2 August until midnight: “Portiuncula” Plenary (or Partial) Indulgence

From midnight tonight to midnight 2 August, you can gain the “Portinuncula” Indulgence.

Catholic Encyclopedia

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.

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr. Z is the guy who runs this blog. o{]:¬)
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4 Comments

  1. andia says:

    Is this something we can ask God to give the indulgence to one of the Holy Souls in Purgatory? Do we have to have an attachment to the Holy Soul we ask God to “indulge” ( for lack of the proper words) ?

  2. Elizabeth D says:

    I went back over to church to get this indulgence. Thanks for the reminder.

  3. MouseTemplar says:

    The link to Fr. Finigan’s list of days for indulgences seems to be broken. Is there another way to see the list?

  4. gloriainexcelsis says:

    Being a native of Los Angeles, CA, born 1931 on the 150th birthday of that one time pueblo, I also remember churches celebrating “Porciuncula” during my childhood. It had special meaning for the city. In 1759, Gaspar de Portola, with Franciscan Father Crespi, came upon what Portola called a “beautiful little river,” which he named, Porciuncula (little portion) – the L.A. River, no less. The settlement they founded was named El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de Los Angeles de Porciuncula – the town of Our Lady, Queen of the Angels of Porciuncula.

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