WHEREBY THE REVISION
OF SACRED INDULGENCES IS PROMULGATED
Chapter 1
1. The doctrine and practice of indulgences which have been in force for
many centuries in the Catholic Church have a solid foundation in divine
revelation(1) which comes from the Apostles and "develops in the Church with the
help of the Holy Spirit," while "as the centuries succeed one another the Church
constantly moves forward toward the fullness of divine truth until the words of
God reach their complete fulfillment in her."(2)
For an exact understanding of this doctrine and of its beneficial use it is
necessary, however, to remember truths which the entire Church illumined by the
Word of God has always believed and which the bishops, the successors of the
Apostles, and first and foremost among them the Roman Pontiffs, the successors
of Peter, have taught by means of pastoral practice as well as doctrinal
documents throughout the course of centuries to this day.
2. It is a divinely revealed truth that sins bring punishments inflicted by
God's sanctity and justice. These must be expiated either on this earth through
the sorrows, miseries and calamities of this life and above all through
death,(3) or else in the life beyond through fire and torments or "purifying"
punishments.(4) Therefore it has always been the conviction of the faithful that
the paths of evil are fraught with many stumbling blocks and bring adversities,
bitterness and harm to those who follow them.(5)
These punishments are imposed by the just and merciful judgment of God for
the purification of souls, the defense of the sanctity of the moral order and
the restoration of the glory of God to its full majesty. Every sin in fact
causes a perturbation in the universal order established by God in His ineffable
wisdom and infinite charity, and the destruction of immense values with respect
to the sinner himself and to the human community. Christians throughout history
have always regarded sin not only as a transgression of divine law but
also—though not always in a direct and evident way—as contempt for or disregard
of the friendship between God and man, (6) just as they have regarded it as a
real and unfathomable offense against God and indeed an ungrateful rejection of
the love of God shown us through Jesus Christ, who called his disciples friends
and not servants. (7)
3. It is therefore necessary for the full remission and—as it is
called—reparation of sins not only that friendship with God be reestablished by
a sincere conversion of the mind and amends made for the offense against his
wisdom and goodness, but also that all the personal as well as social values and
those of the universal order itself, which have been diminished or destroyed by
sin, be fully reintegrated whether through voluntary reparation which will
involve punishment or through acceptance of the punishments established by the
just and most holy wisdom of God, from which there will shine forth throughout
the world the sanctity and the splendor of his glory. The very existence and the
gravity of the punishment enable us to understand the foolishness and malice of
sin and its harmful consequences.
That punishment or the vestiges of sin may remain to be expiated or
cleansed and that they in fact frequently do even after the remission of
guilt(8) is clearly demonstrated by the doctrine on purgatory. In purgatory, in
fact, the souls of those "who died in the charity of God and truly repentant,
but before satisfying with worthy fruits of penance for sins committed and for
omissions (9) are cleansed after death with purgatorial punishments. This is
also clearly evidenced in the liturgical prayers with which the Christian
community admitted to Holy Communion has addressed God since most ancient times:
"that we, who are justly subjected to afflictions because of our sins, may be
mercifully set free from them for the glory of thy name.(10)
For all men who walk this earth daily commit at least venial sins;(11) thus
all need the mercy of God to be set free from the penal consequences of sin.
Chapter 2
4. There reigns among men, by the hidden and benign mystery of the divine
will, a supernatural solidarity whereby the sin of one harms the others just as
the holiness of one also benefits the others.(12) Thus the Christian faithful
give each other mutual aid to attain their supernatural aim. A testimony of this
solidarity is manifested in Adam himself, whose sin is passed on through
propagation to all men. But of this supernatural solidarity the greatest and
most perfect principle, foundation and example is Christ himself to communion
with Whom God has called us.(13)
5. Indeed Christ "committed no sin," "suffered for us,"(14) was wounded for
our iniquities, bruised for our sins...by his bruises we are healed."(15)
Following in the footsteps of Christ,(16) the Christian faithful have
always endeavored to help one another on the path leading to the heavenly Father
through prayer, the exchange of spiritual goods and penitential expiation. The
more they have been immersed in the fervor of charity, the more they have
imitated Christ in his sufferings, carrying their crosses in expiation for their
own sins and those of others, certain that they could help their brothers to
obtain salvation from God the Father of mercies.(17) This is the very ancient
dogma of the Communion of the Saints,(18) whereby the life of each individual
son of God in Christ and through Christ is joined by a wonderful link to the
life of all his other Christian brothers in the supernatural unity of the
Mystical Body of Christ till, as it were, a single mystical person is
formed.(19)
Thus is explained the "treasury of the Church"(20) which should certainly
not be imagined as the sum total of material goods accumulated in the course of
the centuries, but the infinite and inexhaustible value the expiation and the
merits of Christ Our Lord have before God, offered as they were so that all of
mankind could be set free from sin and attain communion with the Father. It is
Christ the Redeemer himself in whom the satisfactions and merits of his
redemption exist and find their force.(21) This treasury also includes the truly
immense, unfathomable and ever pristine value before God of the prayers and good
works of the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints, who following in the
footsteps of Christ the Lord and by his grace have sanctified their lives and
fulfilled the mission entrusted to them by the Father. Thus while attaining
their own salvation, they have also cooperated in the salvation of their
brothers in the unity of the Mystical Body.
"For all who are in Christ, having his spirit, form one Church and cleave
together in him" (Eph. 4:16). Therefore the union of the wayfarers with the brethren who have gone to sleep
in the peace of Christ is not in the least weakened or interrupted, but on the
contrary, according to the perpetual faith of the Church, is strengthened by a
communication of spiritual goods. For by reason of the fact that those in heaven
are more closely united with Christ, they establish the whole Church more firmly
in holiness, lend nobility to the worship which the Church offers to God here on
earth and in many ways contribute to building it up evermore (1 Cor. 12: 12-27).
For after they have been received into their heavenly home and are present to
the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8), through him and with him and in him they do not cease to
intervene with the Father for us, showing forth the merits which they have won
on earth through the one Mediator between God and man, Jesus Christ (1 Tim.
2:5), by serving God in all things and filling up in their flesh those things
which are lacking of the sufferings of Christ for his Body which is the Church
(Col. 1:24). Thus by their brotherly interest our weakness is greatly
strengthened.(22)
For this reason there certainly exists between the faithful who have
already reached their heavenly home, those who are expiating their sins in
purgatory and those who are still pilgrims on earth a perennial link of charity
and an abundant exchange of all the goods by which, with the expiation of all
the sins of the entire Mystical Body, divine justice is placated. God's mercy is
thus led to forgiveness, so that sincerely repentant sinners may participate as
soon as possible in the full enjoyment of the benefits of the family of God.
Chapter 3
6. The Church, aware of these truths ever since its origins, formulated and
undertook various ways of applying the fruits of the Lord's redemption to the
individual faithful and of leading them to cooperate in the salvation of their
brothers, so that the entire body of the Church might be prepared in justice and
sanctity for the complete realization of the kingdom of God, when he will be all
things to all men.
The Apostles themselves, in fact, exhorted their disciples to pray for the
salvation of sinners.(23) This very ancient usage of the Church has blessedly
persevered,(24) particularly in the practice of penitents invoking the
intercession of the entire commu-nity, (25) and when the dead are assisted with
suffrages, particularly through the offering of the Eucharistic Sacrifice.(26)
Good works, particularly those which human frailty finds difficult, were also
offered to God for the salvation of sinners from the Church's most ancient
times.(27) And since the sufferings of the martyrs for the faith and for the law
of God were considered of great value, penitents used to turn to the martyrs, to
be helped by their merits to obtain from the bishops a more speedy
reconciliation.(28) Indeed the prayer and good works of the upright were
considered to be of so great value that it could be asserted the penitent was
washed, cleansed and redeemed with the help of the entire Christian people.(29)
It was not believed, however, that the individual faithful by their own
merits alone worked for the remission of sins of their brothers, but that the
entire Church as a single body united to Christ its Head was bringing about
satisfaction.(30)
The Church of the Fathers was fully convinced that it was pursuing the work
of salvation in community, and under the authority of the pastors established by
the Holy Spirit as bishops to govern the Church of God.(31)
The bishops, therefore, prudently assessing these matters, established the
manner and the measure of the satisfaction to be made and indeed permitted
canonical penances to be replaced by other possibly easier works, which would be
useful to the common good and suitable for fostering piety, to be performed by
the penitents themselves and sometimes by others among the faithful.(32)
Chapter 4
7. The conviction existing in the Church that the pastors of the flock of
the Lord could set the individual free from the vestiges of sins by applying the
merits of Christ and of the saints led gradually, in the course of the centuries
and under the influence of the Holy Spirit's continuous inspiration of the
people of God, to the usage of indulgences which represented a progression in
the doctrine and discipline of the Church rather than a change.(33) From the
roots of revelation a new advantage grew in benefit to the faithful and the
entire Church.
The use of indulgences, which spread gradually, became a very evident fact
in the history of the Church when the Roman Pontiffs decreed that certain works
useful to the common good of the Church "could replace all penitential
practices"(34) and that the faithful who were "truly repentant and had confessed
their sins" and performed such works were granted "by the mercy of Almighty God
and...trusting in the merits and the authority of his Apostles" and "by virtue
of the fullness of the apostolic power," not only full and abundant forgiveness,
but the most complete forgiveness for their sins possible."(35)
For "the only-begotten son of God...has won a treasure for the militant
Church and has entrusted it to blessed Peter, the keybearer of heaven, and to
his successors, Christ's vicars on earth, that they may distribute it to the
faithful for their salvation, applying it mercifully for reasonable causes to
all who are repentant and have confessed their sins, at times remitting
completely and at times partially the temporal punishment due sin in a general
as well as in special ways insofar as they judge it to be fitting in the eyes of
the Lord. It is known that the merits of the Blessed Mother of God and of all
the elect...add further to this treasure.(36)
8. The remission of the temporal punishment due for sins already forgiven
insofar as their guilt is concerned has been called specifically
"indulgence."(37)
It has something in common with other ways or means of eliminating the
vestiges of sin but at the same time it is clearly distinct from them.
In an indulgence in fact, the Church, making use of its power as minister
of the Redemption of Christ, not only prays but by an authoritative intervention
dispenses to the faithful suitably disposed the treasury of satisfaction which
Christ and the saints won for the remission of temporal punishment.(38)
The aim pursued by ecclesiastical authority in granting indulgences is not
only that of helping the faithful to expiate the punishment due sin but also
that of urging them to perform works of piety, penitence and
charity—particularly those which lead to growth in faith and which favor the
common good.(39)
And if the faithful offer indulgences in suffrage for the dead, they
cultivate charity in an excellent way and while raising their minds to heaven,
they bring a wiser order into the things of this world.
The Magisterium of the Church has defended and illustrated this doctrine in
various documents.(40) Unfortunately, the practice of indulgences has at times
been improperly used either through "untimely and superfluous indulgences" by
which the power of the keys was humiliated and penitential satisfaction
weakened,(41) or through the collection of "illicit profits" by which
indulgences were blasphemously defamed.(42) But the Church, in deploring and
correcting these improper uses "teaches and establishes that the use of
indulgences must be preserved because it is supremely salutary for the Christian
people and authoritatively approved by the sacred councils; and it condemns with
anathema those who maintain the uselessness of indulgences or deny the power of
the Church to grant them."(43)
9. The Church also in our days then invites all its sons to ponder and
meditate well on how the use of indulgences benefits their lives and indeed all
Christian society.
To recall briefly the most important considerations, this salutary practice
teaches us in the first place how it is "sad and bitter to have abandoned ...
the Lord God."(44) Indeed the faithful when they acquire indulgences understand
that by their own powers they could not remedy the harm they have done to
themselves and to the entire community by their sin, and they are therefore
stirred to a salutary humility.
Furthermore, the use of indulgences shows us how closely we are united to
each other in Christ, and how the supernatural life of each can benefit others
so that these also may be more easily and more closely united with the Father.
Therefore the use of indulgences effectively influences charity in us and
demonstrates that charity in an outstanding manner when we offer indulgences as
assistance to our brothers who rest in Christ.
10. Likewise, the religious practice of indulgences reawakens trust and
hope in a full reconciliation with God the Father, but in such a way as will not
justify any negligence nor in any way diminish the effort to acquire the
dispositions required for full communion with God. Although indulgences are in
fact free gifts, nevertheless they are granted for the living as well as for the
dead only on determined conditions. To acquire them, it is indeed required on
the one hand that prescribed works be performed, and on the other that the
faithful have the necessary dispositions, that is to say, that they love God,
detest sin, place their trust in the merits of Christ and believe firmly in the
great assistance they derive from the Communion of Saints.
In addition, it should not be forgotten that by acquiring indulgences the
faithful submit docilely to the legitimate pastors of the Church and above all
to the successor of Blessed Peter, the keybearer of heaven, to whom the Savior
himself entrusted the task of feeding his flock and governing his Church.
The salutary institution of indulgences therefore contributes in its own
way to bringing it about that the Church appear before Christ without blemish or
defect, but holy and immaculate,(45) admirably united with Christ in the
supernatural bond of charity. Since in fact by means of indulgences members of
the Church who are undergoing purification are united more speedily to those of
the Church in heaven, the kingdom of Christ is through these same indulgences
established more extensively and more speedily "until we all attain to the unity
of the faith and of the deep knowledge of the Son of God, to perfect manhood, to
the mature measure of the fullness of Christ."(46)
11. Therefore Holy Mother Church, supported by these truths, while again
recommending to the faithful the practice of indulgences as something very dear
to the Christian people during the course of many centuries and in our days as
well—this is proven by experience—does not in any way intend to diminish the
value of other means of sanctification and purification, first and foremost
among which are the Sacrifice of the Mass and the Sacraments, particularly the
Sacrament of Penance. Nor does it diminish the importance of those abundant aids
which are called sacramentals or of the works of piety, penitence and charity.
All these aids have this in common that they bring about sanctification and
purification all the more efficaciously, the more closely the faithful are
united with Christ the Head and the Body of the Church by charity. The
preeminence of charity in the Christian life is confirmed also by indulgences.
For indulgences cannot be acquired without a sincere conversion of mentality
("metanoia") and unity with God, to which the performance of the prescribed
works is added. Thus the order of charity is preserved, into which is
incorporated the remission of punishment by distribution from the Church's
treasury.
While recommending that its faithful not abandon or neglect the holy
traditions of their forebears but welcome them religiously as a precious
treasure of the Catholic family and duly esteem them, the Church nevertheless
leaves it to each to use these means of purification and sanctification with the
holy and free liberty of the sons of God. It constantly reminds them, though, of
those things which are to be given preference because they are necessary or at
least better and more efficacious for the attainment of salvation.(47)
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
its discipline of indulgences and has accordingly ordered the issuance of new
norms.
Chapter 5
12. The following norms introduce appropriate variations in the discipline
of indulgences, taking into consideration the proposals advanced by the
episcopal conferences.
The rulings of the Code of Canon Law and of the decrees of the Holy See
concerning indulgences which do not go counter to the new norms remain
unchanged.
In drawing up the new norms these three considerations have been
particularly observed: to establish a new measurement for partial indulgences;
to reduce considerably the number of plenary indulgences; and, as for the
so-called "real" and "local" indulgences, to reduce them and give them a simpler
and more dignified formulation.
Regarding partial indulgences, with the abolishment of the former
determination of days and years, a new norm or measurement has been established
which takes into consideration the action itself of the faithful Christian who
performs a work to which an indulgence is attached.
Since by their acts the faithful can obtain, in addition to the merit which
is the principal fruit of the act, a further remission of temporal punishment in
proportion to the degree to which the charity of the one performing the act is
greater, and in proportion to the degree to which the act itself is performed in
a more perfect way, it has been considered fitting that this remission of
temporal punishment which the Christian faithful acquire through an action
should serve as the measurement for the remission of punishment which the
ecclesiastical authority bountifully adds by way of partial indulgence.
It has also been considered fitting to reduce appropriately the number of
plenary indulgences in order that the faithful may hold them in greater esteem
and may in fact acquire them with the proper dispositions. For indeed the
greater the proliferation (of indulgences) the less is the attention given them;
what is offered in abundance is not greatly appreciated. Besides, many of the
faithful need considerable time to prepare themselves properly for acquisition
of a plenary indulgence.
As regards the "real" and "local" indulgences, not only has their number
been reduced considerably, but the designations themselves have been abolished
to make it clearer that indulgences are attached to the actions performed by the
faithful and not to objects or places which are but the occasion for the
acquisition of the indulgences. In fact, members of pious associations can
acquire the indulgences proper to their associations without the requirement of
the use of distinctive objects.
NORMS
n. 1—An indulgence is the remission before God of the temporal punishment
due sins already forgiven as far as their guilt is concerned, which the follower
of Christ with the proper dispositions and under certain determined conditions
acquires through the intervention of the Church which, as minister of the
Redemption, authoritatively dispenses and applies the treasury of the
satisfaction won by Christ and the saints.
n. 2—An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either
part or all of the temporal punishment due sin.
n. 3—Partial as well as plenary indulgences can always be applied to the
dead by way of suffrage.
n. 4—A partial indulgence will henceforth be designated only with the words
"partial indulgence" without any determination of days or years.
n. 5—The faithful who at least with a contrite heart perform an action to
which a partial indulgence is attached obtain, in addition to the remission of
temporal punishment acquired by the action itself, an equal remission of
punishment through the intervention of the Church.
n. 6—A plenary indulgence can be acquired only once a day, except for the
provisions contained in n. 18 for those who are on the point of death. A partial
indulgence can be acquired more than once a day, unless there is an explicit
indication to the contrary.
n. 7—To acquire a plenary indulgence it is necessary to perform the work to
which the indulgence is attached and to fulfill three conditions: sacramental
confession, Eucharistic Communion and prayer for the intentions of the Supreme
Pontiff. It is further required that all attachment to sin, even to venial sin,
be absent.
If this disposition is in any way less than complete, or if the prescribed
three conditions are not fulfilled, the indulgence will be only partial, except
for the provisions contained in n.11 for those who are "impeded."
n. 8—The three conditions may be fulfilled several days before or after the
performance of the prescribed work; nevertheless it is fitting that Communion be
received and the prayers for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff be said the
same day the work is performed.
n. 9—A single sacramental confession suffices for gaining several plenary
indulgences, but Communion must be received and prayers for the Supreme
Pontiff's intentions recited for the gaining of each plenary indulgence.
n. 10—The condition of praying for the Supreme Pontiff's intentions is
fully satisfied by reciting one "Our Father" and one "Hail Mary"; nevertheless
the individual faithful are free to recite any other prayer according to their
own piety and devotion toward the Supreme Pontiff.
n. 11—While there is no change in the faculty granted by canon 935 of the
Code of Canon Law to confessors to commute for those who are "impeded" either
the prescribed work itself or the required conditions [for the acquisition of
indulgences], local Ordinaries can grant to the faithful over whom they exercise
authority in accordance with the law, and who live in places where it is
impossible or at least very difficult for them to receive the sacraments of
confession and Communion, permission to acquire a plenary indulgence without
confession and Communion provided they are sorry for their sins and have the
intention of receiving these sacraments as soon as possible.
n. 12—The division of indulgences into "personal," "real" and "local" is
abolished so as to make it clearer that indulgences are attached to the actions
of the faithful even though at times they may be linked with some object or
place.
n. 13—The Enchiridion Indulgentiarium [collection of indulgenced prayers
and works] is to be revised with a view to attaching indulgences only to the
most important prayers and works of piety, charity and penance.
n. 14—The lists and summaries of indulgences special to religious orders,
congregations, societies of those living in community without vows, secular
institutes and the pious associations of faithful are to be revised as soon as
possible in such a way that plenary indulgences may be acquired only on
particular days established by the Holy See acting on the recommendation of the
Superior General, or in the case of pious associations, of the local Ordinary.
n. 15—A plenary indulgence applicable only to the dead can be acquired in
all churches and public oratories—and in semipublic oratories by those who have
the right to use them—on November 2.
In addition, a plenary indulgence can be acquired twice a year in parish
churches: on the feast of the church's titular saint and on August 2, when the
"Portiuncula" occurs, or on some other more opportune day determined by the
Ordinary.
All the indulgences mentioned above can be acquired either on the days
established or—with the consent of the Ordinary—on the preceding or the
following Sunday.
Other indulgences attached to churches and oratories are to be revised as
soon as possible.
n.16—The work prescribed for acquiring a plenary indulgence connected with
a church or oratory consists in a devout visit and the recitation of an "Our
Father" and "Creed."
n.17—The faithful who use with devotion an object of piety (crucifix,
cross, rosary, scapular or medal) properly blessed by any priest, can acquire a
partial indulgence.
But if this object of piety is blessed by the Supreme Pontiff or any
bishop, the faithful who use it devoutly can also acquire a plenary indulgence
on the feast of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, provided they also make a
profession of faith using any legitimate formula.
n.18—To the faithful in danger of death who cannot be assisted by a priest
to bring them the sacraments and impart the apostolic blessing with its
attendant plenary indulgence (according to canon 468, para. 2 of the Code of
Canon Law) Holy Mother Church nevertheless grants a plenary indulgence to be
acquired at the point of death, provided they are properly disposed and have
been in the habit of reciting some prayers during their lifetime. To use a
crucifix or cross in connection with the acquisition of this plenary indulgence
is a laudable practice.
This plenary indulgence at the point of death can be acquired by the
faithful even if they have already obtained another plenary indulgence on the
same day.
n.19—The norms established regarding plenary indulgences, particularly
those referred to in n. 16, apply also to what up to now have been known as the
"toties quoties" ["as often as"] plenary indulgences.
n.20—Holy Mother Church, extremely solicitous for the faithful departed,
has decided that suffrages can be applied to them to the widest possible extent
at any Sacrifice of the Mass whatsoever, abolishing all special privileges in
this regard.
Transitional Norms
These new norms regulating the acquisition of indulgences will become valid
three months from the date of publication of this constitution in the Acta
Apostolicae Sedis.
Indulgences attached to the use of religious objects which are not
mentioned above cease three months after the date of publication of this
constitution in the Acta Apostolicae Sedis.
The revisions mentioned in n. 14 and n. 15 must be submitted to the Sacred
Apostolic Penitentiary within a year. Two years after the date of this
constitution, indulgences which have not been confirmed will become null and
void.
We will that these statutes and prescriptions of ours be established now
and remain in force for the future notwithstanding, if it is necessary so to
state, the constitutions and apostolic directives published by our predecessors
or any other prescriptions even if they might be worthy of special mention or
should otherwise require partial repeal.
Given at Rome at St. Peter's on January 1, the octave of the Nativity of
Our Lord Jesus Christ, 1967, the fourth year of Our Pontificate.
POPE PAUL VI
NOTES
1. Cf. Council of Trent, Session 25, Decree on Indulgences (DS
[Denzinger-Schonmetzer] 1835); cf. Matt. 28:18.
2. Vatican II, Dogmatic Constitution Dei Verbum on Revelation, n. 8 (A.A.S.
58, 1966, p. 821); cf. Vatican I, Dogmatic Constitution Dei Filius on the
Catholic Faith, ch. 4 On Faith and Reason (DS 3020).
3. Cf. Gen. 3:16-19; also cf. Luke 19:41-44; Rom. 2:9 and 1 Cor. 11:30. Cf.
Augustine, Exposition on Psalm 58 1:13—"Iniquitas omnis...Deo vindicante" (CCL
39, p. 739; PL 36, 701). Cf. Thomas, Summa Theol. 1-2, q. 86, a. 1: "Cum autem...depressio poena est."
4. Cf. Matt. 25:41-42; see also Mark 9:42-43; John 5:28-29; Rom. 2:9; Gal.
6:6-8. Cf. Council of Lyons II, Session 4, profession of faith of Michael
Palaeologus (DS 856-858). Cf. Council of Florence, decree for the Greeks (DS
1304-1306). Cf. Augustine, Enchiridion, 66, 17: "Multa etiam...mundo damnemur"
(ed. Scheel, Tubingen 1930, p. 42; PL 40, 263).
5. Cf. Hermae Pastor, Mand. 6, 1, 3 (Funk, Apostolic Fathers 1, p. 487).
6. Cf. Isaiah 1:2-3. Also cf. Deut. 8:11 and 32:15 and ff.; Ps. 105:21 and
118 and other places; Wis. 7:14; Isaiah 17:10 and 44:21; Jer. 33:8; Ez. 20:27.
Cf. Vatican II, Dogmatic Constitution Dei Verbum on Divine Revelation, no. 2:
"Hac itaque...eamque suscipiat" (A.A.S. 58, 1966, p. 818). Cf. also
ibid., n. 21 (loc. cit., p. 827-828).
7. Cf. John 15:14-15. Cf. Vatican II, Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes
on the Church in the Modern World, n. 22 (A.A.S. 58, 1966, p. 1042) and
the Decree Ad Gentes Divinitus on the Missionary Activity of the Church, n. 13 (A.A.S.
58, 1966, p. 962).
8. Cf. Num. 20:12; 27:13-14; 2 Kings 12:13-14. Cf. Innocent IV, Instruction
for the Greeks (DS 838). Cf. Council of Trent, Session 6, canon 30 (DS 1580; cf.
also DS 1689, 1693). Cf. Augustine, tract on John's Gospel 124, 5: "Cogitur
homo...detinet culpa" (CCL 36, p. 683-684; PL 35, 1972-1973).
9. Council of Lyons II, Session 4 (DS 856).
10. Cf. Septuagesima Sunday, Oration; Monday after First Sunday in Lent,
Oration over the People; Third Sunday in Lent, Postcommunion.
11. Cf. James 3:2; 1 John 1: 8, the Council of Carthage gave a commentary
on this text for which see DS 228. Cf. Council of Trent, Session 6, Decree On
Justification, ch. 11 (DS 1537). Cf. Vatican II, Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium on the
Nature of the Church, n. 40: "Cum vero debita nostra" (A.A.S. 57, 1965.
p. 45).
12. Cf. Augustine, On Baptism, Against the Donatists 1, 28 (PL 43, 124).
13. Cf. John 15:5; 1 Cor. 12:27. Also cf. 1 Cor. 1:9 and 10:17; Eph.
1:20-23 and 4:4. Cf. Vatican II, Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium on the
Nature of the Church, n. 7 (A.A.S. 57, 1965, p. 10-11). Cf. Pius XII,
Encyclical Mystici Corporis: "Ex eadem...Christum totum" (DS 3813; A.A.S.
35, 1943, p. 230-231). Cf. Augustine, second exposition on Psalm 90, 1: "Dominus
noster...est Christus" (CCL 39, p. 1266 PL 37, 1159).
14. Cf. 1 Peter 2:22 and 21.
15. Cf. Isaiah 53:4-6 with 1 Peter 2:21-25; also cf. John 1:29; Rom. 4:25
and 5:9 and ff.; 1 Cor. 153; 11 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 1:4; Eph. 1:7 and ff.; Heb. 1:3
etc.; 1 John 3:5.
16. Cf. 1 Peter 2:21.
17. Cf. Col. 1:24. Cf. Clement of Alexandria, Lib. "Quis dives salvetur"
42:
"S. Joannes ... vicariam dabo" (GCS Clement 3, p. 190; PG 9, 650). Cf. Cyprian,
De Lapsis 17, 36: "Credimus quidem...fecerint sacerdotes" (CSEL 3 1, p. 249-250
and 263; PL 4:495 and 508). Cf. Jerome, "Contra Vigilantium" 6: "Dicis in
libello...et triumphos?" (PL 23, 359). Cf. Basil the Great, "Homily in martyrem
Julittam" 9: "Oportet igitur...dignum est" (PG 31, 258-259). Cf. John
Chrysostom, "In epist. ad Philipp." 1, hom. 3, 3: "Igitur non...mortui fuerint"
(PG 62, 203). Cf. Thomas, Summa Theol. 1-2, q. 87, a. 8: "Si loquamur...ab
homine."
18. Cf. Leo XIII, Encyclical Mirae Caritatis: "Nihil est...forma caritas"
(Acts of Leo XIII 22, 1902, p. 129; DS 3363).
19. Cf. 1 Cor. 12:12-13. Cf. Pius XII, Encyclical Mystici Corporis: "Ita
(Christus) in Ecclesia...praedicat Christum" (A.A.S. 35, 1943, p. 218).
Cf. Thomas, Summa Theol. 3, q. 48, a. 2 ad I and q. 49, a. 1.
20. Cf. Clement VI, jubilee bull Unigenitus Dei Filius: "Unigenitus
Dei...praestare noscuntur..." (DS 1025, 1026, 1027). Cf. Sixtus IV, encyclical "Romani Pontificis": "...Nos,
quibus...afferre cupientes..." (DS 1406). Cf. Leo X, Decree "Cum postquam" to
papal legate Cajetan de Vio: "...thesaurum meritorum Jesu Christi et Sanctorum
dispensare...(DS 1448; cf. DS 1467 and 2641).
21. Cf. Heb. 7:23-25; 9:11-28.
22. Vatican II, Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium on the Nature of the
Church, n. 49 (A.A.S. 57, 1965, p. 54-55).
23. Cf. James 5:16; 1 John 5:16.
24. Cf. Clement of Rome, "To The Corinthians" 56, 1: "Oremus igitur...et
perfecta" (Funk, Apostolic Fathers 1, p. 171). Cf. The Martyrdom of St. Polycarp
8, 1: "Cum autem...catholicae ecclesiae (Funk, Apostolic Fathers 1, p. 321,
323).
25. Cf. Sozomenus, "Church History" 7, 16: In public penance, after the
solemn celebration of Masses, the penitents in the Roman Church "cum
gemitu...eos dimittit" (PG 67, 1462).
26. Cf. Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechesis 24 (mystag. 5), 9; 10: "Deinde et
pro...jacet victima." After he confirms this by the example of the crown which
used to be offered to the emperor in order that he might grant indulgence to the
exiles, the Holy Doctor concludes his discourse: "Ad eundem modum...propitiate
satagentes", (PG 33, 1115; 1118). Cf. Augustine, Confessions 9, 12, 32 (PL 32,
777) and 9, 11, 27 (PL 32, 775); Sermones 172, 2 (PL 38, 936); "De cura pro
mortuis gerenda" 1, 3 (PL 40, 593).
27. Cf. Clement of Alexandria, Lib. "Quis Dives salvetur" 42: (St. John the
Apostle on the conversion of the young thief) "Exinde partim....gremio
admovisset..." (CGS 17, p. 189-190; PG 9, 651).
28. Cf. Tertullian, Ad martyras 1, 6: "Quam, pacem...exorare consueverunt"
(CCL 1, p. 3, PL 1, 695). Cf. Cyprian, letter 18 (alias: 12), 1: "Occurrendum
puto...factis desideraverunt" (CSEL 3, p. 523-524; PL 4, 265; cf. Idem, Letter
19 [alias: 131, 2, CSEL 311, p. 525; Pl, 4, 267). Cf. Eusebius of Caesaria,
"Ecclesiastical History" 1, 6, 42 (CGS Eus. 2, 2, 610; PG 20, 614-615).
29. Cf. Ambrose, De paenitentia 1, 15: velut enim omnes redimerentur" (PL
16, 511).
30. Cf. Tertullian. De paenitentia 10, 5-6, "Non potest...filius postulat" (CCL 1, p. 337; PL 1, 1356). Cf. Augustine, exposition on Psalm 85, 1 (CCL 39, p.
1176-1177; PL 37, 1082).
31. Cf. Acts, 20, 28. Also cf. Council of Trent, Session 23, Decree "On the
Sacrament of Order," ch. 4 (DS 1768); Vatican I, Session 4, Dogmatic
Constitution Pastor Aeternus on the Church, ch. 3 (DS 3061 ); Vatican II,
Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium on the Nature of the Church, n. 20 (A.A.S.
57, 1965, p. 23). Cf. Ignatius of Antioch, Ad Smyrnaeos 8, 1: "Separatim ab
episcopo nemo quidquam faciat eortim, quae ad ecclesiam spectant..." (Funk,
Apostolic Fathers 1, p 283).
32. Cf. Council of Nicea 1, can. 12: "...quicumque enim...de eis
statuere...." (Mansi, SS. Conciliorum collectio 2, 674). Cf. Council of
Neocaesaria, can. 3 (loc. cit.. 540). Cf. Innocent I, letter 25, 7, 10 (PL 20,
559). Cf. Leo the Great, letter 159, 6 (PL 54, 1138). Cf. Basil the Great,
letter 217 (canonica 3), 74: "Quod si...misericordiam consequi" (PG 32. 803).
Cf. Ambrose, De paenitentia 1, 15 (see above, in note 29).
33. Cf. Vincent of Lerins, Commonitorium primum, 23 (PL 50, 667-668).
34. Cf. Council of Claremont, can. 2: "Quicumque pro...paenitentia
reputetur" (Mansi. SS. Conciliorum collectio 20, 816).
35. Cf. Boniface VIII, bull Antiquorum habet: "Antiquorum habet...veniam
peccatorum...." (DS 868).
36. Clement VI, jubilee bull Unigenitus Dei Filius (DS 1025, 1026 and
1027).
37. Cf. Leo X, Decree Cum postquam: tibi significandum indulgentiae
aequivalet" (DS 1447-1448).
38. Cf. Paul VI, Letter Sacrosancta Portiunculae: "Indulgentia
quam...creavit illum" (A.A.S. 58, 1966, p. 633-634).
39. Cf. Paul VI, cited Letter: "Iis vero christifidelibus...precibus
adlaborat" (A.A.S. 58, 1966, p. 632).
40. Clement VI, jubilee bull Unigenitus Dei Filius (DS 1026). Clement VI,
Letter Super quibusdam (DS 1059). Martin V, bull inter cunctas (DS 1266). Sixtus
IV, bull Salvator noster (DS 1398). Sixtus IV, Encyclical Romani Pontificis
provida: "Nos scandalis...concessimus indulgentiam..." (DS 1405-1406). Leo X,
bull Exsurge Domine (DS 1467-1472). Pius VI, Constitution Auctorem fidei,
proposition 40: "Propositio asserens, indulgentiam secundum suam praecisam
notionem...in art. 19 Lutheri damnata" (DS 2640). Ibid., proposition 41: "Item
in eo...in art. 17 Lutheri damnata" (DS 2641). Ibid., proposition 42: "Item in
eo, quod superaddit...in art. 22 Lutheri" (DS 2642). Pius XI, Indiction of the
extraordinary holy year Quod nuper: "...plenissimam totius...ac venia" (A.A.S.
25, 1933, p. 8). Pius XII, Indiction of the universal jubilee Jubilaeum maximum:
"Hoc igitur...atque impertimus" (A.A.S. 41, 1949, p. 258-259).
41. Cf. Lateran Council IV, ch. 62 (DS 819).
42. Cf. Council of Trent, Decree On Indulgences (DS 1835).
43. Cf. Ibid.
44. Jer. 2:19.
45. Cf. Eph. 5:27.
46. Eph. 4:13.
47. Cf. Thomas, commentary on the fourth book of the "Sentences," dist. 20,
q. 1, a. 3, q. la 2, ad 2 (Summa Theol. Suppl., q. 25, a. 2, ad 2): quamvis
hujusmodi...poenae temporalis."