Question about the Apostolic Pardon

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HomeschoolDad

HomeschoolDad

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Two questions, really:
  • If you are at the brink of death, and receive the Apostolic Pardon, but end up recovering and not dying after all, does the Apostolic Pardon “take”? That is to say, is it like the “mother of all plenary indulgences”, your slate is wiped clean, and it is as though you had just been baptized, even if you recover and live for five more years? (I know it would not cover sins committed between the time you recover and the time you die — that much should be obvious.)
  • Can you receive the Apostolic Pardon more than once?
@Tis_Bearself, you’re our “subject matter expert” on indulgences, so it seems, have you read anything along these lines?

Just something that came to mind, when I was explaining to someone about how the Apostolic Pardon “works”.
 
HomeschoolDad said:
  • If you are at the brink of death, and receive the Apostolic Pardon, but end up recovering and not dying after all, does the Apostolic Pardon “take”?
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Why would it not?
That is to say, is it like the “mother of all plenary indulgences”, your slate is wiped clean, and it is as though you had just been baptized, even if you recover and live for five more years? (I know it would not cover sins committed between the time you recover and the time you die — that much should be obvious.)
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A plenary indulgence is a plenary indulgence. The Apostolic Pardon is not somehow more efficacious than a plenary indulgence you might earn on a normal Tuesday when you’re not dying. It’s just a plenary indulgence imparted by the priest along with his apostolic blessing for a dying person. The only thing that makes it different from other plenaries is it’s probably the last plenary you’ll get in this life.
  • Can you receive the Apostolic Pardon more than once?
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Sure, if you somehow don’t die the first time, you can get another one when you’re at the point of death again.
 
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HomeschoolDad said:
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The slate is temporal punishment.

It is a plenary indulgence and is given after the Anointing of the Sick. “CIC Can. 1007 The anointing of the sick is not to be conferred upon those who persevere obstinately in manifest grave sin.”

Manual of Indulgences, Grant 12 :
§1 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.
§2 If a priest is unavailable, Holy Mother Church benevolently grants to the Christian faithful, who are duly disposed, a plenary indulgence to be acquired 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.
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§4 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.
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The other difference is that there is no “act” to be done by the person obtaining the Apostolic Pardon, e.g. visiting a shrine etc., as we read … " the three usual conditions required in order to gain a plenary indulgence are substituted for by the condition ‘provided they regularly prayed in some way.’”"
 
CRV said:
The other difference is that there is no “act” to be done by the person obtaining the Apostolic Pardon, e.g. visiting a shrine etc., as we read … " the three usual conditions required in order to gain a plenary indulgence are substituted for by the condition ‘provided they regularly prayed in some way.’”"
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That’s not the “Apostolic Pardon” indulgence. The indulgence you’re describing is the one you get at the point of death if the priest isn’t available when you happen to be dying. (Grant 12, Section 2)

Obviously if the priest doesn’t show up then you don’t get the “Apostolic Blessing with Indulgence” aka the Apostolic Pardon (Grant 12, Section 1 of same link above).

Having said that, if the priest did happen to show up and you couldn’t meet one or more of the conditions for the plenary, like you couldn’t swallow Communion, or were in a coma, he’ll give you the pardon anyway and the impossible conditions aren’t required. If you were awake and able to confess and receive Communion and all that, then you’d fulfill the conditions that you were able to fulfill.
 
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Yes, it does say if a priest cannot be present … … the 3 usual conditions are replaced etc.

Indulgences at the Point of Death Authored By: Father Edward McNamara, LC

" “‘An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin’ [ ibid ., Norm 2, see Norm 3]. Indulgences may be applied to the living or the dead.”

The ritual for the pastoral care of the sick, in Nos. 195 and 201, indicates the rite followed for those approaching death.
No. 201 touches on viaticum outside of Mass, which would be the usual circumstance for this blessing. The rubric states:
"At the conclusion of the sacrament of penance or the penitential rite, the priest may give the apostolic pardon for the dying, using one of the following:

“Through the holy mysteries of our redemption, may almighty God release you from all punishments in this life and in the life to come. May he open to you the gates of paradise and welcome you to everlasting joy.”

Or the following:

“By the authority which the Apostolic See has given me I grant you a full pardon and the remission of all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. R. Amen.”

Should a priest be unavailable to impart the papal blessing, the Handbook of Indulgences, No. 28, offers another path. To wit:

"Priests who minister the sacraments to the Christian faithful who are in a life-and-death situation should not neglect to impart to them the apostolic blessing, with its attached indulgence. But if a priest cannot be present, holy mother Church lovingly grants such persons who are rightly disposed a plenary indulgence to be obtained in articulo mortis, at the approach of death, provided they regularly prayed in some way during their lifetime. The use of a crucifix or a cross is recommended in obtaining this plenary indulgence.

"In such a situation the three usual conditions required in order to gain a plenary indulgence are substituted for by the condition ‘provided they regularly prayed in some way.’

“The Christian faithful can obtain the plenary indulgence mentioned here as death approaches (in articulo mortis) even if they had already obtained another plenary indulgence that same day.”

This grant, in No. 28, is taken from the apostolic constitution Indulgentiarum Doctrina, Norm 18, issued by Pope Paul VI on Jan. 1, 1967.

Unlike the sacrament of the sick, the papal blessing at the approach of death along with its attendant indulgence may be imparted only once during the same illness. Should a person recover it may be imparted again at a new threat of imminent death." <-@HomeschoolDad
 
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Not disagreeing with any of that, but noting that the priest you quote is using an old revision of the Enchiridion of Indulgences so the grant number and section number do not jive with the updated revision of the manual of indulgences (the link I posted).

The indulgence itself has not changed since 1967 to my knowledge though.
 
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po18guy said:
Interesting question. Planning on something?
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Nope. Just keeping my own last end in mind, and wondering how I might keep my purgatory as short as possible. I was also talking the other day with someone who has been away from the sacraments for a long time, and we got to talking about getting right with God before death.

I might be in such circumstances before another day passes. We just never know.
 
Yes, I realize that. But to my mind the difference between the two scenarios - one with the priest present and one without, is when the priest is present he bestows the Apostolic Blessing - whereas this isn’t possible if no priest is present.

But wrt the Apostolic Pardon, again to my mind, the pardon/full indulgence is the same.

The means of obtaining this pardon is different ie the 3 usual condition - confession, communion/viaticum, prayers for the Popes’ intentions aren’t possible without a priest , which is why in the second scenario these are waived. But the pardon ie the full remission of sin is the same in either scenario.

(Sorry if I’m as clear as mud).
 
Good thing the Church makes it relatively painless. Father also does penance for our sins when we confess and I’d imagine the Bishop also, if sins are involved/absolved. For those wondering (I hope this is right - if not, I learn again!):
  1. Act of contrition immediately when conscious of sin and also if confession not available.
  2. Sacramental Confession.
  3. Sacrament of Anointing if in danger of death (I’ve lost count of anointing over 12 years and 3 cancers)
  4. The Apostolic Pardon (Isn’t God, via His Church great?)
Especially recently, we lose our sense of peace. We all lament the mess we might leave behind, but God provides - always and everywhere. Having less than zero percent chance of being alive today, I am well acquainted with His mercy.

The only sobering aspect is: “To whom much is given, much is required.” (Luke 12:48)

Yikes!
 
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CRV said:
But wrt the Apostolic Pardon , again to my mind, the pardon/full indulgence is the same.
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Again, the “Apostolic Pardon” refers to the Apostolic Blessing that carries an indulgence. See for example:


If the priest is not present, you still can get a plenary indulgence at the point of death if you have habitually said some prayers during your lifetime. But it is not called the “Apostolic Pardon” because that term refers to the particular blessing by the priest that carries a plenary indulgence. We don’t call the plenary indulgence that you can get if the priest is not there an “Apostolic Pardon” because that term refers specifically to the blessing given by the priest, if he is present.
 
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CRV said:
Well, what is it called then … simply a plenary indulgence?
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Yes. I apologize as it appears the link I posted above to the current Manual of Indulgences doesn’t take the clicker straight to the appropriate page. I screenshotted the section for easier reference:

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

As you can see, the current Manual refers in Grant 12 Section 1 to the priest giving “the apostolic blessing to which a plenary indulgence is attached”. This is what’s popularly called the Apostolic Pardon.

Grant 12 section 2 refers to “a plenary indulgence to be acquired at the point of death” if no priest is available.
 
po18guy said:
Father also does penance for our sins when we confess and I’d imagine the Bishop also, if sins are involved/absolved.
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No doubt some priests (I would hope all of them, at one time or another) do penance on behalf of their penitents, and on behalf of mankind in general, but are you saying that penance done by the priest is a part of the sacrament? I’ve never heard that before.
 
HomeschoolDad said:
No doubt some priests (I would hope all of them, at one time or another) do penance on behalf of their penitents, and on behalf of mankind in general, but are you saying that penance done by the priest is a part of the sacrament? I’ve never heard that before.
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It’s in the Catechism. (CCC 1466)

Previous thread on this:
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Must a priest do penance for confessees? Liturgy and Sacraments
Is it true that a priest must do a penance for each and every person whose confession they hear?
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I’ve encountered priests who are not aware (maybe they never learned in seminary, maybe they forgot) of the Apostolic Pardon. It is a very powerful grace.

Before my husband died, he was granted the Apostolic Pardon. That has been more comfort to me than you can imagine.
 
Tis_Bearself said:
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HomeschoolDad:
No doubt some priests (I would hope all of them, at one time or another) do penance on behalf of their penitents, and on behalf of mankind in general, but are you saying that penance done by the priest is a part of the sacrament? I’ve never heard that before.
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It’s in the Catechism. (CCC 1466 )

Previous thread on this:

Is it true that a priest must do a penance for each and every person whose confession they hear?
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I never knew that before. Learn something new every day. Thanks for passing that on.
TheLittleLady said:
I’ve encountered priests who are not aware (maybe they never learned in seminary, maybe they forgot) of the Apostolic Pardon. It is a very powerful grace.

Before my husband died, he was granted the Apostolic Pardon. That has been more comfort to me than you can imagine.
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I am glad your dear husband was able to receive this.

The Apostolic Pardon is the closest thing we have to the “blessed assurance” spoken of by evangelicals. I often observe these people and what a good mood many of them always seem to be in, smiling broadly and speaking glowingly of how “I know I’m going straight to heaven”. If I believed that I were absolutely saved, and that nothing could ever happen either to keep that from taking place — not even falling back again into a sinful life (which is what “once saved, always saved” means) — or to delay it by a long and horrible stay in purgatory, I’d be pretty chipper all the time too.
 
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HomeschoolDad said:
If I believed that I were absolutely saved, and that nothing could ever happen either to keep that from taking place — not even falling back again into a sinful life — or to delay it by a long and horrible stay in purgatory, I’d be pretty chipper all the time too.
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St. Faustina and St. Therese had that kind of trust in Jesus.
We should all strive to develop it, while doing our best to love God and our neighbor and not sin, of course.
 
Tis_Bearself said:
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HomeschoolDad:
If I believed that I were absolutely saved, and that nothing could ever happen either to keep that from taking place — not even falling back again into a sinful life — or to delay it by a long and horrible stay in purgatory, I’d be pretty chipper all the time too.
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St. Faustina and St. Therese had that kind of trust in Jesus.
We should all strive to develop it, while doing our best to love God and our neighbor and not sin, of course.
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You are quite right — it’s very simple, just avoid sin. That way, you can be as sunny as any Baptist or Pentecostal ever thought about being.
 
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