Australian Catholic Truth Society

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 8, 22 February 1923, Page 21

Australian Catholic Truth Society

BRIEF OF HIS HOLINESS PIUS XI. Seeing that (as Our Venerable Brother, Daniel Mannix, Archbishop of Melbourne has reported to Us) there has been for several years in the archdiocese a canonically instituted association of the faithful known as "The Australian Catholic Truth Society," the fruitful object of which is the diffusion among the people of good literature at a low price, and seeing that the Archbishop has addressed to Us an earnest request that We bestow on the said association from the Church's treasury divinely entrusted to Us, some indulgences and privileges. We, who regard it as of Ine highest moment that the people be imbued with wholesome and salutary doctrine, have freely and willingly decided to gratify this pious desire. Wherefore, having consulted with Our beloved son, his Eminence the Cardinal ■ J rand Penitentiary, and relying on the mercy of Almighty God, and on the authority of His Apostles the Blessed Peter and Paul, We grant (1) A PLENARY INDULGENCE, (subject to the performance of the works of piety herein mentioned) to each and all of the members of the said association, on the day of their admission to the association, and on the annual festivals of the Most Holy Trinity, of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady, of St. Joseph, her Spouse (namely tha 19th of March) of the Apostle St. Paul, of St. Francis de Sales, and of St. Patrick (to wit, the 17th of March), or, at the free choice of each, on any one of the seven days which immediately follow the days just mentioned, having confessed and communicated, provided that they visit any public church or chapel at any hour between mid-day of the preceding day and mid-night of the day on which they wish to gain the indulgence, and that (during the visit) they pray for concord among Christian Rulers, the extirpation of heresies, the conversion of sinners, and the exaltation of our Holy Mother the Church;

(2) And to all those who are actually enrolled, or who will be enrolled in this association, wo grant to each of of them a Plenary Indulgence at the hour of death (in articulo mortis ) provided that, having confessed and received Holy Communion (or if that should prove to bo impossible, if instead they devoutly invoke the Name of Jesus with their lips, if they can, but otherwise with the heart) they accept death with resignation as coming from the hand of God, and as the penalty of sin.

(3) Moreover, to all those actually belonging to the association, or afterwards to he admitted to membership, We grant 300 days' indulgence, as often as they visit the Blessed Eucharist lying hidden in the Tabernacle, and with a contrite heart pray devoutly for the increase of the association in accordance with its special aims; And likewise, when, on any day throughout the year, they shall with a contrite heart devoutly recite the antiphon, versicle, response, and prayer which follow: "Come, 0 Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of the faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of Thy Divine Love. "Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created; And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth." "Let us pray. - "We beseech Thee, 0 Lord, that the Holy Spirit which proceeds from Thee, may enlighten our minds and bring them to all truth, as Thy Son has promised, Who with Thee liveth and reigneth in the unity of the same Holy Spirit, God, world without end. Amen!" (4) And likewise, we grant 100 days' indulgence to members on any day on which they shall have co-operated in any manner whatsoever to the diffusion of Catholic truths through the aforesaid association, provided they ; recite devoutly - and with a contrite heart the Doxology.. "Glory be to the Father, etc." Moreover, We grant that all the aforesaid indulgences, both plenary and partial, excepting the plenary in articulo

mortis , may be applied for the expiation of the stains and penalties of the departed.

(5) In addition to these favors, We wish that members of this association who are priests be gifted with special privileges, consequently, to priests who are on the roll of the association as well as to those who afterwards shall be enrolled, Wo grant the faculty, scrvatis servandis of blessing with a single sign of the Cross, Rosary Beads, crosses, crucifixes, sacred medals, and small metal statues, and of applying to all these objects the apostolic indulgences {enumerated in the catalogue edited on the 6th of September, 1914), not excluding, as far as Rosary Beads are concerned, the Brigettirie indulgences, nor those of the Crosier Fathers; also we grant the faculty of blessing crucifixes, and of applying to them the indulgences of the Stations of the Cross, so that members legitimately impeded from going round Stations of the Cross canonically erected may be able to gain the indulgences of the Stations, provided they carry in their hands the said crucifixes, and recite with a contrite heart, 20 times, the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Glory be the Father, etc.

Moreover, to priests who are members We concede as a personal privilege, twice a week, that Masses celebrated by them at any altar whatsoever may benefit that soul for which they shall have been offering exactly as if they had been celebrated at a privileged altar.

Finally, graciously considering the spiritual profit of the? members of the aforesaid association who have departed from this life, We wish that all Masses which may be offered now and hereafter, on behalf of a departed member may benefit that soul as if they had been offered at a privileged altar.

The present privileges to hold in perpetuity, all things to the contrary notwithstanding.

Moreover, We wish that transcripts or printed copies of this letter, signed by the hand of some public notary, and, confirmed by the seal of a person of ecclesiastical rank, may be received with the same trust that would be accorded to this letter if it were exhibited or shown. Given at Rome at St. Peter's, under the seal of the Fisherman on the 13th of September, in the year 1922, in the first year of Our Pontificate. (Signed) P. Card. Gasparri, K Secretary of State. - <~x-— __ ;