31 Dec: ‘Te Deum’ Indulgence

We read in the Enchiridion Indulgentiarum 26 that, under the usual conditions, people can gain a plenary indulgence by participating in a liturgical praying of the Te Deum for the end of the year.

Is there one in your diocese or parish?

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15 Comments

  1. pookiesmom says:

    Yes!! Father Michael Stinson FSSP , our wonderful pastor at St. Joseph’s Parish here in Tacoma, WA led the congregation after the 8:00 am Mass in the Te Deum–he chanted it beautifully!! We are very thankful at the end of this year for our new parish and our wonderful pastor. Deo gratias!!

  2. Gregorius says:

    Which leads to my question: what counts as “liturgical”? Does it need to be lead by clergy? Does it need to be sung, or can it be recited? Does it need to be in Latin, or is there an authorized English version? Does it need to be solemn tone, or will simple suffice? Does there need to be a specific verse and collect to go with it?

    Hoping for the best anyway, I made a quick printout with the simple tone, a translation, and a small text box explaining how to gain the indulgence. I gave it to the daily Mass crowd, briefly explained what we were doing, and lead the singing as a recessional at the end of the otherwise music-less Mass (the celebrant didn’t join in), followed by the usual prayers for the Holy Father’s intentions.

    Despite the congregation not used to the chant or Latin, I got positive comments from the congregation: one man remembered singing the notation from his childhood, and another person expressed interest in seeing a schola formed at the parish, and promised to send people to me who would be willing to help make it happen.
    I didn’t realize those graces could bear fruit that fast.

  3. andia says:

    Not that I could find!

  4. acardnal says:

    No. Not that I am aware of. It’s difficult to find anything Catholic occurring on New Year’s Eve here.

    I miss my old diocese of Arlington (Virginia). There I could attend a Eucharistic Holy Hour and Benediction at 11 P.M. for reparation of the sins of abortion. And then at midnight, holy Mass to bring in the new year.

  5. DanW says:

    That is something I’d love to witness live sometime. I am a 68 year old Catholic and the only time I have ever heard the “Te Deum” was a recording, and that was only about 8 years ago.

  6. frahobbit says:

    Speaking of indulgences, I erroneously thought the urbi et orbi was on new years eve. On Christmas day I was taking care of my mom, and forgot all else. I’m wondering, since I just (12-31-15, still in octave of Christmas?) watched it on ewtn, am I still able to receive the plenary indulgence?

  7. kat says:

    Yes, we had a holy hour and sang the Te Deum. It was very nice.

  8. dholwell says:

    Does singing the hymn “Holy God We Praise Thy Name” as a recessional still count?

  9. APX says:

    For the past four years we’ve been doing it at Midnight. Admittedly, it doesn’t sound very Te Deumy, since a) we always use solemn tone, b) no one can really sing it in solemn tone, and c) our congregation doesn’t like to sing to begin with. I always have such high hopes for it too. *sigh*

  10. Volanges says:

    Not in our parish, anyway.

  11. Imrahil says:

    The Te Deum does, around here, belong to the usual St. Silvester traditions (whereas the Veni Creator does not belong to the New Year’s Day traditions). And we had a beautiful Eucharistic adoration service including it.

    However, Te Deum is interpreted to mean “some stanzas of Holy God we praise Thy Name” – not the full song. I rather doubt that counts for the indulgence. (Though, maybe, the exposition lasted for the required half-hour. I did not look at my watch.)

    I’m not usually in favor of the Protestant manner of doing things, but I try not to be prejudiced: what is good is good wherever it is: and that includes their habit of singing songs in their entirety.

  12. Joseph-Mary says:

    Never heard of it being done! Golly, in some of the parishes with 5 or 6 Sunday Masses, there is only a vigil and either 1 or 2 for the Holy Day of Obligation which says they do not expect most people to acknowledge it…

  13. Persistant says:

    We had a thanksgiving mass at 6 pm and Te Deum was sung in our native language before the final blessing in my parish in Croatia.

  14. We attended a local Mission parish and the Te Deum was prayed. The priest is very traditional and young. We were quite pleased.

  15. bourgja says:

    My understanding is that the singing or recitation has to take place in a church, public or semi-public oratory. There are very few parishes that sing or recite the Te Deum on Dec. 31, or the Veni Creator on Jan. 1, thus depriving the faithful of an opportunity to gain a plenary indulgence. Is there some kind of concession for this situation?

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