From midnight tonight to midnight 2 August, you can gain the “Portinuncula” Indulgence.
St. Francis, as you know, repaired three chapels. The third was popularly called the Portiuncula or the Little Portion, dedicated to St. Mary of the Angels. It is now enclosed in a sanctuary at Assisi.
The friars came to live at the Little Portion in early 1211. It became the “motherhouse” of the Franciscans. This is where St. Clare came to the friars to make her vows during the night following Palm Sunday in 1212 and where Sister Death came to Francis on 3 October 1226.
Because of the favors from God obtained at the Portiuncula, St. Francis requested the Pope to grant remission of sins to all who came there. The privilege extends beyond the Portiuncula to others churches, especially held by Franciscans, throughout the world.
A plenary indulgence is a mighty tool for works of mercy and weapon in our ongoing spiritual warfare. A plenary indulgence is the remission, through the merits of Christ and the saints, through the Church, of all temporal punishment due to sin already forgiven.
To obtain the Portiuncula plenary indulgence, a person must visit the Chapel of Our Lady of the Angels at Assisi, or a Franciscan sanctuary, or one’s parish church, with the intention of honoring Our Lady of the Angels. Then perform the work of reciting the Creed and Our Father and pray for the Pope’s designated intentions. You should be free, at least intentionally, of attachment to venial and mortal sin, and truly repentant. Make your sacramental confession 8 days before or after. Participate at assist at Mass and receive Holy Communion 8 days before or after.
BTW… the faithful can gain a plenary indulgence on a day of the year he designates (cf. Ench. Indul. 33 1.2.d). You might choose the anniversary of your baptism or of another sacrament or name day.
UPDATE:
My friend Fr. Finigan, His Hermeueticalness, has some excellent points and suggestions in his post about the Porticumcula indulgence. HERE
He talks about a way to understand indulgences better, and provides links to his posts which explain how it is possible to obtain plenary indulgences, and also which days have special indulgences.
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“If a visit to a Church or an oratory is required to obtain an indulgence attached to a particular day, this may be accomplished from noon of the preceding day until midnight of the particular day.” Ench. Indul. N14.
So it would seem that the Portiuncula indulgence can be obtained today, August 1, starting at Noon until tomorrow, August 2, at Midnight.
Wonderful, thank you Father Z.!
If one is traveling and is in the vicinity of Steubenville, one can receive the indulgence by visiting the Portiuncula on the campus of Franciscan University, where perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament takes place during the fall and spring semesters. It’s right behind Christ the King Chapel.
The Portiuncola is very dear to my heart. In 1985, I made a pilgrimage to Assisi and visited Santa Maria degli’Angeli on the final day. According to the guide book, when St. Francis was dying, he asked the brothers to carry him down to the Portiuncola. Placing his hand on the exterior wall, he told them that this was a holy site; that our Lord and His Blessed Mother protected it. He then told them that those who enter with a sincere heart will have their prayers answered. After years of trying to have a child, I submitted my final plea in the Portiuncola and left everything in the hands of our Lord. Seven months later, a woman called the pastor of my parish named for St. Francis of Assisi. Her daughter was pregnant and they were hoping he could help them arrange an adoption. Two months later, my daughter was born. She is named for Christ and St. Francis.
September 4, 1931 was the 150th birthday of the pueblo of Los Angeles, California, and the date of my birth in that “pueblo.” On Aug. 2, 1769 Fr. Juan Crespi, Franciscan, accompanying the first land expedition through California, led by Capt. Rivera Y Moncado, described in his journal a beautiful river They named the river Nuestra Senora de los angeles de la Porciuncula. Aug. 2, for the Franciscans, was the day celebrated of the feast of the Perdono at the little chapel in Assisi, the Porciuncula, or little portion. The new settlement established along that California river was named in honor of that celebration and chapel. This was in 1781. It came to be known as El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncula. The official name was El Pueblo de la Reina de Los Angeles, and finally, just Los Angeles. As a child, I remember that the Porciuncula indulgences were encouraged yearly in the parishes of Los Angeles.
Fr. Hugh Thwaites recommended to close your eyes, kneel, and pretend to be praying, or better yet, actually pray, but either is better than causing a ruckus.
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