Practices with indulgences: small devotions to obtain graces

EXCERPT FROM THE SMALL INDULGENCE MANUAL FOR THE USE OF THE FAITHFUL

VATICAN PUBLISHING LIBRARY

IN THE FOLLOWING ACTS:

Mental prayer (Oratio mentalis)
Partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who devote themselves to mental prayer.

Mesile retreat (Recollectio menstrua)
Partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who participate in the monthly retreat.

Spiritual exercises (Exercitia spiritualia)
Plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who participate in the spiritual exercises for at least three full days.

Reading of Sacred Scripture (Sacrae Scripturae lectio)
Partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who reads Sacred Scripture with the veneration due to the divine word and a way of spiritual reading. If the reading lasts for at least half an hour, the indulgence will be plenary.

The sign of the cross (Signum crucis)
Partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who devoutly make the sign of the cross, uttering the words according to custom: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Papal Blessing (Benedictio Papalis)
Plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who devoutly receive, albeit only by radio, the Blessing imparted by the Supreme Pontiff "Urbi et Orbi".

Renovation of baptismal vows (Votorum baptismalium renovatio)
Partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who renews baptismal vows with any formula; the indulgence will instead be plenary if the renewal is made in the celebration of the Easter Vigil or on the anniversary of one's baptism.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (Adoratio SS.mi Sacramenti)
Partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who visit the Blessed Sacrament; the indulgence will instead be plenary if he remains in adoration for at least half an hour.

Adoration of the Cross (Crucis adoratio)
Plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who, in the solemn liturgical action of Good Friday, participate in the adoration of the Cross and kiss it.

Use of objects of piety (Obiectorum pietatis usus)
The faithful who devoutly use an object of piety (crucifix or cross, crown, scapular, medal), blessed by any priest, can gain a partial indulgence.
If then this religious object is blessed by the Supreme Pontiff or by a Bishop, the faithful, who devoutly uses it, can also acquire the plenary indulgence on the feast of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, however adding the profession of faith with any legitimate formula.

Act of spiritual communion (Communionis spiritualis actus)
The act of spiritual communion, issued with any pious formula, is enriched with partial indulgence.

The cult of Saints (Sanctorum cultus)
Partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who, on the feast of a saint, recite in his honor the relative prayer of the Missal or another approved by the legitimate Authority.

Christian doctrine (Doctrina christiana)
Partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who impart or receive the teaching of Christian doctrine. He who, in a spirit of faith and charity, imparting the teaching of Christian doctrine, can obtain partial indulgence according to the general concession n.11. With this new concession, partial indulgence for the teacher is confirmed and extended to the disciple.

Eucharistic Congress (Eucharisticus conventus)
Plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who devoutly participate in the solemn Eucharistic function, which is usually done at the conclusion of the Eucharistic Congress.

Diocesan Synod (Synodus dioecesana)
Once the plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who, during the time of the diocesan Synod, piously visits the church destined for the sessions and recites a Our Father and a Creed there.

Assistance to sacred preaching (Praedicationis sacrae participatio)
Partial indulgence to the faithful who assists with pious attention in preaching the word of God. Plenary indulgence is then granted to the faithful who, having listened to some sermons of the sacred missions, also attends the solemn conclusion of the same.

Prayer to implore vocations (Oratio ad sacerdotales vel religiosas vocationes impetrandas)

Partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who recite a prayer, approved for this purpose by the ecclesiastical authority.

First Communion (First Communion)
Plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who approach the Holy Communion for the first time or who attend the pious ceremony of the First Communion.

First Mass of the New Priests (Prima Missa neosacerdotum)
Plenary indulgence is granted to the priest who celebrates the first Mass with a certain solemnity and to the faithful who devoutly attend the same Mass.

Jubilee celebrations of the priestly ordination (Sacerdotalis Ordinationis celebrationes iubilares)
Plenary indulgence is granted to the priest who on the 25th, 50th and 60th anniversary of his priestly ordination renews before God the purpose of faithfully fulfilling the obligations of his vocation. If the priest celebrates the Jubilee Mass with a certain solemnity, the faithful who attend the aforementioned Mass acquire the plenary indulgence.

the day 2 August, in which the indulgence of the "Porziuncola" occurs.
Both indulgences can be purchased either on the day indicated above, or on another day to be established by the Ordinary according to the usefulness of the faithful. The cathedral church and possibly the co-cathedral church, even if they are not parochial, and moreover the quasi-parochial churches, enjoy the same indulgences. In the pious visit, in accordance with Rule 16 of the Apostolic Constitution, the faithful must recite a Our Father and a Creed.

Visit of the cemetery (Coemeterii visitatio)
An indulgence is granted to the faithful who devoutly visit the cemetery and pray, even if only mentally, for the dead, applicable only to the souls of Purgatory. This will be plenary from 1 to 8 November, on other partial days.

Visit to the parish church (Visitatio ecclesiae paroecialis)
Plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who piously visits the parish church:
- on the owner's party;

Visit to a church on the day of consecration

Plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who piously visits a church or an altar on the day of their consecration and recites a Our Father and a Creed.

Visit of a church to commemorate all the deceased faithful

(Visitatio ecclesiae vel oratorii in Commemoratione omnium fidelium defunctorum)

Plenary indulgence is granted, applicable only to the souls of Purgatory, to the faithful who, on the day on which the Commemoration of all the deceased faithful is celebrated, piously visit a church or public oratory, or semi-public for those who legitimately use it. The aforementioned indulgence can be purchased on the day established above or, with the consent of the Ordinary, on the preceding or following Sunday, or on the feast of All Saints. In the pious visit, in accordance with Rule 16 of the Apostolic Constitution, the faithful must recite a Our Father and a Creed.

Visit of a church or an oratory of the Religious on the feast of the Holy Founder

(Visitatio ecclesiae vel oratorii Religiosorum die festo Sancti Fundatoris)

The plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful who piously visits a church or an oratory of the Religious on the feast of their Holy Founder and recites a Our Father and a Creed.

Pastoral visit (Visitatio pastoralis)

Partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who piously visits a church or a public or semi-public oratory, while the pastoral visit takes place, and plenary indulgence is granted once to those who, during the pastoral visit, attend a presided function by the Visitor.

Visit of the Stational Churches of Rome (Stationalium Ecclesiarum Urbis visitatio)
Partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who, on the days of the year designated in the Roman Missal, devoutly visit one of the Stational Churches of Rome; the indulgence will instead be plenary if he participates in the sacred functions that are performed there in the morning or in the evening.

Visit of the Patriarchal Basilicas of Rome

Visit of a Christian "catacomb" ("catacumbae" visitatio)
Partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who devoutly visit a Christian catacomb.

At the point of death (In articulo mortis)

To the faithful in danger of death, who cannot be assisted by a priest who administers the sacraments and gives him the apostolic blessing with the attached plenary indulgence, the Holy Mother Church also grants plenary indulgence at the point of death, provided that it is duly disposed and habitually recited some prayers during life. For the purchase of this indulgence the use of the crucifix or the cross is recommended. The condition "provided that he habitually recited some prayers during his life" in this case makes up for the three usual conditions required for the purchase of the plenary indulgence. This plenary indulgence at the point of death can be gained by the faithful who, on the same day, have already purchased another plenary indulgence.