Adsum

August 2003

May invalids gain on other days the indulgences attached to the receiving of Holy Communion on the First Friday of the month?

From the book, Problems in the Liturgy
by Gerard Montague, D.D., St. Patrick’s College

Question: When attending the sick in their own homes I find it impossible to bring Holy Communion to all on the first Friday of the month. What indulgences are attached to the receiving of Holy Communion on the first Friday, and may these indulgences be gained also by those sick persons who cannot receive until the Saturday?

Answer: It is necessary to distinguish clearly between (a) the devotional practice of receiving Holy communion on the first Friday of each month and (b) the special devotion of the “Nine Fridays.” The former devotion was made known to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque during the “third great apparition” which took place in 1674. Our Lord directed the saint to receive Holy Communion on the First Friday of each month in reparation to the Sacred Heart. This devotion has been recognized by the Church by the granting both of a special indulgence and of the privilege, whereby in churches and oratories where special first Friday devotions are held in the morning, the Mass of the Sacred Heart may be celebrated as a solemn votive Mass. The indulgences which may now be gained in connection with this devotion are as follows:

(a) The faithful who take part in public devotions in honor of the Sacred Heart gain a plenary indulgence if they receive the sacraments of confession and Holy Communion and in addition pray for the intentions of the Pope (i.e., recite Pater, Ave, and Gloria at least once or say some equivalent prayers);

(b) Persons who are legitimately detained from attending the public devotions or who are in places where such devotions are not carried out, may gain a plenary indulgence if they receive the sacraments, recite some prayers in reparation to the Sacred Heart, visit a church or public oratory and pray for the Pope’s intentions.

(c) On all other Fridays throughout the year an indulgence of seven years may be gained under the same conditions.

In accordance with Canon 931 of the Codex the sacramental confession prescribed for this indulgence may be made at any time during the eight days preceding or following the first Friday and the Holy Communion may be received either on the preceding Thursday or within the succeeding week. Hence Holy Communion received on the Saturday satisfies the required condition. Presumably invalids will not be able to fulfill the prescription of visiting a church or oratory even privately. In such cases the confessor could by virtue of Canon 936 commute that condition to the recital of prayers or to the performance of some other suitable pious work in reparation to the Sacred Heart. In such commutation the object of the devotion must be observed substantially.

The special devotion of the “Nine Fridays” has, however, a completely different status. This remains a popular devotion which has not been recognized by any grant of indulgence. It originates from the “Great Promise” made by our Lord to St. Margaret Mary when He said: “I promise thee in the exceeding great mercy of my Heart that its all-powerful love will grant to all those who will receive Holy Communion on nine consecutive first Fridays of the month, the grace of final repentance, not dying in my disfavour and without receiving their sacraments. . . .” Holy Communion must be received on the first Friday of nine consecutive months, and if the series is interrupted even inculpably, the conditions required in the Promise are simply not verified. None of the Sacred Congregations has been concerned to give an official interpretation of the Promise; hence, we can have no authority for going beyond the exact conditions determined by Our Lord’s words. If the condition of receiving Holy Communion on each of nine conssecutive first Fridays is not fulfilled, then the devotion of the “Nine Fridays” has not certainly been performed.

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