Evening star., 1949-09-13
InduIgences Allowed
For Catholics Here
Unable 10 Visit Rome

Regulations for the holy year
were clarified yesterday by Msgr.
James E. Cowhig, chancellor OF
the Washington archdiocese. as
meaning that Catholics unable to
visit Rome in 1850 may receive
indulgences in their own parishes.
The holy year, from December
rs, 1949, to December 25. 1850,
was proclaimed last May by Pope
Plus XII. Proclaimed every Is
years since 1850, the Pope during
the year grants the jubilee in
dulgence to "all the faithful who
meet the prescribed conditions of
confession, communion and
prayers for his intentions at the
Basilicas Of st. Peter. st. Paul,
the Lateran and st. Mary Major,
In Rome"
Traditionally. however. it "has
been the custom during the cele-
bration Of former jubilee years
for the Holy Father to extend the
jubilee privileges and indudgences
30 that Catholics may gain them
the following year in their own
localities"
Conditions Explained.
Msgr. Cowhig's statement was
made to correct impressions in
recent. Rome dispatch that the
Pope had decreed Catholics must
visit the Holy City to obtain either
partial or plenary indulgences.
Msgr. Cowhig's statement said
In part:
In a recent decree in connec-
tion with the coming Holy Year.
Pope Plus announced to the Cath
olic world conditions necessary
for gaining the jubilee indulgence,
together with limitations that will
accrue from this privilege during
1850.
"The jubilee indulgence ordi-
narily can be gained only in the
city Of Rome during the period Of
celebration of the Holy Year. De-
scember rs. 194s, to December
as. 1850.
"Ai Indulgence. according to
Catholic teaching, is the remission
Of the temporal punishment due
to sin and does not in any way
imply that absolution or forgive
ness from sin is thereby granted.
Indulgences Limited.
"Indulgences are of two kinds
plenary, which is the complete re-
mission of all punishment due to
sin, and partial, which is the re-
mission in part Of such punish
ment. zone of the conditions for
the reception Of an indulgence Is
previous confession to obtain for
giveness Of sins. The jubilee in
diligence is a plenary one.
The new decree limits the
gaining Of indulgences to some
extent outside Rome. Those Cath
olics who are unable to visit Rome
during the Holy Year are still
capable. however, of gaining par
tial and plenary indulgences.
"The indulgences granted by
the Holy Father for the recitation
of the Holy Year prayer can be
obtained by any one outside Rome.
These indulgences are both par
tial and plenary. A partial in
diligence Of seven years can be
gained by each recitation OF the
Holy Year prayer. II the prayer
Is recited for one whole month a
plenary indulgence can be gained.
Regulations accompanying the
Pope's decree also include sus-
pension of the gaining OF certain
tndulgences outside Rome, as well
as suspension of the extraordinary
faculties granted to confessors.
Privileges Extended.
Furthermore, the decree con-
fers special faculties on confessofs
in Rome for the benefit of pilgrims.
The decree, last of all, deals with
the reception Of the Jubilee indul-
gence outside Rome by those Cath
olics who are unable to fulfill the
conditions prescribed in Rome
itself.
"It has been the custom during
the celebration of former jubilee
years for the holy father to ex-
tend the Jubilee privileges and
tndulgences so that Catholics may
gain them during the following
year in their own localities.
THE observance of the holy
year has as its special purpose
the summoning of all faithful
Catholics to expiate their sins, TO
amend their lives and to lead them
to acquire virtue and holiness"