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The
Holy Name Society and Indulgences
Mr.
Ron Louis Gigliotti
Webmaster, PAHNS
Dear Ron,
There has been considerable confusion among Holy Name members,
regarding the topic of Indulgences. Some people think we still
benefit from the old, traditional indulgences which were granted
to the Holy Name Society prior to the Second Vatican Council.
Others think that we are no longer the beneficiaries of any indulgences.
In an effort to clarify this matter, I am submitting the following
material to the PAHNS Website.
Do We Still Enjoy Them?
Most Holy Name members know that, from the time of its founding,
until the Second Vatican Council, the Holy Name Society has been
richly graced with indulgences. Some members are troubled, however,
because they believe that these indulgences have been revoked.
What is the actual situation?
New Discipline Concerning Indulgences
The Apostolic Constitution "The Doctrine of Indulgences"
of January 1, 1967 states "Holy Mother Church has then deemed
it fitting, in order to give greater dignity and esteem to the
use of indulgences, to introduce some innovations into her discipline
of indulgences and has accordingly ordered the issuance of new
norms."
In obedience to the will of the Sovereign Pontiff,as expressed
both in the above-mentioned Apostolic Constitution and in further
instructions from Him, this Sacred Penitentiary has seen to the
careful preparation of a new Enchiridion on Indulgences.
The Sovereign Pontiff, Paul VI ...having received a report on
the matter ...approved and ordered to be held authentic, the
new Enchiridion of Indulgences as published by the Vatican Press.
All general grants of indulgences, not included in this same
Enchiridion, are hereby revoked. From the Decree of the Sacred
Apostolic Penitentiary, June 29, 1968. All other data contained
in this article has been based on the authorized English edition
of the Enchiridion, translated by William T. Barry, C.S.S.R.,
New York, N.Y. 1969.
Three General Grants in the New Enchiridion
[Applicable to all the Catholic faithful, including, but
not limited to Holy Name Society members]
1.A
partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who, in the performance
of their duties and in bearing the trials of life, raise their
mind with humble confidence to God, adding - even if only mentally
- some pious invocation [Holy Name Society members may wish to
use the invocation "Blessed be the Name of God"]
2.A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful, who in a spirit
of faith and mercy give of themselves or of their goods to serve
their brothers in need [Holy Name Society members in Societies
which perform charitable works should keep this indulgence in
mind].
3.A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful, who in a spirit
of penance voluntarily deprive themselves of what is licit and
pleasing to them [Holy Name Society members who deprive themselves
of leisure to take part in Holy Name functions should keep this
indulgence in mind].
Special
Grant to the Holy Name Society - New Enchiridion
On October 25, 1967 [after the promulgation of the Apostolic
Constitution The Doctrine on Indulgences], the Sacred Penitentiary,
in response to the petition of the Dominican Order, granted a
plenary indulgence to the members of the Holy Name Society, the
usual conditions being observed [see "What Are the Usual
Conditions for a Plenary Indulgence", below], on the following
occasions:
1.The
day of the member's enrollment.
2. Christmas Day [December 25], New Year's Day [January 1], the
Feast of Christ the King [Sunday in October], the Annunciation
of Our Lady [March 25], the Assumption of Our Lady [August 15]and
the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker [May 1].
What
are the Usual Conditions for a Plenary Indulgence
Many Catholics fail to gain a Plenary Indulgence, because they
do not know how. During the most recent Holy Year, Catholics
were told that, by visiting particular churches with their respective
dioceses, they could gain a plenary indulgence "under the
usual conditions", which were often not specified. Therefore
some Catholics felt that, since they did not know the requirements,
they could not possibly fulfill them. To assist Holy Name Society
members, the "usual conditions" are specified below:
To gain a Plenary Indulgence, it is necessary for a person to
be free from all attachment to sin, to perform the work to which
the indulgence is attached, and to fulfill the three conditions
of Sacramental Confession, Eucharistic Communion, and Prayer
for the intention of the Pope.
The three conditions may be fulfilled before or after the performance
of the prescribed work [usually within eight days], but it is
fitting that Communion be received and prayers for the intention
of the Pope be offered on the same day the work is performed
[NOTE: In most parishes, Sacramental Confession is regularly
available only on Saturdays, hence the need for allowing an "octave",
so that this Sacrament may be celebrated on the preceding or
following Saturday].
The condition of praying for the Pope's intention is fully satisfied
by praying one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and sometimes the Creed,
but persons are free to choose other prayers [NOTE: The most
frequent "alternative choice" to the Creed is the "Glory
Be", since more Catholics have committed this prayer to
memory than have memorized the Creed.
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