Recitation of the Marian Rosary
A plenary indulgence is granted when the rosary is recited in a church or oratory or when it is recited in a family, a religious community, or a pious association. A partial indulgence is granted for its recitation in all other circumstances.
The rosary is a prayer formula divided into fifteen decades of Hail Mary’s with the Lord’s Prayer separating each of these decades. During each one of these decades we recall in devout meditation the mysteries of our redemption.
It has become customary to call only five such decades the “rosary”. Concerning this usage, the following norms are given as regards a plenary indulgence.
1. Recitation of a third of the rosary is sufficient for obtaining a plenary indulgence, but these five decades must be recited without interruption.
2. Devout meditation on the mysteries is to be added to the vocal prayer.
3. In its public recitation the mysteries must be announced in accord with approved local custom, but in private recitation it is sufficient for the Christian faithful simply to join meditation on the mysteries to the vocal prayer.
Reading of Sacred Scripture
A partial indulgence is granted the Christian faithful who read sacred scripture with the veneration due God’s word and as a form of spiritual reading. The indulgence will be plenary when such reading is done for at least a half an hour.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
A partial indulgence is granted the Christian faithful when they visit the Blessed Sacrament for the purpose of adoration. When it is done for at least half an hour the indulgence is a plenary one.
The Way of the Cross
In the pious exercise of the way of the Cross we recall anew the sufferings, which the divine redeemer endured, while going from the praetorian of Pilate, where he was condemned to death, to the Mount of Calvary, where he died on the Cross for our salvation.
1. Pious exercise must be made before stations of the Way of the Cross legitimately erected.
2. For the erection of the Way of the Cross fourteen crosses are required, to which it is customary to add fourteen pictures or images.
3. According to common practice, the pious exercise consists of fourteen pious readings, to which some vocal prayers are added. However, nothing more is required than a pious meditation on the Passion and Death of the Lord, which need not be a particular consideration of the individual mysteries of the stations.
4. A movement from one station to the next is required. But if the exercise is conducted publicly and it is not possible for all taking part to go in an orderly way from station to station, it suffices if at least the one conducting the exercise goes from station to station, the others remaining in their place.
