The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-04-19
Plus PIP. x.
To all the Faithful in Christ who
shall read this our Letter, Health and
the Apostolic Benediction.

shall read this our Letter, Health and
the Apostolic 5enediction.
(Magni faustique). The commemo-
ration of the great and happy event
through which, sixteen centuries ago,
peace was finally given to the Church,
while it fills all Catholics with the
greatest joy and calls them to works
of piety, moves Us to open the treas.
ures of celestial gifts that choice and
copious fruits may accrue from that
solemnity. Nothing indeed could be
more fitting and opportune than the
celebration of the Edict promulgated
at Milan by the Emperor Constantine
the Great, following close upon the
victory of Maxentius obtained under
the glorious Standard of the Gross
the Edict which put an end to the
cruel persecution of the Christians
and placed them in possession of the
liberty bought at the price of the
Blood of the Divine Redeemer and the
Martyrs. Then at last the Church
Militant gained the first of those
triumphs which throughout it's history
have invariably followed prosecutions
of every sort, and from that day evel
increasing benefits have accrued tt
the human race. For men, abandon
ing by degrees the superstitious wor
ship of idols, in their laws, customs
and institutions followed ever more
the rule of Christian life, and so il
came to pass that justice and love
flourished together on the earth
Therefore We think it appropriate
that on this happy occasion on which
such great event is commemorated
prayers should be multiplied to God
to His Virgin Mother, and to all the
Blessed, especially to the Holy Apos
ties, that all peoples, renewing the
dignity and glory of the Church, ma!
take refuge in the bosom of this theil
mother, may root out the errors b.
which insensate enemies of the Church
strive to shroud its splendor in dark
ness, may surround the Roman Pontif
with the highest homage, and, witt
their minds at rest in perfect trust
may see indeed in the Catholic re
| ligion the defence and safeguard o
all things. Then will it be possible tt
hope that men, again fixing their eyes
on the Cross, the sign of salvation
will be able completely to overcome
the enemies of the Christian name anG
the unbridled lusts of their. hearts
To the purpose, then, that the humble
prayers that should be offered on the
occasion of this solemn commemora
| tion throughout the Catholic worlG
may rebound to the greater spiritual
good of the faithful, We ordain that
they be enriched with a plenary in
diligence in jubilee form, urgently ex
horting all the children of the Church
that they unite their prayers and theil
work of piety to Ours, to the end that
by means of the spiritual favor o1
jubilee offered to them these may
bear the greatest possible fruit both
to the profit of souls and the advan
tage of religion.
A Universal Jubilee.
Relying therefore on the mercy o1
Almighty God and on the authority
of the Blessed Apostles Peter ant
Paul, and having consulted Our Ven
cradle Brethren, the Cardinal Inquisi
tors General of the Holy Roman
Church, of that power Of binding and
loosing which to Us though unworthy
has been entrusted, We by this pres
ent Letter grant and impart, in the
form of a general Jubilee, a Plenary
Indulgence of all sins to all and sun
dry to the faithful of both sexes
whether resident in this dear City OF
Ours or coming to visit 1t, who in this
present year, from Low Sunday, when
the secular celebrations intended tc
commemorate the peace of the Church
begin, to the feast of the Immaculate
Conception of the Virgin Mother OF
God inclusive, twice visit each of the
Basilicas of st. John Lateran, St
Peter Prince of the Apostles and st
Paul outside the Walls; who there
according to Our intention, for some
time pour forth their prayers to God
for the prosperity and exaltation OF
the Catholic Church and of this Apos-
tolic See, for the extirpation of here
sizes and the conversion of all who are
in error, for concord amongst Chris.
tian princes and peace and unity
amongst all the faithful; who, having
properly confessed their sins, refresh
themselves during the period indicated
with the celestial banquet; and who
furthermore, each one according to
his means, give an aims to the needy
or, If preferred, assign it for some
pious purpose. To those, however
who cannot visit the City, We grant
the same Plenary Indulgence provided
during the same interval, they visit
six times I'm all church or churches
in their own locality, to be designated
by the Ordinary, and perform in their
integrity the other works Of piety
which We have above specified. Fur
ther, We permit that this Plenary In
diligence may and can be applied by
way OF suffrage 10 the souls who have
passed from this life united to God
by charity.