In one place, at one time, get all the sins you've committed wiped clean!

The Portincula Indulgence is a profound spiritual grace, given by Christ to St. Francis and, through Francis to the Church and the world. The basic idea behind it is that any believer who goes to the Portincula chapel during a set period of time each year and gives a 'good' general confession - feeling sorrow over his sins, confessing them ALL to a priest and repenting of them - will have ALL OF THEIR SINS forgiven (at least those committed up to that point in time)!

Francis was known to visit delapidated churches but he was drawn to one in particular dedicated to St. Mary - the Mother of Jesus, and having a history of Angelic visitations. While praying at St. Mary's one evening, Francis heard God's voice directing him to see how broken down the chapel was. God then told Francis to 'Repair my church.' Francis was faithful to God's direction and did so with the help of his early followers.

The chapel subsequently became the center of the small community that formed around St. Francis. Francis felt blessed in being able to use the chapel (which had been given to the small community by it's owners, the Benedictine Monks of Subasio). There were several acres attached to the chapel and that small piece of land, including the chapel, had the nickname of 'Portincula' which means 'little portion'. It's official name thus became, 'St. Mary of the Angels' but Francis lovingly referred to it as the 'little portion' - 'the Portincula'!

Francis' great love for the chapel was a reflection of his gratitude toward God. God had powerfully blessed him and his brothers in so many ways there over many years. Francis had heard the call of God there - a voice speaking from the San Damiano crucifix telling him to forsake the world for the love of God. (The San Damiano cross hangs, to this day, at the front of the chapel). There the family of brothers had first formed. It was there that God had inspired Francis' to form the Order (currently the largest Religious Order in the Church). It became the base for repairing the other small churches in the area and also the base for the brother's missionary journeys as they went 'two by two into the world!' to preach the Gospel. It was there that Clare was taken into the Franciscan family and had her hair cut, symbolizing her forsaking the world for the love of God. She of course, with Francis' help, founded the second Order of Franciscan's - the Poor Clares. All of the early 'Chapters' - conventions - of Franciscans were held there in which thousands of brothers came from around the world to learn, be advised and get direction in the work of the Lord. Finally, it was the place where Francis chose to pass from this world to the next, where Christ awaited him in glory.

God gave Francis the Indulgence as follows. One night, while Francis was praying intensely to Christ in the chapel to save all sinners, he sensed spiritually that people from around the world were converging on the little Chapel, hungry for salvation. Suddenly the dark interior of the chapel was illuminated - as if by a million candles. Jesus and Mary appeared to him in glory, surrounded by countless brilliant clouds of angels. Francis was enthralled as he heard a voice, musical in it's beauty, say to him, "What do you wish Me to do to help poor sinners?" Francis, his prayers for the salvation of sinners still on his lips, asked the Lord to forgive everyone their sins if they made a 'good' confession to a priest, in the chapel. Jesus' face expressed pleasure at this request as he turned from Francis to gaze at His dear Mother. She also seemed pleased as she looked at Francis and smiled as she nodded her approval to him. Just as suddenly as it appeared the vision of the glorious Christ and His Mother was gone.

Francis, overjoyed by what had just happened, and inspired by God to immediately get approval from the Church, got up from where he had been praying and went off to see the Pope (the Pope, conveniently, was in the nearby city of Perugia at the time). The Holy Father, Honorius III, was surprised at Francis request since these kind of indulgences were rarely given and were given recently only to those men risking life and limb in the Crusades. Francis was gently persistent in his request (and wouldn't be denied!) since the Lord Himself had prompted him to make the request and had already given His own approval for it! The force of Francis conviction, as well as his holy life and faithfulness to Christ and the Church, convinced the Pope that he must grant Francis' request.

St. Francis used these words in addressing the Pope, "Holy Father, if it please your holiness, I wish that because of the blessings God has bestowed and will still bestow in this place, all who come here truly contrite and confessed may have a plenary indulgence of all their sins, so that they will have no further score to pay." "For how man years?" "Holy Father, may it please your holiness to grant not years but souls." (After being rebuked for not requesting a document.) "Your word is enough for me. If it is the work of God, it is for Him to make His own work known. Amen."

It was decided (at the suggestion of Francis) that it would take place on the 2nd of August: The Feast of the 'Chains of St. Peter' (when Peter's chains fell from his wrists and ankles and the doors of the prison opened of themselves as he approached them while being led by an angel) is celebrated that day and Francis felt this was an especially appropriate day since sinners should also be freed from the chains of sins on this day. This date was also fitting in that it was the anniversary of the consecration of the Portincula chapel.

The Pope wanted to know for how many years this indulgence should be granted. Francis' focus was only on lost souls, the millions that would come to Christ at St. Mary's, seeking forgiveness from Christ, through the the graces in the Indulgence. He skirted the Pope's question and asked him to focus only on the lost souls Christ longed for, "Holy Father, may it please your holiness to grant not years, but souls."

The Pope chided Francis as he was about to leave because he had not prudently requested documentation of this gift of Christ. Francis explained that, since it was the work of God, God Himself would make it known. He went on to say, "I need nothing more than your word. Our Lady is the parchment, Christ the notary, and the angels are our witnesses!" as proof of the Indulgence. Francis made it clear to the Pope that this work was something that the VERY BEING of Christ, Mary and the angels would testify to. Through the Indulgence, Christ would reveal God's goodness, love and mercy for all of His lost children in the world.

The very next August 2nd, the celebration within the Portincula took place with 7 bishops presiding. It is told that Francis, in excess of joy, cried out to the crowd overflowing the chapel, 'I want to help all of you to have confidence in God's mercy - that you will all go to heaven!'

Eight hundred years later the Church continues to offer the Indulgence to all believers. Modifications, however, have been made over the years to allow this blessing of Christ to reach even more people.

REQUIREMENTS FOR RECEIVING THE PORTINCULA INDULGENCE: First, one must give a good general confession 8 days before or after that holy day. Second, you must participate in the Holy Mass and Eucharist on the 2nd of August. Third, this Mass should take place in a Catholic Church (a Cathedral or a Franciscan Church if you cannot get to the Portincula) at which you state your PROFESSION OF FAITH, affirming your confidence in Christ's saving love. Fourth, you must say the Lord's Prayer to affirm your baptismal rejection of the devil, the world and your sinful nature. Finally, you should say a prayer for the Pope's intentions, reaffirming your commitment to the Church.

We all know that God called the Franciscan Order to bring the Message of Christ to the 'new world' - the America's but Franciscan's have gone around the world bringing the Gospel message of Christ's love to all. Followers and friends of Francis should not fail to participate, each year, in this great gift that our father gained for us from God and the Church.

We also must seek to cultivate the same all consuming desire Francis had to bring others to a saving knowledge of Jesus. It is our calling, as Christian Franciscans, to show the love of God for the world and try to spread His message of love everywhere, to everyone! Amen.

PRAYER: Father Francis, it was the love of Christ, burning so powerfully in your heart, for sinners that prompted you to pray so fervently that all sinners might be saved. Because you made Christ's desire your own, Christ gave you the grace of the Indulgence - a gift to the Church and to all sinners. Pray for us that, each year when August 2nd comes around, we might participate in this Indulgence and encourage family and friends to do the same. Also, pray for us that we might more fervently feel Christ's own hunger for His lost children and bring the Gospel of Light, through our lives and our words, that can bring to them the peace of Christ that is as still and limitless as the universe. We ask this in Jesus' name.

A NOTE FROM THE VATICAN REGARDING SECULAR FRANCISCANS AND THE INDULGENCE: January 22, 1972 The Sacred Penitentiary, by virtue of the special and explicit faculties given by the Holy Father, benignly concedes a plenary Indulgence to the members mentioned above, provided they make or renew, at least privately, their promise to observe faithfully the Statutes of their association[1], having dutifully fulfilled the usual conditions (confession, communion and prayer to the intention of the Supreme Pontiff): 1. on the day of their admission and of their profession, and at the conclusion of an official visitation; 2. on the feast-days of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary; Saint Francis of Assisi; Saint Louis, King; Saint Elizabeth; Blessed Luchesius; Saint Clare; Saint Margaret of Cortona and all the Saints of the Three Orders of Saint Francis. The present decision will be in force immediately and perpetually, without any time limit. Anything to the contrary not withstanding. In name of his Eminency G. Sessolo, Regent M. Venturi, Secretary
[1] In other words: To obtain the plenary indulgence, the members of the SFO should renew their Promise of Evangelical Life (Profession of the SFO Rule) in addition to confession, communion and prayer to the intention of the Pope. This can be done on any of the Feast Days listed above, after Visitation, one the Day of Admission and Profession. God is so good and wants to forgive us all!