Why do some prayers contain indulgences but others don't?

[Mr.Phoenix]

The Memorare and the Hail Holy Queen have indulgences but the Our Father, Hail Mary and St. Michael prayers do not.

Is it to make people more aware of some prayers and to encourage people to pray them otherwise it would seem more beneficial to pray the Memorare than the Hail Mary?

 

[Tis_Bearself]

First, there are lots of ways under the current manual of indulgences to get an indulgence saying Our Father or Hail Mary, the most common way probably being the Rosary. There are probably also ways to get an indulgence for the St Michael prayer, such as saying it mentally and getting the indulgence for “mental prayer”.

Second, the Church assigns indulgences in order to encourage people to do some particular prayerful activity. If people are already praying Our Father and Hail Mary regularly, then that doesn’t need encouraging and the Church will add more conditions to the prayers to get the indulgence, such as saying them as a Rosary.

 

[DisorientingSneeze]

Would it be correct to assume that those important prayers that do not have specific indulgences, said faithfully and sincerely, do cause the kind of spiritual growth that could reduce your time in purgatory? They aren’t less valuable.

 

[Vico]

The Memorare and the Hail Holy Queen have indulgences but the Our Father, Hail Mary and St. Michael prayers do not.

Is it to make people more aware of some prayers and to encourage people to pray them otherwise it would seem more beneficial to pray the Memorare than the Hail Mary?

The number of plenary indulgences were reduced (in 1968) and a greater emphasis on Christian life rather than on repetition of formulas and acts is emphasized. In 1999 a fourth general grant was added for Christian witness and indulgences for eastern prayers.

The Manual of Indulgences includes these concessions (in addition to four general grants and others - total is 33):
15 Mental Prayer (partial indulgence). – Includes Our Father, Hail Mary, St. Michael prayers.
16 Listening to sacred preaching (plenary for concluding sermon at a mission, or partial otherwise)
17 Marian Prayers
1. plenary indulgence for the Marian rosary (five mysteries).
2. partial indulgence for Magnificat (noon, dawn, or evening), or Angelus with versicles and prayer, or the Regina caeli antiphon with usual prayer (Easter season), or other approved prayer (e.g., Maria Mater gratiae; Memorare; Salve Regina; Sancta Maria, succurre miseris; or Sub tuum praesidium).
18 Prayers to one’s guardian angel (partial indulgence).
19 Prayers in Honor of Saint Joseph (partial indulgence).
20 Prayers in Honor of the Apostles Peter and Paul (partial indulgences).
21 Prayers in Honor of the Saints and Blesseds (partial indulgences on memorial day, plenary with the beatification or canonization). - Includes St. Michael the Archangel
22 Novenas, Litanies, and the Little Offices (partial indulgences).
23 Prayers of the eastern churches:
1. plenary indulgence for Akathistos or Office of the Paraclesis (with others)
2. partial indulgence for specific prayers of five traditions: Armenian, Byzantine, Chaldean, Coptic, Ethiopian, Maronite, and Syro-Antiochian.

 

[JerryZ]

All prayers are beneficial. The Church who has the keys can bind and loose and under that responsibility, She can assign these provisions. She can, from time to time, revise the guidelines of the practice (indulgences) and assign temporary or extraordinary opportunities for the faithful to obtain them.

Peace!