| The traditional norm
for going to confession, receiving Holy Communion, and
praying for the intentions of the pope, in order to gain
a plenary indulgence, was 8 days before or after doing
the prescribed work (counting the day of the work). In
the Great Jubilee Year 2000, the Apostolic Penitentiary
relaxed this norm to "several days (about 20) before or
after the indulgenced act" (Gift of the Indulgence,
General remarks, 5). The question often arises whether
this norm of about 20 days applied only to the Great
Jubilee Year Indulgence, or whether it remains in effect.
In an answer to a question posed by this author,
the Apostolic Penitentiary responded that this norm of
"about 20 days" remains in effect, since it was contained
under the "General remarks on indulgences," and not under
those specific to the Jubilee Indulgence.
The following "General remarks on Indulgences" from
Gift of the Indulgence summarizes, therefore, the
usual conditions given in the Church's law:
1. This is how an indulgence is defined in the Code of
Canon Law (can. 992) and in the Catechism of the Catholic Church
(n. 1471): "An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal
punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the
faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed
conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of
redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the
satisfactions of Christ and the saints".
2. In general, the gaining of indulgences requires certain prescribed
conditions (below, nn. 3, 4), and the performance of certain
prescribed works .....
[N.B. The grants of indulgence are contained in the
Enchiridion Indulgentiarum (4th ed., 1999), in
special grants of the Holy See, such as for the Year of
the Holy Eucharist, and in special grants which bishops
may establish for their dioceses.] 3. To gain indulgences, whether plenary or partial, it is necessary
that the faithful be in the state of grace at least at the time
the indulgenced work is completed.
[N.B. Thus, one must be a Catholic in communion with
the Pope, i.e. not excommunicated or in schism.] 4. A plenary indulgence can be gained only once a day.
In order to obtain it, the faithful must, in addition to being in the
state of grace:
— have the interior disposition of complete detachment
from sin, even venial sin;
—have sacramentally confessed their sins;
—receive the Holy Eucharist (it is certainly better to
receive it while participating in Holy Mass, but for the indulgence only
Holy Communion is required);
—pray for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff.
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. Prayer for the Pope's intentions is left to the choice
of the faithful, but an "Our Father" and a "Hail
Mary" are suggested. One sacramental Confession suffices for
several plenary indulgences, but a separate Holy Communion and a
separate prayer for the Holy Father's intentions are required for each
plenary indulgence.
6. For the sake of those legitimately impeded, confessors can
commute both the work prescribed and the conditions required (except,
obviously, detachment from even venial sin).
7. Indulgences can always be applied either to oneself or
to the souls of the deceased, but they cannot be applied to other
persons living on earth.
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