made to that particular church; except in the case of a legitimate commutation. Otherwise, this condition may be satisfied by a visit to any church or public oratory. It must be observed, however, that the Sacred Congregation, in an answer given, Aug. 22, 1842, declared that “those oratories cannot be called public which are canonically dedicated in monasteries, seminaries, and other conventual establishments, to which the public is not habitually admitted;” in other words, those oratories are not considered public which are not open to common use.
It is stated in a decree, dated May 19, 1759, that the visit “may be made either before or after having fulfilled the other conditions” provided it be made within the time prescribed for gaining the indulgences. It is important, therefore, to note carefully the terms in which each indulgence is granted. If the limit is placed at the hour of sunset, it is understood that the visit must be made before the evening twilight of the day for which the indulgence is granted—according to an answer of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, Nov. 3, 1831.
When one intends to gain several plenary indulgences, on the same day, by a single confession and communion, and a visit is required by the terms of the indult, for each indulgence, it must be understood that, according to a decree, Feb. 29, 1864, “it is required that as many distinct visits be made as will equal the number of indulgences to be gained, Hence it is necessary, for each successive visit, to leave the church and enter it again.”
