The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-06-15

If the Church can grant induIgences
to the souls in purgatory, why does
she not release all the souls from
purgatory?
The souls in purgatory are not under
the immediate jurisdiction of the
Church. They are not separated from
the Church. We are in communion
with them, as with the saints in
heaven. They help us by their pray
ers; and we, in turn, help them by
prayers, fasts, aims, the sacrifice of
the Mass, and the application OF indul-
gences. Nevertheless, a soul in pur-
gatory is subject directly to the trl-
bunal of God. Consequently, the
Church cannot pronounce upon soul
departed judicial sentence, formal
judgment or a direct absolution. God
alone can do these things. But the
Church can Indirectly help her chill
dren who are suffering in purgatory,
by way of suffrage, that is, she can
draw upon the treasury OF her merits,
won by the superintendent sufferings OF
Christ and His saints, and offer these,
Heavenly Father, begging Him to &C
cept them in favor of our suffering
brethren. We are infallibly certain
that they are accepted, but we cannot
be certain as to how far they are
beneficial. Everything that we do for
the suffering souls we simply place in
Gods hands, that He may use it, as
I'D
This is true not only of our prayers
and good works, but of plenary indul-
gences, even those of privileged
altar When Mass is celebrated at
a privileged altar" for a particular
soul, we can be infallibly certain that
a plenary indulgence is gained; we
can be infallibly certain also that this
plenary indulgence benefits the par
ticular soul for whom the Mass is
offered, if the soul is actually in pur-
gatory; but we cannot be infallibly
certain that this particular soul is
freed at once from purgatory. We
may have hopefulness which
amounts practically to gertrude.
Nevertheless, it's freedom depends
upon the mercy, wisdom and justice of
God. Consequently, many plenary
indulgences may be offered for de-
parted soul, and many Masses may
be said for it, even at privileged
altar. The Church grants indulgences
to the living, which may be offered to
God for the dead; but the Church does
not and cannot grant indulgences to
the dead,
Why do some people go to the foot of
the Blessed Virgins altar every Sun
day to pray? | think it a very nice
practice and would like to know just
what | have to do to gain the indul-
gence?
They go there for the purpose of
honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary in
an especial manner by praying before
the altar dedicated to her. There are
no special prayers to be said, but
usually one chooses those which have
direct reference to the Blessed Virgin.
such as the Hail Mary, the Rosary, or
those given in the ordinary prayer
book Many of these prayers are in
dulgenced and whoever recites them
can gain the indulgence attached to
them.
1. May one receive Holy Com
munion when conscious of no grievous
sin without the consent of ones con-
fessor? 2. What is the difference be.
tween Nuns and Sisters?
l. While one may receive Holy
Communion any time when free from
the guilt of grievous sin it is custom
airy to be guided in this matter by the
advice of ones confessor 1t is not
necessary, however, to ask permission
for each occasion. The confessor gives
a general permission which serves as
a guide for the penitent. AS rule
one may take it for granted that the
confessor would have no objection to
ones receiving Holy Communion
whenever an opportunity offers. 2
These names are used interchangeable
for the members of female religious
orders.
I. II the water blessed and dis
tributed on Holy Saturday is to be
used only at that time, why is there
not another day set apart for blessing
and distributing the holy water that Is
to be used during the remainder Of
the year? 2. Kindly give full ex
PLANTATION as to whether a person full
fills the obligation Of hearing Mass II
they arrive just before the consecra
ton, or are they obliged under pain Of
mortal sin to hear the three principal
parts of the Mass?
/. The fullest latitude is allowed as
to time and place for the blessing oil
holy water since it is used so fire.
quently in the Church's ceremonial, as
well as by the faithful in their homes
The blessings of the Easter water is
something special, as it is intended fol
a particular occasion. Holy water car