Fridays during Lent: what is your personal practice?

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Are we required to visit the Stations of the Cross every Friday during Lent?
 
You’re not required to, no. It’s a pious practice. Although I think you can get a plenary indulgence for it (along with the usual requirements) during Lent. But I’m not certain.
 
You’re asking two slightly different questions.

I do go to Stations of the Cross on Fridays in Lent. No, we’re not required to do so.
 
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You are not “required” to visit the Stations of the Cross on Fridays during Lent or any other time. It’s an optional devotion.

You can get a Plenary Indulgence for Stations of the Cross, with the usual conditions and in addition making sure you follow the directions in the Manual of Indulgences for doing Stations (requires approved stations, each must have a cross, and you need to move between the stations, etc.) , on any day of the year, not just Fridays in Lent.

The special Fridays-in-Lent plenary indulgence is for saying the “Look down upon me, good and gentle Jesus, while before Thy face I humbly kneel…” prayer after Communion on Fridays. You can only get a plenary for that on the Fridays in Lent. At other times it’s partial.
 
You get a plenary indulgence for saying the stations of the cross anytime under the usual conditions.
 
Tis_Bearself said:
You can get a Plenary Indulgence for Stations of the Cross, with the usual conditions and in addition making sure you follow the directions in the Manual of Indulgences for doing Stations (requires approved stations, each must have a cross, and you need to move between the stations, etc.) , on any day of the year, not just Fridays in Lent.
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My little Way of the Cross booklet says it’s a plenary indulgence on Fridays during lent and a partial indulgence any other time so long as you pray for the Holy Father’s intentions as well.

Is that a mistake?
 
Yes, that’s wrong. Stations of the Cross are one of the “Big Four” methods by which you can get a plenary, under the usual conditions, any day of the year. Please see Chapter 13, Section 2 (“In Memory of the Passion and Death of Our Lord”) of the current Manual here for the correct current info on Stations of the Cross aka Way of the Cross.

In general you should always check the Manual of Indulgences, as many books and websites contain info that is outdated or just plain wrong regarding indulgences.

The well-known “Big Four” methods by which you can get a plenary any day of the year under the usual conditions are:
  • Rosary said out loud and without interruption in a group/ family or in a church
  • Eucharistic Adoration for at least 1/2 hour
  • Scripture reading for at least 1/2 hour
  • Stations of the Cross at approved stations (must contain crosses), moving between stations, and according to the manual procedures.
 
P.S. For the special Friday plenary indulgence (under the “Usual Conditions” for plenaries) for saying “Look Down Upon Me Good and Gentle Jesus” prayer after Communion and before a Crucifix on Fridays in Lent, refer to the Manual of Indulgences (linked in my last post), chapter 8, section 1, paragraph 2.

This indulgence is only plenary on Fridays in Lent. Partial the rest of the year.
 
Presanctified liturgy and Lenten potluck afterwards.

ZP
 
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Mass with the “Look Down Upon Me, Good and Gentle Jesus” prayer after Communion for the daily plenary.

Stations if I can fit it in.
Probably will try to do my egg and grapefruit fast again. Or if grapefruit is too hard, maybe egg and banana. (I hate grapefruit.)

Fish fry in the evening. I was driving around to try all different ones the last couple years, but I’ve identified two churches where it’s the best, and they’re my go-tos now. One of them has stations right before fish fry as well.
 
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Bear, are things that are plenary reduced to partial if the usual conditions aren’t met or is there no indulgence gained?
 
They are reduced to partial. Still pretty darned good.
 
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Yes, if you are in a state of grace when you do the work, but don’t meet all the conditions in the manual for the plenary, you get a partial.

If you’re not in a state of grace when you do the work, you don’t get any indulgence. I’m sure God hears the prayer though. Indulgences are granted by the Church under its binding and loosing power, not by God.
 
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