The Great Pardon (Indulgence) of Assisi by Fr Nelson Lobo OFM Cap

Portiuncula-The Cradle of the Franciscan Movement

Pace e bene Fratelli e Sorelle

Peace and Goodness to You!

2^nd August  is a very special day for the thousands and thousands of Franciscans all over the world, as they celebrate The Feast of Our Lady of the Angels of the Portiuncula. Portiuncula what is this Portiuncula? Well let me tell you the story.

2.  When St. Francis of Assisi in Italy was discerning his vocation, he heard the Lord tell him, "Go and re-build my church". Francis took God’s voice literally and started repairing the chapels that were deteriorating or dilapidated. The word Portiuncula in Italian means the “Little Portion,” or the little place dedicated to St. Mary of the Angels. It was one of the three chapels he repaired. In 1209, after returning from a visit to Pope Innocent III, during which Francis received permission to form a “religious order,” Francis and his first companions took up residence at this little place called porciúncula.

3.    The chapel and the little portion of the land actually belonged to the Benedictines for it was given to St. Benedict in the 6th century. However, the Franciscan friars or brothers came to live at Portiuncula from 1210 onwards. It became the “motherhouse” of the Franciscans.  This little chapel is now enclosed in a large basilica in Assisi (416 feet long by 210 feet wide)  and the original structure of this little chapel in Portiuncula is still preserved of course with minor repairs.

4.   So what is special about this place?  Why should we know about this place? Is it important only to the Franciscans? NO. It’s important to all the Catholics. But Why? Here is the story.

5.  A special impulse led St Francis on a certain night to go to the chapel. There he saw our Lord and His holy Mother the queen, surrounded by a great host of angels. Filled with astonishment and reverence, the saint prostrated himself upon the ground and adored the Divine vision. Then he heard the voice of our Lord urging him with tenderness to ask some special favor. Nothing was so near to the heart of Francis as the salvation of souls, and so, he asked for the grace of a full pardon for all the people who, being contrite of heart and having confessed their sins, would visit this little place. This pardon is called indulgence or Pardon of Assisi. It is said St. Francis pleaded the Lord’s mother to intercede on his behalf. And so, on behalf of St. Francis the queen of the angels also pleaded the Lord. 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, the Pope to whom I have given the power to bind and to lose, and ask him in My name to grant this indulgence/this pardon." So Saint 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 only on one day of the year. The 2nd of August was the designated day. At the command of the pope and in the presence of 7 bishops, St Francis preached the extraordinary indulgence at the Portiuncula before a great crowd of people. From that time the Portiuncula was annually the goal of innumerable pilgrims.

6 But why did St. Francis choose 2^nd August as the special date?

Here is the story-On 2^nd August the Portiuncula church was dedicated to the Our Lady of the Angels. 1^st Aug is the feast of the chains of St. Peter. The day Peter was released from prison, freed from his chains. St. Francis felt 2^nd August following this feast would be a good day to liberate the souls from the chains of sins by seeking indulgence.

7.What about you and me? Very few of us can afford to travel to Assisi. Can we receive this indulgence (Pardon of Assisi) in our own country in our own church? By virtue of their apostolic power the popes have extended this indulgence to all Franciscan churches since 1481, and under special conditions even to some other churches. They have also granted that the indulgence can be gained every year provided one has gone to confession, received the Holy Communion, prayed the Lord's Prayer and the Creed, prayed for the intentions of the Holy Father and visited the appointed church on Portiuncula day ie. on 2nd August.                                                         

8. So my dear friends take this opportunity, visit any Franciscan church close by to your parish fulfil the conditions of the indulgence and receive the Lord’s pardon for all your sins. The Franciscans remember Portiuncula the little portion as the beginning of the great Franciscan movement and the end of St. Francis’ earthly life. And you my listeners you must remember Portiuncula because of the pardon of Assisi or the indulgence.