The Altar to the left (as one is looking at it) of the High Altar at St. Mary’s is dedicated to Our Lady under the title of Mother of Mercy. This title was adopted by the women’s chapter of Our Lady’s Sodality, so they are the Sodality of Mary, Mother of Mercy.
This Marian Altar at St. Mary’s was declared “Privileged” by the Most Reverend Matthew Harkins, the Second Bishop of Providence by a pontifical decree dated November 10, 1887. When an Altar is “Privileged” it means that in addition to the ordinary fruits of the Mass, a plenary indulgence is also granted whenever Mass is celebrated on that Altar. The indulgence must be applied to the individual departed soul for whom the Mass is offered. To gain the indulgence, the Mass must be a Requiem Mass or, if the rubrics do not permit this on a certain day, the indulgence may be gained by celebrating another Mass.
