Our Lady of the Day (August 2) – Our Lady of the Angels (Porziuncola) e Indulgence of Assisi

HOW SAINT FRANCIS IMPLORED AND OBTAINED THE INDULGENCE OF THE PORZIUNCOLA (SEE DOCUMENTARY VIDEO BELOW)

One night in the year of the Lord 1216, St. Francis was immersed in prayer and contemplation in the little church of the Porziuncola, when suddenly a very lively light spread in the church and Francis saw Christ over the altar and covered with splendor and on His right His Holy Mother, surrounded by a multitude of Angels. Francis silently worshiped his Lord with his face on the ground!

They then asked him what he wanted for the salvation of souls. Francis’s answer was immediate: “Lord, although I am a wretched and a sinner, I pray that all of those who, repentant and confessed, will come to visit this church, may you grant abundant and generous forgiveness, with a complete remission of all faults”. “What you ask, Brother Francis, is great,” the Lord said to him, “but you are more worthy of greater things and greater will you receive.” I therefore grant your prayer, but on the condition that you ask my Vicar on earth, on my part, for this indulgence”.

And Francis immediately presented himself to Pope Honorius III, who in those days was in Perugia and told him with candor the vision he had. The Pope listened to him attentively and after some difficulty he gave his approval. Then he said, “How many years would you want this indulgence to be?” Francesco promptly replied: “Holy Father, I do not ask for years, but for souls”. And joyfully, he went to the door, but the Pontiff called him: “But wait, do you not want documents?”. And Francis: “Holy Father, your word is enough for me!

If this indulgence is the work of God, He will be the one to take care of revealing His work; I do not need any documents: this document must represent the Blessed Virgin Mary, Christ is the Notary and the Angels the witnesses “.

And a few days later, together with the Bishops of Umbria, to the people convened at the Porziuncola, he said in tears: “My brothers, I want to send you all to Heaven!”.

VIDEO in ITALIAN ABOUT the PORZIUNCOLA: (turn ON subtitles and under options choose English as automatic translation language)

THE INDULGENCE OF THE PORZIUNCOLA:

HOW TO OBTAIN THE PLENARY INDULGENCE OF ASSISI

(For oneself or for the deceased)

From noon of August 1st to midnight of the following day (August 2nd), the plenary indulgence can be earned only once.

REQUIRED CONDITIONS:

1 – Visit, within the prescribed time, to a Franciscan church, cathedral or parish church (or to another that has the particular indult) with the recitation of the “Our Father” (to reaffirm our dignity as children of God, as received in baptism) and the “Creed” (with which one renews his profession of faith).

2 – Sacramental Confession to be in the Grace of God (in the eight days preceding or subsequent).

3 – Participation in the Holy Mass and Eucharistic communion. (preferable on the same day but it can be fulfilled also in the eight days preceding or subsequent).

4 – A prayer according to the intentions of the Pope (at least one “Our Father” and one Hail Mary “or other chosen prayers), to reaffirm one’s belonging to the Church, whose foundation and visible center of unity is the Roman Pontiff.

5 – Disposition of heart that excludes all affection for sin, even venial.

WHAT IS AN INDULGENCE?

(from the Catechism of the Catholic Church – CCC)

1471 “An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints.”

“An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin.” Indulgences may be applied to the living or the dead.

1472 To understand this doctrine and practice of the Church, it is necessary to understand that sin has a double consequence. Grave sin deprives us of communion with God and therefore makes us incapable of eternal life, the privation of which is called the “eternal punishment” of sin. On the other hand every sin, even venial, entails an unhealthy attachment to creatures, which must be purified either here on earth, or after death in the state called Purgatory. This purification frees one from what is called the “temporal punishment” of sin. These two punishments must not be conceived of as a kind of vengeance inflicted by God from without, but as following from the very nature of sin. A conversion which proceeds from a fervent charity can attain the complete purification of the sinner in such a way that no punishment would remain.

1473 The forgiveness of sin and restoration of communion with God entail the remission of the eternal punishment of sin, but temporal punishment of sin remains. While patiently bearing sufferings and trials of all kinds and, when the day comes, serenely facing death, the Christian must strive to accept this temporal punishment of sin as a grace. He should strive by works of mercy and charity, as well as by prayer and the various practices of penance, to put off completely the “old man” and to put on the “new man.”

SOURCES:

NORMS FOR THE INDULGENCE: http://www.penitenzieria.va/content/penitenzieriaapostolica/it/indulgenze/norme.html

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH: http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_P4G.HTM – (CCC nn. 1471-1479)

OFFICIAL SITE OF THE PORZIUNCOLA: http://www.porziuncola.org/