Post by homeschooldad on May 24, 2021 16:58:34 GMT
If someone is legitimately impeded from assisting at Holy Mass, or going to a church or other public oratory, to recite "publicly" certain prayers associated with an indulgence (e.g., reciting the Veni Creator for the plenary indulgence given on Pentecost Sunday), may they do so privately (as in their own home), or even in the open air at their home? IOW, does the intention "I'd do this publicly if I could, but I cannot" suffice for receiving the indulgence?
I am looking for something specifically in the rubrics, in the Manual of Indulgences, or even in canon law or commonly accepted traditional moral theology, as opposed to one's own opinion, or saying, as I did, "well, it's the best you can do under the circumstances, and both the Church and Our Blessed Lord would surely provide for such situations". My situation was that I had to stay home on Pentecost Sunday to care for my sick father, I desired the indulgence, I had fulfilled all the other conditions (that "all attachment to sin, even venial" is the hard part, indeed, the only hard part!), so I went out on my outdoor patio and recited the Veni Creator in Latin. (Latin is always acceptable and is never incorrect.)
I realize this may sound nitpicky, and objectionable to any non-Catholics reading this, but my understanding is that the prerequisites for indulgences are very specific, and can't just be "made up on the fly".
Any thoughts?
