… a Redemptorist Father. At the end of the weekend he blessed our Rosaries and gave an indulgence.
What do you mean by “gave an indulgence?” The only ones who can grant indulgences are persons who have this power recognized in law or granted them by the Pope. (cf. canon 995.1, 1983 CIC).
As for indulgences attached to the devout use of a Rosary, the *Enchiridion Indulgentiarum, 3rd ed., *with reference to norm 17 of the Apostolic Constitution
Indulgentiarum doctrina:“The Christian faithful gain a partial indulgence in devoutly using religious articles (crucifixes, crosses, rosaries, scapulars, medals) properly blessed by any priest or deacon. But if these religious articles have been blessed by a pope or by any bishop, the faithful devoutly using them may also gain a plenary indulgence on the solemnity of the holy apostles, Peter and Paul, when they add to such us ethe profession of faith recited in any approved formulary.”
Thus, if it was properly blessed, the indulgence can be gained from the devout use of the Rosary. Yet this particular grant does not apply to those not properly blessed.
My question is: must I continue to use this Rosary exclusively to receive the indulgence or is it transferable, like the Brown Scapular- once you’ve been enrolled, you’re always enrolled?
For the above (norm 17) to apply the religious article must be properly blessed. However, you don’t need a Rosary to receive an indulgence for devoutly praying the Rosary.
Apart from the devout use of a blessed Rosary, according to the *Enchiridion Indulgentiarum, 3rd ed.:
**"*A
plenary indulgence is granted when the rosary [at least 5 decades, recited without interruption, with devout meditation on the mysteries added to the prayers] is recited in a church or oratory or when it is recited in a family, a religious community or a pious association. A
partial indulgence is granted for its recitation in all other circumstances."
Furthermore, the three general types of indulgenced grants are rather broad.
According to the *Enchiridion Indulgentiarum, 3rd ed.:
*1) “A partial indulgence is granted to the Christian faithful who, while performing their duties and enduring the difficulties of life, raise their minds in humble trust to God and make, a least mentally, some pious invocation.”
- “A partial indulgence is granted to the Christian faithful who, prompted by the spirit of faith, devote themselves or their goods in compassionate service to their brothers and sisters in need.”
- “A partial indulgence is granted to the Christian faithful who, in a spirit of penitence, voluntarily abstain from something which is licit for and pleasing to them.”
Finally, any time the Christian faithful spend time in mental prayer they gain a partial indulgence.
The general conditions for gaining indulgences apply: be baptized, not excommunicated, in the state of grace at least at the time the prescribe works are completed, have at least the general intention of gaining an indulgence, must perform the acts at the time stipulated and in the manner required according to the grant.
For
plenary indulgences, other conditions include: exclusion of all attachment to sin, even venial sin; fulfillment of the following three conditions: sacramental confession, eucharistic communion, and prayer for the pope’s intentions (these three conditions can be carried out several days preceding or following performance of the prescribed work).
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