Portiuncula Indulgence The Great Pardon: The Portiuncula Indulgence I want to begin with a couple of definitions prior to the excerpts below...The Portiuncula (a word that means "small portion") refers to the land in Assisi in the time of St. Francis of Assisi.A plenary indulgence frees us from ALL of the temporal punishment due to sin. Indulgences are important because they can lessen the amount of time that we must suffer in purgatory as a result of our sins. On a night in July 1216, St. Francis was at prayer in the little church of Portiuncula, devoured by love for God and a thirst to save souls. He prayed for the forgiveness of sins of mankind. Suddenly a brilliant light shone all around. It great splendor Jesus and Mary appeared in the midst of a dazzling cloud surrounded by a multitude of radiant angels. ...Then Jesus said to him: "Francis you are very zealous for the good souls. Ask me what you want for their salvation." St. Francis was rapt in ecstasy before Our Lord. When he regained his courage, he said, "Lord, I, a miserable sinner, beg you to concede an indulgence to all those who enter this church, who are truly contrite and have confessed their sins. And I get Blessed Mary, your mother, intercessor of man, that she intercede on behalf of this grace." The Merciful Virgin at once began to beseech her Son on behalf of Francis. Jesus answered: "It is a very great thing you ask me; but you are worthy of even greater things, Friar Francis, and greater things you will have. So I accept your request, but I want you to go to my vicar, to whom I have given the power to bind and loose in heaven and on earth, to ask him on my behalf for this indulgence." The Pope granted this petition, and this indulgence has been extended to all parish churches throughout the world for one day each year. The date has been set from noon on August 1 until midnight August 2, the feast of Our Lady of the Angels. It is said that St. Francis was given this day by Our Lord because of the feast of the Chains of St. Peter, celebrated on August 1, commemorating Peter's being released from prison his chains removed. This is an extraordinary demonstration of God's mercy in removing the chains of sin from those who devoutly and faithfully seek to gain the indulgence by completing its requirements. The conditions to obtain the Plenary Indulgence of the Forgiveness of Assisi (for oneself or for a departed soul) are as follows: Sacramental Confession (during eight days before or after). Participation in the Mass and Eucharist Recitation of the Apostle's Creed, Our Father, and a prayer for the pope's intentions. In the thirteenth century, it was revealed to St. Margaret of Cortona that the souls in purgatory eagerly look forward every year to the feast of Our Lady of the Angels because it is a day of deliverance for a great number of them. The Portiuncula Indulgence is a grace not to be missed, not only for yourself but for the many souls suffering in purgatory.
Hi padraig, Can one receive this indulgence for oneself and also the souls in purgatory at the same time? Forgive me for being a little green but I struggle with the whole idea of indulgences. I often wondered how much time they lessen of our time in purgatory. BC
I think Terry told us last year that it can be applied to ourselves and others as well! I am a bit lost with them myself. I always knew we could have them for others but its wonderful we can claim them for ourselves as well...
Here is the link from Spiritdaily which explains how you can gain this indulgence for yourself & others/Holy Souls http://www.st-annrcc.com/index.cfm?load=event&event=173
