Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/94

 56 Readings in European History Confessional letters (sum- marized). Participation in the spiritual treasures of the Church. Indulgences for the dead in purgatory. [The second signal grace is a "confessional letter," that is, a permit to choose any qualified confessor, even a men- dicant friar, instead of one's parish priest or other regular confessor. Moreover the confessor chosen shall have power to absolve those holding the confessional permits in cases when the ordinary confessor would be powerless, — for example, for offenses which are usually " reserved " for con- sideration by the pope.] The third most important grace is the participation in all the possessions of the Church universal ; which consists herein, that contributors toward the said building, together with their deceased relatives, who have departed this world in a state of grace, shall from now on, and for eternity, be partakers in all petitions, intercessions, alms, fastings, prayers, in each and every pilgrimage, even those to the Holy Land; furthermore, in the stations at Rome, in masses, canonical hours, flagellations, and all other spirit- ual goods which have been, or shall be, brought forth by the universal, most holy Church militant or by any of its mem- bers. Believers who purchase confessional letters may also become participants in all these things. Preachers and con- fessors must insist with great perseverance upon these advan- tages, and persuade believers not to neglect to acquire these benefits along with their confessional letter. We also declare that in order to obtain these two most important graces, it is not necessary to make confession, or to visit the churches and altars, but merely to procure the confessional letter. . . . The fourth distinctive grace is for those souls which are in purgatory, and is the complete remission of all sins, which remission the pope brings to pass through his intercession, to the advantage of said souls, in. this wise : that the same contribution shall be placed in the chest by a living person as one would make for himself. It is our wish, however, that our subcommissioners should modify the regulations regarding contributions of this kind which are given for the dead, and that they should use their judgment in all other cases, where, in their opinion, modifications are desirable.