The Feast of the Portiuncula - August 2

At the foot of the mountain on which Assisi is situated, hermits from Palestine had built an oratory in the first centuries of the Christian era. This oratory together with a small plot of land was given to St Benedict in the 6th century. The name Portiuncula, that is, Little Portion, is supposed to have been derived from the transfer of this small piece of property. The little church was called St Mary of the Angels, and the inhabitants of Assisi went there frequently to pray. When St Francis forsook the world, it was his first pious act to restore this sanctuary of the Queen of heaven, which had become somewhat dilapidated. Many extraordinary favors were granted to him in this little church. The Queen of heaven designated this place as the cradle of his order. Here, likewise, she implored for him the great indulgence by which the Portiuncula chapel became famous throughout Christendom. A special impulse led St Francis on a certain night to go to the chapel. There he saw our Lord and His holy Mother surrounded by a great host of angels. Filled with astonishment and reverence, the saint prostrated himself upon the ground and adored the Divine Majesty. Then he heard the voice of our Lord urging him with ineffable tenderness to ask some special favor. Nothing was so near to the heart of Francis as the salvation of souls, and so, after a few moments of reflection, he asked for the grace of a full pardon for all who, being contrite and having confessed their sins, would visit this little sanctuary. Mary cast herself upon her knees before her Divine Son, and repeated the petition of her faithful servant. Thereupon the Lord said to Francis: "It is a great favor that you request, nevertheless it shall be granted to you. Go to my Vicar on earth, to whom I have given the power to bind and to loose, and ask him in My name to grant this indulgence." Forthwith Francis presented himself to Pope Honorius III, who, after having assured himself of the truth of the vision, granted his request, but with the restriction that the indulgence could be gained on one day of the year. The 2nd of August was the designated day, that being the anniversary of the little church's dedication. At the command of the pope, St Francis preached the extraordinary indulgence at the Portiuncula before a great concourse of people. From that time the Portiuncula was annually the goal of innumerable pilgrims. Subsequently the indulgence was extended to every day of the year. A large basilica was built over the chapel, and so the little sanctuary of the Portiuncula has been preserved in its original condition. By virtue of their apostolic power the popes have extended this indulgence to all Franciscan churches, and under special conditions even to some other churches. (From The Franciscan Book Of Saints edited by Marion Habig, ofm)

The Portiuncula Pardon (Indulgence) - August 2

There are very few Christian concepts that cause more confusion than that of indulgences. Considering the scandal associated with them immediately prior to the Protestant Reformation, it's little wonder that some non-Catholics view indulgences with suspicion. In actuality, indulgences are a beautiful concept that fits it perfectly with the Christian idea of God's mercy, justice, love and forgiving nature. In fact, if indulgences didn't exist or weren't allowed by the Christian community, many serious questions about God's real nature would immediately pop up. First and foremost, indulgences DO NOT and CAN NOT forgive sins. Only the Sacrament of Reconciliation, offered through God's grace, can do that. However, simply forgiving a sin doesn't wipe out our guilt. Imagine someone committing mass genocide and then rushing to a priest asking for forgiveness. The sin, if the penitent is sincere, is certainly forgiven, but what does that mean to those who have been killed and worse, those family and friends who survive them? Serious spiritual damage has been done and must be addressed. If a nail is hammered into a piece of wood, it can still be extracted. This is the nature of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The problem, however, is that the hole produced by the nail is still there. This is where indulgences come into play. An indulgence heals the spiritual damage we've caused to those around us and the relationship we hope to develop with Christ. Indulgences should never have been sold under any circumstances and doing so risks the sin of simony. But, this is no way means we should discard the spiritual good created by indulgences. One important indulgence that is offered to Christians this month (August 2) is called the Portiuncula Pardon. The conditions to obtain the Plenary Indulgence of the Forgiveness of Assisi are (for oneself or for a departed soul) as follows: - Sacramental Confession to be in God’s grace (during eight days before or after) - Participation in the Holy Mass and Eucharist - Recitation of The Apostles Creed, Our Father and a prayer for the Pope’s Intention. The Portiuncula Pardon is a grace not to miss not only for yourself but for the many suffering souls in Purgatory. Mark your calendar for the Feast of Our Lady of the Angels, August 2. Tell everyone of the magnitude of this gift. Once again, we see the unfathomable Divine Mercy of God. In the words of St Francis: “O my Brothers and Sisters, I want you all to go to Heaven!” It cannot be denied that this indulgence is one of the most precious favors that comes to us from the treasury of the divine mercy. Not only the Vicar of Christ but Christ Himself granted it at the intercession of the Blessed Virgin, the Mother of Mercy. It is recorded that when the pope first granted his approval, St Francis departed without having obtained a written document as a testimonial. When his attention was drawn to the fact, St Francis remarked: "God Himself will testify to this indulgence." Was that not actually verified by the great confidence of all Christians? One may well say of this indulgence what was said of the gracious condescension of our Lord in the Incarnation: "Through the heart of the mercy of our God, the Orient from on High has visited us unto the remission of sins." (Luke 1:78) Who would not use this day of grace well? (From The Franciscan Book Of Saints edited by Marion Habig, ofm)