Statue of St. Peter in Piazza San Pietro, Vatican City
Today I want to survey the variety and types of indulgences that the Catholic Church, by her apostolic authority, offers to the faithful. For more on what they are, note my post of yesterday...
To start, you might note that one can gain an indulgence for oneself or for the faithful departed in Purgatory (
Norms on Indulgences, N3).
Notable, too, the distinction between the plenary indulgence -- which remits
ALL temporal punishment due for sins -- and the partial indulgence, which "obtain, in addition to the remission of temporal punishment acquired by the action itself, an equal remission of punishment through the intervention of the Church." (
Norms on Indulgences, N4) To receive any indulgence, you must be "baptized, not excommunicated, and in the state of grace at least at the completion of the prescribed works." (
Norms, N17) For the partial indulgence, only "inward contrition and an action to which a partial indulgence is attached" with at least the general intention to gain it also necessary. (
Norms, N4 & N17)
For the plenary indulgence, however, there must also be the exclusion of all attachment to sin, and these three conditions, aside from the indulgenced work: "sacramental confession, Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the intention of the Sovereign Pontiff....A single sacramental confession suffices for gaining several plenary indulgences; but Holy Communion must be received and prayer for the intention of the Holy Father must be recited for the gaining of each plenary indulgence...the three conditions may be fulfilled several days before or after the performance of the prescribed work." (
Norms, N20) If these conditions are not all met, the plenary indulgence is then partial.
Note, finally, that those indulgences associated with visiting some place also require the recitation of the Our Father and Creed. (
Norms, N19) It is also possible to receive such a place-based indulgence from noon of the day previous the one noted. (
Norms, N14)
What are these indulgences, then? Let us take a look.
For the indulgences below, those in
bold I think can be routinely sought, those underlined are
plenary, and those in italics are
partial.
Let us proceed, and begin with the
four general grants:
I) "
A partial indulgence is granted to the Christian faithful who, while carrying out their duties and enduring the hardships of life, raising their minds in humble trust to God and make, at least mentally, some pious invocation." Hence, prayer in the midst of living one's state in life is indulgenced!
II) "
A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who, led by the spirit of faith, give compassionately of themselves or of their goods to serve their brothers in need." Here we find an indulgence for almsgiving. Do note that this is not, any more than it was in the 16th century, "buying indulgences."
III) "
A partial indulgence is granted to the Christian faithful who, in a spirit of penance, voluntarily abstain from something that is licit and pleasing to them." Here we find an indulgence for "fasting."
IV) "
A partial indulgence is granted to the Christian faithful who, in the particular circumstances of daily life, voluntarily give explicit witness to the their faith before others." Thus, after prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, we find an indulgence for participating in the missionary mandate of the Church.
In addition to these four general grants, the Church also provides for a number of other particular grants of indulgences, which are listed under 33 grants in the
Enchiridion Indulgentiarum (or, in the published English edition, the
Manual of Indulgences).
Here are
summaries for these 33 grants:
1) There is a
plenary indulgence for consecrating a family to the Sacred Heart or Holy Family,
with a partial indulgence on the anniversary.
2) There is a
plenary indulgence for publicly reciting the act of dedication of the human race to Christ the King on that feast;
partial on all other days.
3) There is a
plenary indulgence for publicly reciting the act of reparation to the Sacred Heart on that feast; partial on all other days.
4) There is a
plenary indulgence granted to those that receive the Urbi et Orbi blessing of the Supreme Pontiff.
5)
Participating in a celebration of a day designated for "religious intentions" (e.g., vocations) has granted a plenary indulgence;
praying for the same intention may gain a partial indulgence.
6) "
A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who teach or study Christian doctrine."
7) A
plenary indulgence is offered for:
--
an half hour of Eucharistic adoration,
--
reciting Tantum Ergo after Mass on Holy Thursday,
--
participating in a Corpus Christi procession,
--
participating in a Eucharist celebration at the end of a Eucharistic Congress.
A
partial indulgence is offered for:
--
a visit to the Blessed Sacrament for adoration,
--
offering an approved prayer to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament (e.g.,
Adoro te devote)
8) A
plenary indulgence is offered for:
-- for
receiving first Holy Communion or assisting at a first Holy Communion of another,
--
on a Friday of Lent, reciting, after Communion, reciting the prayer En ego, O bone et dulcissime Iesu before a crucifix.
A
partial indulgence is offered for:
--
an act of spiritual communion,
--
an act of thanksgiving after communion (e.g.,
Anima Christi)
9)
A partial indulgence is offered for an examination of conscience (especially before confession) or the recitation of an act of contrition.
10) A
plenary indulgence is granted to one who spends at least three entire days in the spiritual exercises of a retreat, and a
partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who take part in a month of recollection.
11) A
plenary indulgence is offered for participating in services associated with the Week of Christian Unity and a
partial indulgence for prayer an approved prayer for the unity of Christians (
Omnipotens et misericors Deus).
12) At the
point of death, the apostolic blessing has a plenary indulgence attached to it.
Further,
if no priest is available the Church extends a plenary indulgence to those at the moment of death who "have been in the habit of reciting some prayers during their lifetime."[!!!]
13) A
plenary indulgence is granted to those who,
--
adore the Cross during the liturgy of Good Friday,
--
make the pious Way of the Cross. [Note the requirement associated with this...]
14) A
plenary indulgence is granted to those who on the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul use an article of devotion blessed by the Supreme Pontiff or other bishop, so long as they also make a Profession of Faith.
The indulgence is partial if the item is blessed by a priest or deacon.
15) "
A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who for their personal edification devoutly spend time in mental prayer."
16) A
plenary indulgence is granted to those that hear some portion of a parish mission and are present "for the solemn conclusion of the mission." A partial indulgence is granted for those who assist with "attention and devotion" at other preaching.
17) A
plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who pray the Rosary in a church or with their family, or join the Holy Father for the same (even if by broadcast). Otherwise,
recitation of the rosary has attached to it a partial indulgence.
The faithful are also granted a
partial indulgence for reciting,
-- the Magnificat
-- the Angelus/Regina Caeli at dawn, noon, or evening
-- other approved Marian prayers (e.g., Salve Regina, Memorare, Sub tuum praesidium)
18) "
A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who devoutly invoke the care of their guardian Angel with a duly approved prayer." The popular "guardian angel prayer" is acceptable.
19) "
A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who invoke St. Joseph, spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with a duly approved prayer."
20) "
A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who devoutly recite the prayer Sancti Apostoli Petre et Paule."
21) "
A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who on the memorial day of any saint listed in the calendar recite in that saint's honor the prayer taken from the Missal or another one approved by legitimate authority."
A
plenary indulgence is granted "a single time within the year following the canonization or beatification to those faithful who make a visit to a church or an oratory in which a solemn celebration is held in honor of the saint or blessed."
Other such visits receive a partial indulgence.
22)
A partial indulgence is granted for, assisting at a public novena, devoutly reciting an approved litany (e.g., Of the Blessed Virgin Mary or of the Saints), or piously recite an approved little office (e.g., of the Blessed Virgin Mary).
23) A variety of indulgences are offered for various prayers from the Eastern Rites of the Church.
24)
A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who devoutly recite a duly approved prayer for benefactors.
25)
A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who recite a duly approved prayer for the Supreme Pontiff or
for a prayer offered for the bishop of a diocese on the beginning or anniversary of his pastoral ministry.
26)
A plenary indulgence is offered for the public prayer of the
--
Veni Creator on New Years' Day or Pentecost
--
Te Deum on the last day of the civil year,
and a
partial indulgence is granted for the faithful who offer an approved prayer,
-- at the beginning and the end of the day,
-- in starting or completing their work,
-- before and after meals.
27)
A plenary indulgence is offered to a priest celebrating his first Mass and those assisting him, to a priest celebrating the twenty-fifth, fiftieth, sixtieth, and seventieth anniversary of his ministry and renewing their priestly promises, and to bishops celebrating their twenty-fifth, fortieth, and fiftieth anniversaries of their ministry. Likewise,
the faithful assisting at Jubilee Masses similarly may receive a plenary indulgence.
28) A
plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who renew their baptismal promises at the Easter Vigil or on the anniversary of their baptism.
A partial indulgence is granted for a renewal of baptismal vows, for making the sign of the cross, for reciting the Apostles or Niceno-Constantinopolitan Creeds, or reciting approved Acts of Faith, Hope, or Charity.
29) A
plenary indulgence, applicable only to the souls in purgatory, is granted to the faithful who,
--
visit a cemetery and pray for faithful departed on any and each day from 1 to 8 November,
--
or on All Souls' Day, visit a church or oratory and recite an Our Father and the Creed.
A
partial indulgence, applicable only to the souls in purgatory, is available for visiting a cemetery and praying for the dead, reciting the Lauds or Vespers from the Office of the Dead, or reciting the prayer Requiem aeternam.
30)
A plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who read Sacred Scripture as spiritual reading, from an approved translation, for at least a half-hour; less than thirty minutes and it is a partial indulgence.
31) A
plenary indulgence is granted for the faithful who devoutly visit the church in which a diocesan synod is celebrated and recite an Our Father and the Creed.
32) A
plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who assist a pastoral visitation.
33) A
plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who visit and recite an Our Father and Creed,
--
at one of the Four Patriarchal Basilicas in Rome,
--
at a minor basilica, on the solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, its titular feast, 2 August, or annually on a day chosen by the faithful,
-- at a
cathedral church, on the solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul, its titular feast, the feast of the Chair of Peter, the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, or 2 August,
--
at a shrine, on its titular feast, annually on a day chosen by the faithful, or when assisting a group pilgrimage visit,
--
at a parish church, on its titular feast, or on 2 August, the day of the "Portiuncula" indulgence.
--
at a church or an altar on the day of its dedication,
--
at a church or oratory of a religious community on the liturgical memorial of their founder.
A
plenary indulgence is also granted for the faithful who
assist at sacred functions at a stational church on its designated day;
if merely a devout visit, the indulgence is partial.
A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who visit an ancient Christian cemetery or catacomb.
For the full text of all of these grants and guidelines, here is the normative document, in Latin:
Enchiridion indulgentiarum
...and here in English:
Manual of Indulgences
Although that is the list of grants in the manual, there are other means of gaining indulgences. For instance, during jubilee years there are often special indulgences offered, and membership in various confraternities might also give occasion for additional opportunities.
So, there is no day like today to unite your prayers and acts of piety to the Church and live the #indulgencelifestyle!
Live well!
