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ACTS OF FAITH, HOPE, AND CHARITY.
Pope Benedict XIV. (mindful how useful, or rather how indispensably necessary it is for the eternal salvation of Christians that they should make frequent use of the acts of Faith, Hope, and Charity), in order to excite them to a more frequent exercise of the said acts, granted by a decree of the S. Congr. of Indulgences, dated Jan. 28, 1756, confirming the grant of Indulgences already made to this effect by Pope Benedict XIII., Jan. 15, 1728,
i. The Plenary Indulgence once a month to all those who shall daily devoutly recite, and at the same time make with their hearts the said acts. This Indulgence may be gained on any day when, truly penitent for their sins, having Confessed and Communicated, they shall pray for the Church our holy mother, &c.
He granted likewise in articulo mortis—
ii. The Plenary Indulgence and the Indulgence of seven years and seven quarantines every time they shall make these acts devoutly in their hearts, and say them with their lips. A common form of these acts is subjoined. However, Benedict XIV., in the above-named decree, declares that no particular form of words or expressions is necessary for gaining these Indulgences; but that any one may use any form he pleases, provided "that it expresses and explains the particular motives of each one of these three theological virtues."
ACTS OF THE THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES.
Act of Faith.
I most firmly believe, because God, who is the infallible Truth, hath so revealed to the Holy Catholic Church, and through the Church to us, that there is one only God in three divine Persons, equal and distinct, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; that the Son became man by taking to Himself flesh and a human
