Indulgences & confession

[fin]

to acquire a plenary indulgence, one of the requirements is confession. Within how many days of the indulgenced act is Confession required? Is it 1 week or 20 days? Thank you!

 

[Verbum_Caro]

fin,

“About 20”

The current 4th edition of the Manual of Indulgences norms repeats the language of “several days” as the prior 3rd edition norms.

The Apostolic Penitentiary’s document The Gift of The Indulgence, giving general remarks about indulgences clarifies the “several days” language:
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.

Note, however that both the General Norms and the above general remarks point out that it is appropriate to do these thing on the day of the indulgenced work, though not strictly necessary.

VC

 

[johnco]

hi,

i always heard that it was eight days before or after the indulgenced action.

God bless,

johnco

 

[fin]

Note, however that both the General Norms and the above general remarks point out that it is appropriate to do these thing on the day of the indulgenced work, though not strictly necessary.

VC

Thank you. The thing with confession is you can’t have it everyday, unlike praying for the Pope, holy Communion etc.

 

[Verbum_Caro]

Thank you. The thing with confession is you can’t have it everyday, unlike praying for the Pope, holy Communion etc.

Right. That is why the norms also say:

Several plenary indulgences may be gained on the basis of a single sacramental confession; only one may be gained, however, on the basis of a single eucharistic communion and prayer for the pope’s intentions.

VC