The Heroic Act
This heroic act of charity in behalf of the souls in purgatory consists in a voluntary offering, made by any one of the faithful in their favor, of all works of satisfaction done by him in this life, as well as of all suffrages which shall be offered for him after his death; by this act he deposits all these works and suffrages into the hands of the Blessed Virgin, that she may distribute them in behalf of those holy souls whom it is her good pleasure to deliver from the pains of purgatory, at the same time that he declares that by this personal offering he only foregoes in their behalf the special and personal benefit of these works of satisfaction, so that, if he is a priest, he is not hindered from applying the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass according to the intention of those who give him alms for that purpose.
This heroic act of charity, called also a vow of oblation, was instituted by Father Caspar Oliden, a Theatine. It was he who propagated it, and it was at his prayer that it was enriched with many indulgences.
1. An indult of a privileged altar, personally, every day in the year to all priests who have made this offering.
2. Plenary indulgence daily, applicable only to the de parted.
3. Plenary indulgence every Monday to all who hear Mass in suffrage for the souls in purgatory.
All indulgences granted, or to be granted and gained by the faithful who have made this offering, are applicable to the holy souls in purgatory.
For all the faithful who can not hear Mass on Monday, the Mass heard on Sundays is available for gaining the indulgence. In the case of those who are not yet communicants, or who are hindered from communicating, their respective ordinaries may authorize confessors to commute the works enjoined.
Lastly, although this act of charity is denominated a vow in some printed tracts, 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 neces-
