“1. Our salvation was accomplished when Our Lord Jesus Christ by His passion and death rescued men from their ancient slavery to sin and gave them life and freedom as sons of God, coheirs of His own glory. As an additional benefit He has given them a means of expiating sin when by the weakness of their nature and their own wickedness they wretchedly abandon their excellent state as heirs of God. By giving to the Prince of the Apostles the power of forgiving sins together with the keys of the heavenly kingdom, He made it possible for sinners to be restored to their former righteousness and to receive the fruits of redemption. 2. Since this is the only way for sinners to recover divine grace and salvation, the successors of St. Peter have made it their chief concern to summon all men to this fountain of mercy. They have done this by offering the promise of forgiveness to the repentant and by encouraging sinners by every means to seek remission... We urge you to effect salvation for your souls by utilizing the aids which are available for your sanctification. We shall unlock all the riches of mercy proceeding from the blood of Christ which have been entrusted to Our dispensing. Moreover We shall open for you the rich store of satisfaction formed by the merits of the most holy mother of God and the apostles, by the blood of the martyrs and by the virtuous actions of all good men; this will render peace and forgiveness more accessible. For assuredly, as we are gathered together in the one body of the Church which is the Body of Christ, we are joined with the illustrious society and communion of the saints. All of us are cleansed and made alive by the blood of Christ, and we can benefit each other. For Christ has desired that His great love and mercy and the infinite force of His passion and merits should be made more resplendent by the addition of the other parts of His mystical body. In this way men should be helped both by reciprocal action among themselves and by the sharing of benefits flowing from that source of grace. Then God would be moved to show clemency to us for the sake of His Son's goodness and the infinite value of His blood, as well as by the merits of the saints and by prayerful petition.” Pope Clement XIV, Salutis Nostrae, April 30, 1774