Can you get more than one indulgence by praying the Rosary in a group?
Question: I inquired of a person who often remains after Mass to recite the Rosary if she would accompany me to a nursing home to pray it there. She declined, explaining that whenever she prays the Rosary In the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, she attains a plenary indulgence, which is increased for every individual present praying alongside her at that moment. For instance, if there are 10 individuals praying, each participant receives 10 plenary indulgences. She mentioned that she would pray for the residents, but I doubt that this holds the same value as personally visiting and praying with these isolated individuals. Are her assertions accurate? She also referenced Jesus’ statement, “Where two or more are gathered, there am I in the midst of them,” contending that this implies that praying the Rosary alone at home is not as valuable as doing it within a group. This is quite disheartening if it is indeed true.
— Katherine Hostetter, Eugene, Oregon
Answer: No, many of her concepts are incorrect. In the realm of indulgences, there are individuals who speak of standards and regulations that are erroneous or no longer applicable. Some of these notions are derived in incomplete ways from resources like antiquated prayer books, the words of saints in visions (whether validated or not) or via devout literature, blogs, or simply from other Catholics who might share misleading information, even if unintentionally.
