Enchiridion · Grant 12 §2–4
Indulgence at the point of death when no priest is available
The Church provides this grant for a duly disposed dying person who cannot obtain a priest.
Time required No new timed exercise prescribed at the point of death
- When
- At the point of death
- Where
- Where the dying person is
- Who
- A duly disposed dying member of the faithful who habitually prayed during life and has no priest available
- Application
- Self or the departed
The prescribed work
- A priest is unavailable.
- The person must have habitually prayed in some way during life.
- The person must be duly disposed, including complete detachment from every sin.
- The Church supplies the three usual conditions of confession, Communion, and prayer for the Pope’s intentions.
- Using a cross or crucifix is commended, not required.
- A plenary indulgence earlier that day does not prevent this grant.
The work and its conditions
This grant has a special provision for the ordinary conditions. Follow the requirements above and the source closely.
Conditions common to every indulgence
The person gaining an indulgence must be baptized, not excommunicated, and in the state of grace at least when the prescribed works are completed. There must be at least a general intention to gain indulgences, and the prescribed work must be performed at the time and in the manner required by the grant.
Read the full conditions and norms. The cited grant and its specific provisions govern.
Time required
Read each branch with its own conditions. An editorial estimate is not a prescribed minimum.
Prescribed work
Duration varies
No new timed exercise prescribed at the point of death
No fixed number of minutes is prescribed. Habitual prayer during life is an eligibility condition, not a required number of minutes at the point of death; the person must be duly disposed and no priest available.
What the time estimate excludes
- Ordinary travel to and from the venue, and waiting outside the prescribed work
- Preparation and separately fulfilled sacramental conditions, except where the prescribed work itself includes Communion or a liturgical celebration
Source and exact reference
- Enchiridion indulgentiarum, fourth edition (1999)12 §2–4
- Manual of Indulgences, approved USCCB English edition (2006), hosted copy12 §2–4
Prayer texts and grants have separate source histories. Consult the grant source for the prescribed work, occasion, and conditions.