Raccolta (Ital., “a collection”), a book containing prayers and pious exercises to which the popes have attached indulgences. The full title of the last official edition is: ‘“Raccolta di orazioni e pie opere, per le quali sono state concesse dai Sommi Pontefici le SS. Indulgenze” (Rome, 1898). The Raccolta was first published at Rome in 1807 by Telesforo Galli, one of the consultors of the Congregation of Indulgences. In the sixth edition there is printed a Decree, dated 30 Nov., 1825, which recognizes the indulgences as authentic, and in the eleventh—the last published by Canon Galli—there is a Decree, dated 13 Nov., 1843, which approves the Raccolta as “praelaudatum opus omnibus Christifidelibus vivis atque defunctis maxime perutile”. Two new editions were published by Aloysius Prinzivalli, substitute secretary of the congregation, and were specially approved by a Decree of 15 Dec., 1854. The editions of 1877, 1886, and 1898 are the official publications of the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences and Holy Relics (see Roman CURIA). The Raccolta contains, arranged in convenient order, the prayers, novenas, pious practices, etc. to which general indulgences have been attached, as well as the decrees and rescripts granting the indulgences, and the conditions requisite for gaining them. All the indulgences contained in the Raccolta are applicable to the souls in purgatory. It is forbidden to publish a translation of the entire Raccolta without the approval of the Roman congregation (Decret. auth., nn. 361, 415). There is an approved edition of the Raccolta in English, especially adapted for the use of the faithful.
Decreta authentica (Ratisbon, 1883); Collection des décrets authentiques des sacrées congrégations romaines (Paris, 1868); Beringer, Die Abldsse, ihr Wesen und Gebrauch (Paderborn, 1900; French tr., Paris, 1905); Maur, The Christian Instructed in the Nature and Use of Indulgences, tr. (1875); The New Raccolta (Philadelphia, 1900).
F. X. Delany.