The Pardon Crucifix
The Pardon Crucifix (Crux Propitiationis) is a distinctive crucifix enriched with indulgences by Pope St. Pius X in the early 20th century, first granted in 1905 and confirmed in 1907.¹ It is regarded as a special sign of grace and mercy, offered not only for the faithful on earth but also for the souls in purgatory.²
1. Design of the Crucifix
The Pardon Crucifix contains a wealth of devotional symbolism:
● Above the figure of Christ stands the inscription: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.”³
● Below the crossbeam are two devotional medals: the Miraculous Medal and the Medal of St. Benedict, signs of Marian intercession and Benedictine protection.⁴
● On the reverse of the crucifix:
○ at the intersection of the beams is the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
○ on the horizontal beam appear Christ’s words: “Father, forgive them” (Lk 23:34),⁵
○ on the vertical beam are the words spoken by Christ to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1675: “Behold this Heart which has so loved men.”⁶
2. Indulgences Attached to the Pardon Crucifix
a) Partial Indulgence
A partial indulgence is granted to anyone who devoutly kisses the crucifix⁷ or recites before it one of the following prayers:
● “Our Father, who art in heaven, forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us,”⁸
● “I beg the Blessed Virgin Mary to pray for me to the Lord our God.”⁹
b) Plenary Indulgence
A plenary indulgence may be gained by those who fulfill the usual conditions of confession, Holy Communion, and prayer for the Pope’s intentions, on the following feast days:¹⁰
● The Five Wounds of Our Lord,
● The Finding of the Holy Cross (Sept. 14),
● The Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Sept. 14),
● The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Dec. 8),
● The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Sept. 15).
It may also be gained at the hour of death, when one—strengthened by the sacraments, or at least with contrite heart—kisses the crucifix, prays for pardon, and forgives one’s neighbor.¹¹
3. A Gift for the Living and the Dead
Pope St. Pius X declared that all indulgences attached to the Pardon Crucifix could be applied to the souls in purgatory.¹²
4. Footnotes:
1. Pius X, Pope, Acta Sanctae Sedis 38 (1905), 403–404.
2. Pius X, Pope, Rescript of the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences (1907).
3. Holy Bible, John 19:19.
4. J. B. O’Connell, The Book of Indulgences: Official Edition of the Enchiridion Indulgentiarum (New York: Benziger Brothers, 1952).
5. Holy Bible, Luke 23:34.
6. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Autobiography and Letters, ed. P. F. X. de la Colombière (Paris: Desclée, 1920).
7. Enchiridion Indulgentiarum (Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1950).
8. Ibid., 122.
9. Ibid., 123. Dominic Prümmer, Handbook of Moral Theology (Freiburg im Breisgau: Herder, 1927).
10. Herbert Thurston, “Indulgences,” in The Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. 7 (New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910).
11. Ibid.
1. Design of the Crucifix
The Pardon Crucifix contains a wealth of devotional symbolism:
● Above the figure of Christ stands the inscription: “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.”³
● Below the crossbeam are two devotional medals: the Miraculous Medal and the Medal of St. Benedict, signs of Marian intercession and Benedictine protection.⁴
● On the reverse of the crucifix:
○ at the intersection of the beams is the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
○ on the horizontal beam appear Christ’s words: “Father, forgive them” (Lk 23:34),⁵
○ on the vertical beam are the words spoken by Christ to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1675: “Behold this Heart which has so loved men.”⁶
2. Indulgences Attached to the Pardon Crucifix
a) Partial Indulgence
A partial indulgence is granted to anyone who devoutly kisses the crucifix⁷ or recites before it one of the following prayers:
● “Our Father, who art in heaven, forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us,”⁸
● “I beg the Blessed Virgin Mary to pray for me to the Lord our God.”⁹
b) Plenary Indulgence
A plenary indulgence may be gained by those who fulfill the usual conditions of confession, Holy Communion, and prayer for the Pope’s intentions, on the following feast days:¹⁰
● The Five Wounds of Our Lord,
● The Finding of the Holy Cross (Sept. 14),
● The Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Sept. 14),
● The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Dec. 8),
● The Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Sept. 15).
It may also be gained at the hour of death, when one—strengthened by the sacraments, or at least with contrite heart—kisses the crucifix, prays for pardon, and forgives one’s neighbor.¹¹
3. A Gift for the Living and the Dead
Pope St. Pius X declared that all indulgences attached to the Pardon Crucifix could be applied to the souls in purgatory.¹²
4. Footnotes:
1. Pius X, Pope, Acta Sanctae Sedis 38 (1905), 403–404.
2. Pius X, Pope, Rescript of the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences (1907).
3. Holy Bible, John 19:19.
4. J. B. O’Connell, The Book of Indulgences: Official Edition of the Enchiridion Indulgentiarum (New York: Benziger Brothers, 1952).
5. Holy Bible, Luke 23:34.
6. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Autobiography and Letters, ed. P. F. X. de la Colombière (Paris: Desclée, 1920).
7. Enchiridion Indulgentiarum (Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1950).
8. Ibid., 122.
9. Ibid., 123. Dominic Prümmer, Handbook of Moral Theology (Freiburg im Breisgau: Herder, 1927).
10. Herbert Thurston, “Indulgences,” in The Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. 7 (New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910).
11. Ibid.
