their sins;
— receive the Holy Eucharist (it is certainly better to receive it while participating in Holy Mass, but for the indulgence only Holy Communion is required);
— pray for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff.
5. It is appropriate, but not
necessary, that the sacramental Confession and especially Holy Communion and
the prayer for the Pope's intentions take place on the same day that the
indulgenced work is performed; but it is sufficient that these sacred rites and
prayers be carried out within several days (about 20) before or after the
indulgenced act. Prayer for the Pope's intentions is left to the choice of the
faithful, but an "Our Father" and a "Hail Mary" are
suggested. One sacramental Confession suffices for several plenary indulgences,
but a separate Holy Communion and a separate prayer for the Holy Father's
intentions are required for each plenary indulgence.
6. For the sake of those
legitimately impeded, confessors can commute both the work
prescribed and the conditions required (except, obviously, detachment from even
venial sin).
7. Indulgences can always be
applied either to oneself or to the souls of the deceased, but they
cannot be applied to other persons living on earth.
Specific
Aspects Of The Jubilee Year
Having fulfilled the necessary conditions in
nn. 3-4, the faithful may gain the Jubilee indulgence by performing one of the
following works, listed here below in three categories:
8. Works of piety or
religion
— Either
make a pious pilgrimage to a Jubilee shrine or place (for
Rome: one of the four Patriarchal Basilicas — St Peter, St John Lateran, St
Mary Major, St Paul —, or to the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem, the
Basilica of St Laurence in Campo Verano, the Shrine of Our Lady of Divine Love
or one of the Christian Catacombs, and participate there in Holy Mass or
another liturgical celebration (Lauds or Vespers) or some pious exercise (the
Stations of the Cross, the Rosary, the recitation of theAkathistos Hymn,
etc.);
— or make a pious visit, as
a group or individually, to one of these same Jubilee places, and there spend
some time in Eucharistic adoration and pious meditations, ending with the
"Our Father", the profession of faith in any approved form and prayer
to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
9. Works of mercy or charity
— Either visit for
a suitable time their brothers or sisters in need or in difficulty(the
sick, the imprisoned, the elderly living alone, the handicapped, etc.), as if
making a pilgrimage to Christ present in them;
— or support by a
significant contribution works of a religious or social nature (for
the benefit of abandoned children, young people in trouble, the elderly in
need, foreigners in various countries seeking better living conditions);
— or devote a
suitable part of personal free time to activities benefiting the
community or other similar forms of personal sacrifice.
10. Acts of penance
For at least one whole day
— Either abstain from
unnecessary consumption (smoking, alcohol, etc.);
— or fast,
— or abstain
from meat (or other food according to the specific norms of the
Bishops' Conferences), and donate a proportionate sum of money to the
poor.
Given in Rome at the offices of the
Apostolic Penitentiary, 29 January 2000.
Cardinal
William Wakefield Baum
Major Penitentiary
Major Penitentiary
Bishop
Luigi De Magistris
Titular Bishop of Nova
Regent
Titular Bishop of Nova
Regent
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