questions regarding indulgences

[Xandria]

Today I have been studying the Enchiridion indulgentiarum and have a few questions regarding some indulgences. I hope you can help me.

1. “19. The faithful, who devoutly use an article of devotion (crucifix or cross, rosary, scapular or medal) properly blessed by any priest, obtain a partial indulgence.”

The Divine Mercy chaplet is not an indulgenced prayer itself but if I pray it with a blessed rosary or DM chaplet, would that constitute a devout use of a blessed article and therefore mean a partial indulgence as well?

Does that also mean a single rosary decade is a partial indulgence?

1. “But if the article of devotion has been blessed by the Sovereign Pontiff or by any Bishop, the faithful, using it devoutly, can also gain a plenary indulgence on the feast of the Holy
   Apostles, Peter and Paul, provided they also make a profession of faith according to any
   legitimate formula.”

If I pray on a rosary that was blessed by the Holy Father on the feast of St Peter and Paul, does that mean I can pray it alone at home that day and receive the plenary indulgence unlike on normal days?

1. A plenary indulgence for the praying of the rosary is granted when it is recited “in a church or public oratory or in a family group, a religious Community or pious Association” and when the 5 decades are said without interruptions.

My question: If I pray the rosary alone and break the decades up over the course of the day, do I still receive a partial indulgence?

1. plenary indulgence: adoration of the Blessed Sacrament for at least one half an hour

Does the Blessed Sacrament have to be exposed in order to gain the plenary indulgence or can I also venerate the Blessed Sacrament when It is in the closed tabernacle?

 

[FreeSpirit1]

ENCHIRIDION! So glad someone out there is studying this with me!

Plenary indulgences are a treasure of the church. Alleluia!

Today I have been studying the Enchiridion indulgentiarum and have a few questions regarding some indulgences. I hope you can help me.

1. “19. The faithful, who devoutly use an article of devotion (crucifix or cross, rosary, scapular or medal) properly blessed by any priest, obtain a partial indulgence.”

The Divine Mercy chaplet is not an indulgenced prayer itself but if I pray it with a blessed rosary or DM chaplet, would that constitute a devout use of a blessed article and therefore mean a partial indulgence as well?

Does that also mean a single rosary decade is a partial indulgence?

This is also my understanding. But why settle for a partial indulgence…

1. “But if the article of devotion has been blessed by the Sovereign Pontiff or by any Bishop, the faithful, using it devoutly, can also gain a plenary indulgence on the feast of the Holy
   Apostles, Peter and Paul, provided they also make a profession of faith according to any
   legitimate formula.”

If I pray on a rosary that was blessed by the Holy Father on the feast of St Peter and Paul, does that mean I can pray it alone at home that day and receive the plenary indulgence unlike on normal days?

That’s what it says, and to gain the plenary indulgence, you need to fulfill the three normal conditions: confession, communion, and prayer for the intentions of the Pontiff.

1. A plenary indulgence for the praying of the rosary is granted when it is recited “in a church or public oratory or in a family group, a religious Community or pious Association” and when the 5 decades are said without interruptions.

My question: If I pray the rosary alone and break the decades up over the course of the day, do I still receive a partial indulgence?

Yes, you would receive a partial indulgence.

1. plenary indulgence: adoration of the Blessed Sacrament for at least one half an hour

Does the Blessed Sacrament have to be exposed in order to gain the plenary indulgence or can I also venerate the Blessed Sacrament when It is in the closed tabernacle?

I would also like to have an answer to this one. Anyone out there can help?

I would also like to know:

When you fulfill all the conditions for a plenary indulgence, how much of the temporal punishment is removed: for the sins confessed in confession or for all sins ever commited (even ones we unwillingly, unknowingly forget to confess)?

Thank you in advance!

 

[Xandria]

ENCHIRIDION! So glad someone out there is studying this with me!

Plenary indulgences are a treasure of the church. Alleluia!

I have been a Catholic for a good year but have not taken advantage of indulgences much. But lately I have been praying for the Holy Souls regularly and it suddenly hit me that I need to change that! For myself and for them.

This is also my understanding. But why settle for a partial indulgence…

Because it is not often that I have the opportunity to receive communion and recite the rosary with others on the same day. But I do pray the rosary on my own almost every day and usually it is done over the course of the day. But there are also many days where for some reason I only pray 1,2, or 3 decades and therefore I am happy that I will still receive a partial indulgence.

Another question, I wonder if praying the rosary along with a CD is permissble in regard to the indulgences? On many days it is the only way I can pray the rosary with concentration.

So praying the Divine Mercy chaplet is according to this rule indulgenced as well? Hehe, looks like we have found a loophole for the beloved prayer of so many.

That’s what it says, and to gain the plenary indulgence, you need to fulfill the three normal conditions: confession, communion, and prayer for the intentions of the Pontiff.

That goes without saying as it is the condition of every plenary indulgence but I’m unsure if regarding the rosary it still means that it has to be recited in a group or at church?

I would also like to know:

When you fulfill all the conditions for a plenary indulgence, how much of the temporal punishment is removed: for the sins confessed in confession or for all sins ever commited (even ones we unwillingly, unknowingly forget to confess)?
​

I would think yes because the sins we are not aware of are forgiven in confession as well but maybe someone more knowledgeably than me should answer.

By the way, can we ever really be sure that we have gained a plenary indulgence? This attachment to not even a venial sin sounds tough, not just to do but also to discern.​

 

[FreeSpirit1]

[SIGN]Greetings Xandria[/SIGN]

I have been a Catholic for a good year but have not taken advantage of indulgences much. But lately I have been praying for the Holy Souls regularly and it suddenly hit me that I need to change that! For myself and for them.

I can’t wait for the month of November, I believe 1-8 November are days that we may gain indulgences for the souls in purgatory.

Because it is not often that I have the opportunity to receive communion and recite the rosary with others on the same day. But I do pray the rosary on my own almost every day and usually it is done over the course of the day. But there are also many days where for some reason I only pray 1,2, or 3 decades and therefore I am happy that I will still receive a partial indulgence.

Yes, that makes sense. Slowly but surely is best. Good for you.

Another question, I wonder if praying the rosary along with a CD is permissble in regard to the indulgences? On many days it is the only way I can pray the rosary with concentration.

From memory, the answer is yes, as long as you are fully participating. I say this because, again from memory (working on getting the specific references), you may gain a plenary indulgence by listening to a CD of the scriptures for half an hour. Three conditions apply, of course. So if it is permited for the scriptures, one could reasonably apply it to the Rosary.

That goes without saying as it is the condition of every plenary indulgence but I’m unsure if regarding the rosary it still means that it has to be recited in a group or at church?

Yes, the plenary indulgence for the Rosary is in church or in Rosary group.

I would think yes because the sins we are not aware of are forgiven in confession as well but maybe someone more knowledgeably than me should answer.

However, open to debate. I read (again, working on the specific reference) that it would only apply to sins confessed, in which case, it is tougher to gain plenary indulgence, but it would make sense: confession makes you aware and conscientious about what you do.

By the way, can we ever really be sure that we have gained a plenary indulgence? This attachment to not even a venial sin sounds tough, not just to do but also to discern.

Yes, I agree it could be hard to discern, but that’s one of the fruit of prayerful lifestyle. Note that it’s impossible not to commit any venial sin. Here, as you pointed out, we are focusing on attachment to venial sin. Still difficult, but to God, all things are possible. Thank God for His mercy, what would I do without it?!

[SIGN] Don’t let go of your Rosary! [/SIGN]

 

[FreeSpirit1]

However, open to debate. I read (again, working on the specific reference) that it would only apply to sins confessed, in which case, it is tougher to gain plenary indulgence, but it would make sense: confession makes you aware and conscientious about what you do.

Sorry, I need to make a subtle but real correction: the above is meant to be read as this:
However, open to debate. I read (again, working on the specific reference) that it would only apply to sins confessed, in which case, it is tougher to -]gain plenary indulgence/-] to be exempt of all temporal punishment once in purgatory, but it would make sense: -]confession /-] sins confessed during confession makes you aware and conscientious about what you do.

 

[FreeSpirit1]

1. plenary indulgence: adoration of the Blessed Sacrament for at least one half an hour

Does the Blessed Sacrament have to be exposed in order to gain the plenary indulgence or can I also venerate the Blessed Sacrament when It is in the closed tabernacle?

For now, I have the following text that may help to answer the Blessed Sacrament (with or without the monstrance?) question:

In “How to avoid purgatory”, by Fr. Paul O’Sullivan, and reproduced on EWTN web site, we have at the bottom of the text (see url):
10. A daily visit to the Blessed Sacrament–it need only be three or four minutes–is an easy way of obtaining the same grace. Kneeling in the presence of Jesus with eyes fixed on the Tabernacle, sure that He is looking at us, let us for a few minutes repeat some little prayer like these: “My Jesus, mercy.” “My Jesus, have pity on me, a sinner” “My Jesus, I love You” “My Jesus, give me a happy death”
source: ewtn.com/faith/teachings/purgb2.htm

From the text, we see that the author uses the term Blessed Sacrament and Tabernacle interchangeably. Thus, they are equivalent. I would say it is reasonable to think so.

However, I am open to be convinced otherwise, if anyone can offer a better demonstration to the contrary.

Let me say, in a very explicit way, so anyone interested may be clear:

Otherwise, we can happily fulfill the conditions in order to obtain the following **plenary indulgence, (which will, not only obtain forgiveness from sin in confesion, but also exempt us from the temporal punishment due once dead, in purgatory) **

• To reject any inclination towards (or, as said, to be free from attachment to) venial sin
• Adoration of the Tabernacle / Blessed Sacrament for half an hour,
• And the three usual conditions, which are:
• 1. Confession,
• 1. Communion, and
• 1. Prayer for the intentions of the Pontiff (either personal or one Our Father and one Hail Mary is sufficient).

 

[Xandria]

Otherwise, we can happily fulfill the conditions in order to obtain the following **plenary indulgence, (which will, not only obtain forgiveness from sin in confesion, but also exempt us from the temporal punishment due once dead, in purgatory) **

• To reject any inclination towards (or, as said, to be free from attachment to) venial sin
• Adoration of the Tabernacle / Blessed Sacrament for half an hour,
• And the three usual conditions, which are:
• 1. Confession,
• 1. Communion, and
• 1. Prayer for the intentions of the Pontiff (either personal or one Our Father and one Hail Mary is sufficient).

By the way, the rule for all plenary indulgences is that if not all conditions are met, it will only be a partial indulgence. Am I correct in assuming that I can perform the action required for a plenary indulgence, for example receiving the papal urbi et orbi blessing, without going to communion and/ or confession, it will still be a partial indulgence? In other words, is it okay if more than one condition is missing?

 

[Xandria]

From the text, we see that the author uses the term Blessed Sacrament and Tabernacle interchangeably. Thus, they are equivalent. I would say it is reasonable to think so.

It sounds good and makes sense, hope it’s true!

 

[FreeSpirit1]

By the way, the rule for all plenary indulgences is that if not all conditions are met, it will only be a partial indulgence. Am I correct in assuming that I can perform the action required for a plenary indulgence, for example receiving the papal urbi et orbi blessing, without going to communion and/ or confession, it will still be a partial indulgence? In other words, is it okay if more than one condition is missing?

Yes, you are correct, in the thinking that if any one or more conditions are missing for the plenary indulgence, than you are gaining a partial indulgence. Hey, many partial indulgences pile up!

May I suggest you confess when you can (usually priests are confessing 15 minutes before mass) so the indulgence gained (either plenary or partial) may be applied to the sins you confess.