Section 12 of “Other Concessions” in the book "Manual of Indulgences: Norms and Grants: Apostolic Penitentiary: Translated into English from the fourth edition (1999) of
Enchiridion Indulgentiarum: Normae et Concessiones
At the Point of Death
- A priest who administers the sacraments to someone in danger of death should not fail to impart the apostolic blessing to which a plenary indulgence is attached.
- If a priest is unavailable, Holy Mother Church benevolently grants to the Christian faithful, who are duly disposed, a plenary indulgence to be acquitred at the point of death, provided they have been in the habit of reciting some prayers during their lifetime; in such a case, the Church supplies for the three conditions ordinarily required for a plenary indulgence.
- In this latter case, the use of a crucifix or a cross in obtaining the plenary indulgence is commendable.
- The faithful can obtain this plenary indulgence at the hour of death, even if they have already acquired a plenary indulgence on that same day.
- The catechetical instruction of the faithful should ensure that they are duly made aware and frequently reminded of this salutary benefaction of the Church.****
When we start talking about plenary indulgences, we have to remember the norm associated with it:
n. 7—To acquire a plenary indulgence it is necessary to perform the work to which the indulgence is attached and to fulfill three conditions: sacramental confession, Eucharistic Communion and prayer for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff.
It is further required that all attachment to sin, even to venial sin, be absent.
(Note carefully the bolded, above)
The condition that all attachment to sin,
even venial sin, is not a trivial matter.
It isn’t a get out of jail free card. Not saying anybody here is saying it is…but…
