As the " New Raccolta " tells us, a plenary indulgence, applicable only to the departed, is granted to all the faithful who shall have made this offering, whenever they go to holy communion, provided they visit a church or public oratory, and pray there, for some time, for the intention of his Holiness.
A plenary indulgence, every Monday, to all who hear Mass in aid of the souls in purgatory, provided they fulfil the other conditions mentioned above.
All indulgences granted or to be granted, which are to be gained by the faithful who have made this offering, may be applied to the holy souls in purgatory.
Although this act of charity is called heroic vow of charity in some printed sheets, in which also is given a formula for making the offering, no inference is to be drawn therefrom that this offering binds under sin; neither is it necessary to make use of the said formula, or any other, since, in order to share in the said indulgences, no more is required than a heartfelt act of the will.
The heroic act of charity is not a vow; nor does this offering prevent the maker of it from praying for himself, for his friends, or any other like intention, as by it he only foregoes that special fruit of his good works, which would belong to himself, as a satisfaction for the temporal punishment deserved by him on account of his sins.
"It is sometimes objected," we read in Murray's " Guide to Indulgences," "that this act of charity does an injustice to ourselves, because it takes away what is necessary to satisfy God's justice for our sins, and so leaves us much more suffering to endure in purgatory than would otherwise fall to our share.
"The answer to this is, that even if this lengthening of our own punishment was an assured fact, it would be a small price to pay for the immense reward that God would bestow in heaven on those who performed such an heroic act of charity. But it is not true that those who make this offering will suffer more on account of it, for we may be sure that God would not have it so. On the contrary, He will reward those who are so generous by enkindling such a great love for Himself in their hearts that it will result in a full forgiveness not only of sin. but also of its temporal punishment; and, moreover, He has still the right to make their souls, if they go to purgatory, the beneficiaries of those prayers and good works which the living are continually offering Him."
Besides, those souls who may be released from their sufferings by these heroic offerings will not prove ungrateful, but rather will they constantly intercede for those to
