The Indulgence of the Pardon of Assisi
THE INDULGENCE OF THE PARDON OF ASSISI
St. Francis, on a certain night of the month of July 1216, was kneeling in front of the small altar of the Portiuncula, deep in his prayers. Suddenly he saw a bright light illuminating the walls of the humble church. There he saw our Lord and His holy Mother surrounded by a great host of angels; he heard the voice of our Lord urging him with ineffable tenderness to ask for a special favor. Saint Francis humbly answered, "O God, although I am a great sinner, I beseech You to grant a full pardon of all sins to those who, having repented and confessed their sins, visit this church." And Jesus said to him: "Francis, you ask much, but you are worthy of greater things, and greater things you shall have. I welcome your prayer, but on the condition that you go to my Vicar on earth and ask him in my name to grant this indulgence."
It was the Indulgence of Forgiveness.
Francis asked Pope Honorius III, an old and very pious man who had given all his own assets to the poor, “May all those who after confession visit the Portiuncula with contrite hearts obtain full remission of the punishment due to the sins of their whole lives from the day of Baptism to the day they enter this church.”
Today this indulgence may be obtained for oneself, or may be applied to the souls in Purgatory, by all the Catholic faithful on a once-daily basis, for all the year in that particular holy place. Also just once, from noon on August 1st until midnight at the end of August 2nd (or as designated by the local ordinary) on the previous Sunday or on the following one (starting from the noon of Saturday till the midnight of Sunday) by visiting any Franciscan church or minor basilica or cathedral or parochial church.
Conditions to acquire the Forgiveness are those prescribed for all plenary indulgences; that is:
- Confess sins within eight days before or after Aug. 2nd (in order to be in God’s grace)
- Attend Mass and receive Holy Communion;
- Visit the Portiuncula of St. Francis of Assisi (or any other Franciscan or parochial church) to pray, especially:
- THE CREED (to reaffirm one’s Christian identity).
- THE OUR FATHER (to reaffirm one’s dignity as a child of God, received at Baptism).
- A PRAYER FOR THE INTENTIONS OF THE HOLY FATHER (for example, the Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be) to reaffirm one’s belonging to the Church, whose visible center of unity and foundation is the Roman Pontiff.
8 comments
For those who are homebound or for some reason cannot fulfill the requirements of this plenary indulgence or other plenary indulgences, the Divine Mercy plenary indulgence has provisions included for the homebound. This takes place the Sunday after Easter Sunday. https://thedivinemercy.org/celebrate/how/homebound
Kendra
I was raised catholic and attended catholic schools, kinder thru 12 th grade plus nursing catholic college all my life.
Have tried to be very devoted to the CATHOLIC CHURCH. I am 92 yrs. Old.
How can I receive the pardon of St. Asssisi?
Thank you, would love your guidance to this
Sylvia Garza
Sylvia Garza
Wow, always learning something new, sad that our catholic faith is leaving so many beautiful teachings behind, maybe not in all churches but last time I had heard anything thing about indulgences was over 30yrs ago, than this year because of the Jubilee year people are beginning to whisper about it. Thank you for bring beautiful catholic traditions to the light again.
Clarisse
Last year Ghirelli posted this, and I saw it for the first time. I claimed this great gift last year for the first time. And this morning, I claimed it again. I thank you because the Franciscan priest that was serving the Mass, did not know that today was this day that only comes once a year. So all the souls attending Mass also received this great gift. They priest acknowledged at Mass that I had brought it to his attention. Many thanks from myself and all the souls who were lucky enough to receive this unexpected gift from Heaven!
I can’t afford your rosaries, but I will always tell this story to those shopping for one. Many blessings to you!
Sincerely,
Elba Soberal
Elba Soberal
Thank you for the information about St. Francis. As a Catholic all my life and attending a Catholic School till the 8th grade; I was aware of St. Francis but not about The Pardon of Assisi.
Joseph Rzepka Sr.
I didn’t know about this Pardon, as John DiCiaccio mentioned as well. My granddaughter’s birthday is Aug 2, so it should be easy for me to remember this from now on. Thank you! JMJ
Gwen
Thank you for sharing this devotion. St.Francis has been helpful to me, all of my life. I was not aware of this plenary indulgence.
William Francis Haley
Thank you for sharing this. Although brought up Catholic and attending Catholic school, middle name Francis and wearing my father’s St. Anthony medal, I had not known of the Pardon. May the Blessed Mother always hold you in her arms.
John DiCiaccio
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