The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-06-02
Letter Apostolic.
GRANTING TO ALL THE FAITHFUL. a PLENARY
INDULGENCE IN THE FORM OF JUBILEE,
AND ORDERING PRAYERS FOR THO GENERAL
COUNCIL.

COUNCIL.
TO oil the faithful who shall see this letter
POPE Plus TX.
Health and the Apostolic Benediction.
No one can he ignorant of that we have
decreed the opening of an Ecumenica
Council in our Vatican Basilica on the
9Th December next, the day consecrased
to the immaculate Conception of the
Blessed Virgin. Mother of God. since
that time we have never ceased humbly to
pray with fervor, aud to snpplicate "the
Father of lights, from whom cometh down
every best gift, and every perfect gift" to
send down "the wisdom that stitch by
His THRONE" to remain with us to work in
US, that We may know what is agreeable
to Him. chat Almighty God may deign
to listen to our prayers, and incline His
ear to our supplication We have determin.
ed to excite all the faithful to greater piety
and devotion, in order that by uniting their
prayers to ours We may obtain the aid of
His all-powerfui arm. and the heavenly
light, that SO we may establish in this
Council ail that contribute to the saliva
ton of Christians, and TO the greater go-
~, happiness and peace of the Catholic
Church. And as prayers are more agreea-
bic to God when they ascend from clean
heart, that is from soul purified from all
stain, we wish on this occasion to open
with apostolic liberalty the celestial treas
ury Of fndulgencies of which the dispense
ton is coufided to US, so that encouraged
thereby to true repentance, and purified
from all sin in the sacrament Of penance,
the faithful may approach with greater
confidence to the throne of God, and OBJ
tain by this opportune assistance His mer-
cy aud His grace.
| With this intention we announce to the
whole Catholic world an Indulgence in
the form Of Jubilee In the name OF
God. most powerful and most mercifnl
supported by the authority of the holy
| apostles St. Peter and st. Paul, and in viz
tue of the power of binding aud loosing
with which our Lord has invested us, how.
ever unworthy, we grant Plenary Intul
gence. and remission of all their sins, as i,
is granted in the year of Jubilee, to all the
| faithful of both sexes, either dwelling il
| our much loved city of Rome, or having
come within her wall, who shall, between
the first of June and the day of the open
ing'of the Ecumenic:l Council conyoket
NY 10, SloIU tlO DtSillCslS VI Oh JOslu lLstvt
rau, the Prince of the Apostles. and S
Maria. Maiore, or at least visit one OF
| them twice. and devoutly pray there fol
some time for the conversion Of sinners
| for the propagation of the faith, and fol
the peace. tranquility and triumph of til.
Catholic Church; who, in addition to the
| accustomed fast of the Ember days, shall
| fast for three days, even not cOnsecutively
that is to say, Wednesday, Friday and Sat
urday, and who, in the course Of the time
shall have confessed their sins, reverently
received the Holy Sacrament of the Eu
| charist, and given some aims to tue pool
according to their power. To all not liv.
ing in Rome we grant the same Plenary
Indulgence and remission Of their sins, OH
condition of their visiting, Within the Civ.
en- time, the churches which shall be point
ed out by the ordinary of the place, or the
Wears to whom the charge of souls is CON-
mitted, aud fulfilling the conditions al
ready spoken Of This indulgence is APP
plicable to the souls in purgatory.
Travellers by land and sea may gnin ii
by fulfilling the conditions and visiting
twice the cathedral OF parish chu, eli Of the
place where they are.
AS to the regulars Of either sex who
live in monasteries, and all persons. wheth-
va roy VI CtciiCdi, seCuiar of TeUutAT, WIG
detained in prison, or for any cause depriv.
ed oftheir liberty, or prevented by sickness
or other obstacles, shall find it Impossible
to company with the conditions, we grant
to any confessor approved by the Bishop
the power ofcommuting the works of piety
for some Others. or Of postponing Them &c
future time not distnnt, or of prescribing
such things as these prni;ents may be able
TO perform. Gonfessors may also dispense
from Communion thnse Children who have
not made their first communion.
/ Also, to all the faithful, secular and reg
uiar, of whatsoever order Or institute they
may be, we grant the power of choosing
confessor either secular or regular, pro
vided they choose one approved by tbs
bishop. This permission is extended t.
all religious noyices and others. provide
the confussOr is approved by The religious
and these confessors shall have the power
for this time only, to absolve and release
IN .for0 cOnscientie from censures a .j,at
or ab noDsine.
| In virtue Of holy obedience we exhor
and command most vigorously the ordina
ries OF each separate place, or, IN the alb
sence OF their Wears. whoever has tin
charge of souls 10 their place, that as sool
as they shall judge it to be converter,
after seeing this letter. they shall publisl
or cause to be Published. in their churche
and dioceses, provinces, towns and village
the name of the church or churches VIII 81
are to be visited in order TO gain the In
diligence.
We also ordain that from the lst o
June next, to the close Of the Ecumenica
Council, all the priests Of the C,tholi
world, secular or regular, shall add ever
| day in their Mass the Prayer to the Hoi
Ghost, and that besides the accnstome
Mass. the Mass of the Holy Ghost sha
be said every Thursday, except on dot
BILE Of the first or second class, in all tn
Parish churches, basilcas or collegia,
churces in Rome, and in all cathedrals an
college chapels throughout the world, b
their respective canons, also in ever
church served by regulars, aud bound t
say conventual Mass
i This Mass Of the Holy Ghost binds vi
der no obligation regarding the apple,
ton Of 1t.
Given at st. Peters In Rome, under ii
Ring of The Fishermen, the 18th of Apr
| 1869, the 23d year Of our Ponti8cate.
N. CAsD PARAccIAIs-C LAREILI.
1