Page:StVincentsManual.djvu/553

 Indulgence for  the  deed  are  not  muted  by  way  of  absolution,  since  the  Pastors  of  the  Church  have  no  jurisdiction  over  the  dead. They are  available  to  the  faithful departed, oniy  by  way  of  suffrage,  or  spiritual  succor,  applied  to  their  souls,  out  of  the  treasure  of  the  Church.

To gain  an  Indulgence,  it  is  necessary,  1st,  that  we should  be  in  a  state  of  grace,  and  hare  the  intention  to  gain it. Should we  perform  an  act  to  which  an  Indulgence  is annexed,  without  thinking  of  it,  or  without  having  had  the intention, we  do  not  gain  it. However, it  is  not  necessary that this  intention  should  be  actual;  for,  it  is  sufficient  to act  in  a  human  manner:  now  for  this,  only  a  virtual  intention  is  necessary;  that  is  to  say,  an  intention  which  has been actual,  and  which  is  supposed  to  continue;  although, through inadvertence  or  distraction,  we  had  lost  sight  ot it. 2dly, That  the  conditions  required,  be  exactly  performed. For, as  Indulgences  are  always  granted  on  certain  conditions  to  be  complied  with  on  our  part,  such  as approaching  the  holy  sacraments,  works  of  charity  and mercy, exercises  of  piety  and  religion,  prayers  for  the  necessities  of  the  Church,  and  the  like;  if  these  conditions required are  not  exactly  performed,  as  required,  we  have no title  to  the  favor  of  the  Indulgence. 3dly, To  gain  a Plenary  Indulgence,  we  must  receive  the  holy  sacraments of Penance  and  the  Eucharist. Communion is  to  be  received on  the  day  for  gaining  the  Indulgence,  unless  it  is otherwise  marked  in  the  grant  of  the  Indulgence. Confession may  be  made  on  the  day  previous,  as  well  as  on the  day ;  and  those  who  are  in  the  practice  of  confessing once a  week,  may  gain  several  Plenary  Indulgences  in  the same week,  without  being  obliged  to  make  a  confession previous to  each  indulgence. We must  also  pray  with devotion. This condition  is  sufficiently  complied  with,  by saying  the  Our  Father,  and  the  Hail  Mary  five  times,  or he  Litany  of  Jesus,  or  the  Litany  of  the  Blessed  Virgin, for the  praise  and  glory  of  God's  holy  name,  for  the  exaltation of  the  holy  Catholic  Church,  for  the  conversion  of  infidels and  heretics,  for  peace  and  union  between  Christian nations, and  for  all  the  intentions  of  the  same  holy  Church 4thly, To  gain  the  full  effect  of  a  Plenary  Indulgence,  it  also  necessary  to  have  a  perfect  repentance,  and  sincere  detestation  of  all  our  sins,  even  of  the  least  venial  sin;  because, as  the  punishment  of  sin  will  never  be  forgiven while the  guilt  of  it  remains  in  the  soul,  and  as  a  sincere