Portiuncula | AirMaria.com

August 2nd: Portiuncula Indulgence

Sr. JosephMary f.t.i. — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 00:00:06 +0000

Mary, Queen of Angels

Ave Maria Meditations

August 2nd: Portiuncula Indulgence

What is Portiuncula?

The following is an excerpt from Major Life of St. Francis by St. Bonaventure.

” The Portiuncula was an old church dedicated to the Virgin Mother of God which was abandoned . Francis had great devotion to the Queen of the world and when he saw that the church was deserted, he began to live there constantly in order to repair it. He heard that the Angels often visited it, so that it was called Saint Mary of the Angels, and he decided to stay there permanently out of reverence for the angels and love for the Mother of Christ.

He loved this spot more than any other in the world. It was here he began his religious life in a very small way; it is here he came to a happy end. When he was dying, he commended this spot above all others to the friars, because it was most dear to the Blessed Virgin.

This was the place where Saint Francis founded his Order by divine inspiration and it was divine providence which led him to repair three churches before he founded the Order and began to preach the Gospel.

This meant that he progressed from material things to more spiritual achievements, from lesser to greater, in due order, and it gave a prophetic indication of what he would accomplish later.

As he was living there by the church of Our Lady, Francis prayed to her who had conceived the Word, full of grace and truth, begging her insistently and with tears to become his advocate. Then he was granted the true spirit of the Gospel by the intercession of the Mother of mercy and he brought it to fruition.

He embraced the Mother of Our Lord Jesus with indescribable love because, as he said, it was she who made the Lord of majesty our brother, and through her we found mercy. After Christ, he put all his trust in her and took her as his patroness for himself and his friars.”

Today the chapel of Portiuncula is situated inside the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels roughly 5 km from Assisi, Italy.

The Indulgence:

“The Portiuncula indulgence is the first plenary indulgence that was ever granted in the Church. There were indeed indulgences at all times, but they were only partial, and only a partial remission of the temporal punishments could be obtained by them. But, as already remarked, he who gains the Portiuncula indulgence is freed from all temporal punishments and becomes as pure as after holy baptism. This was also the reason why Pope Honorius was astonished when St. Francis petitioned for the confirmation of this indulgence, for such an indulgence, up to that time, bad been entirely unknown. It was only after he had come to the conviction that Jesus Christ himself wished it, that he granted the petition of the saint and confirmed the indulgence”

August 2nd is the feast of Portiuncula. A plenary indulgence is available to anyone who will:

1. Receive sacramental confession (8 days before of after)

2. Receive the Holy Eucharist at Holy Mass on August 2nd

3. Enter a parish church and, with a contrite heart, pray the Our Father, Apostles Creed, and a pray of his/her own choosing for the intentions of the Pope.

http://acatholiclife.blogspot.com/2006/08/portiuncula-indulgence-is-today.html

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Mary Vitamin – The Portiuncula Indulgence – Our Lady of the Angels

apostolate — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 07:01:10 +0000

Topic: The Portiuncula Indulgence – Our Lady of the Angels (August 2nd)

Quote:
?[St. Francis] embraced the Mother of Our Lord Jesus with indescribable love because, as he said, it was she who made the Lord of majesty our brother, and through her we found mercy. After Christ, he put all his trust in her and took her as his patroness for himself and his friars.” – St. Bonaventure, From The Life of St. Francis

Meditation:
The Portiuncula Indulgence refers to the plenary indulgence originally granted by Pope Honorious III at the request of St. Francis to those who visit the chapel of Our Lady of the Angels in Assisi on August 2nd. This chapel was dear to the heart of Holy Father Saint Francis. (The original small chapel is now enshrined in a large basilica.) The indulgence has been extended to Franciscan churches the world over.
(See the Catholic Encyclopedia for further reading.)

Father Marion Habig, OFM, explains the history of the Portiuncula indulgence:
?A special impulse led St. Francis on a certain night to go to the chapel. There he saw our Lord and His holy Mother surrounded by a great host of angels. Filled with astonishment and reverence, the saint prostrated himself upon the ground and adored the Divine majesty. Then he heard the voice of our Lord urging him with ineffable tenderness to ask some special favor. Nothing was so near to the heart of Francis as the salvation of souls, and so, after a few moments of reflection, he asked for the grace of a full pardon for all who, being contrite and having confessed their sins, would visit this little sanctuary. Mary cast herself upon her knees before her Divine Son, and repeated the petition of her faithful servant.?
The Franciscan Book of Saints (Franciscan Herald Press:1979), 570.

Resolution:
What can be my resolution if I cannot visit a Franciscan church today?
I will imitate Holy Father St. Francis who took the Blessed Virgin as his special patroness and I will pray in a special way for the salvation of souls.

Marian Vow:
?On Marian anniversaries (solemnities, feasts and memorials) let [the Tertiaries] make every effort not to miss Holy Mass and Communion in honor of the divine Mother and Queen of the Seraphic Order.?
Marian Seraphic Pathways, Constitutions, 29b.

I give this resolution to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Thanks be to God for graces received.

Ave Maria!

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Mary Vitamin is a daily Email support for Marian mental prayer. Each day (Monday through Friday) members will receive a brief Marian quote with a corresponding Marian meditation and resolution. The Mary Vitamin is designed to make mental prayer a little simpler and bring Our Lady into your day in a systematic way.

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Dec 15 – Homily – Fr Angelo: Our Lady Queen of the Seraphic Order

apostolate — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:06:26 +0000

Homily #081215 ( 10min) Play – On this Feast of Our Lady Queen of the Seraphic Order, Fr. Angelo Geiger preaches on the significance of the Portiuncula the small chapel called Our Lady Queen of the Angels where the Franciscan Order grew to great proportions under St. Francis the Marian Saint.
Ave Maria!
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Our Lady of the Angels (of the Portiuncula)

Sr. JosephMary f.t.i. — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 04:02:44 +0000

Ave Maria Meditations

From the Franciscan supplement to the Divine Office:

OUR LADY OF THE ANGELS OF THE PORTIUNCULA Feast

Our Seraphic Father Francis in keeping with his special love for the Blessed Virgin was especially fond of the chapel of Saint Mary of the Angels known as the Portiuncula. It was here in the designs of Divine Providence that he started the Order of Friars Minor, inaugurated the Order of the Poor Clares and brought his sojourn on earth to its holy end.

In this chapel according to tradition our Holy Father obtained the famous indulgence which the Supreme Pontiffs confirmed and extended to many other churches. On account of the many blessings conferred here the celebration of a liturgical feast was granted for this day which marks the anniversary of the dedication of this chapel.

And St. Bonaventure wrote in the Major Life of St. Francis: Francis had great devotion to the Queen of the world and when he saw that the church was deserted, he began to live there constantly in order to repair it. He heard that the Angels often visited it, so that it was called Saint Mary of the Angels, and he decided to stay there permanently out of reverence for the angels and love for the Mother of Christ.

He loved this spot more than any other in the world. It was here he began his religious life in a very small way; it is here he came to a happy end. When he was dying, he commended this spot above all others to the friars, because it was most dear to the Blessed Virgin.

This was the place where Saint Francis founded his Order by divine inspiration and it was divine providence which led him to repair three churches before he founded the Order and began to preach the Gospel. This meant that he progressed from material things to more spiritual achievements, from lesser to greater, in due order, and it gave a prophetic indication of what he would accomplish later.

As he was living there by the church of Our Lady, Francis prayed to her who had conceived the Word, full of grace and truth, begging her insistently and with tears to become his advocate. Then he was granted the true spirit of the Gospel by the intercession of the Mother of mercy and he brought it to fruition. He embraced the Mother of Our Lord Jesus with indescribable love because, as he said, it was she who made the Lord of majesty our brother, and through her we found mercy. After Christ, he put all his trust in her and took her as his patroness for himself and his friars.

Santa Maria degli Angeli

where the Portiuncula is located within the Basilica

A Beautiful Gift : Portiuncula Indulgence

Background on this Grace: Everyone knows how special the Church of The Portiuncula in Assisi was to St. Francis. It is there that he began his service to Christ and His Church. It is there that he was called to rebuild the Church. It is there that he made humble service, obedience, love, and dedication to Our Lord and Our Lady the cornerstones of his unique and inspiring life. It was even there that St. Clare, the spiritual daughter of St. Francis, received her call, lost her locks of hair to the scissors of Francis, and gained her place in the service of God and in the list of great saints.

During one of his many conversations with Jesus and Our Blessed Mother. Francis requested and received this indulgence as a measure and means of God’s Divine Mercy and love for us. Upon receiving the approval of Our Lord, Francis took this cause to the Pope, Honorious III, in who finally approved as well. While the benefits of this indulgence were not taken advantage of in the days of Francis given the difficult travel and poor roads, we are given a unique and fortunate opportunity to benefit today given easier transportation.

The Indulgence Itself

The magnitude of this indulgence is nothing less than the full remission of the punishments due to one’s sins from the day of Baptism to the day one enters the church to perform the indulgence requirements!!

Conditions To Obtain The Plenary Indulgence of The Forgiveness of Assisi
(For oneself or for a departed soul)

*        Sacramental Confession to be in God’s Grace (within 8 days before or after)
*        Participation in the Holy Mass and Eucharist
*        Visit to a Franciscan Church, followed by the Profession of Faith
*        Say the Our Father
*        A Prayer for the Pope

Indulgences as Gifts and Opportunities

Once again we see the beauty, majesty, magnitude, and Divine Mercy of God Almighty! All that Our Lord asks is that we humbly and contritely seek forgiveness, that we receive His Most Sacred Body in The Eucharist that we visit a Franciscan church and profess our faith, that we say The Our Father, and that we pray for the Pope. Despite those things on which we may not agree with the Pope, this indulgence provides us with the opportunity to declare our eternal loyalty to preserving the Faith and not abandoning our mission and duty to be soldiers for our God.

Eventually, the Church modified the conditions and said the faithful could obtain the indulgence either on August 2nd or on the following Sunday and by going to any Catholic church with the intention of gaining this special indulgence. May we take advantage of this beautiful gift and the opportunities which it provides to approach our God in renewed contrite purity, love, appreciation, and loyalty!

The post Our Lady of the Angels (of the Portiuncula) first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Aug 02 – Homily – Fr John Joseph: St Mary of the Angels

apostolate — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 22:47:18 +0000

Homily #090802m ( 17min) Play – We, the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, are very blessed to be able to celebrate this Solemnity on what would normally be a Sunday in Ordinary Time.
Ave Maria!

Audio (MP3)

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Aug 02 – Homily – Fr Bonaventure: Our Lady of the Angels

apostolate — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 12:13:12 +0000

Homily #100802 ( 15min) Play – Today is the feast of the chapel of Our Lady of the Angels also known as the Portiuncula or “Little Portion” and it is there that St Francis took up residence after his conversion and where the Order of Friar Minors first started to grow. Also it was known for being frequented by angels and thus its name. It is one of the three churches that St Francis rebuilt as preparation for his mission from Christ to rebuild the entire Catholic Church in general. So it had a very dear place in St Francis’s heart and he commanded his brothers to never give up possession of it. In fact, he asked his brothers to bring him there when he was dying and there passed from this life to the next.
Ave Maria! Our Lady of the Angels of the Portiuncula – Mass: OF, – Readings:
1st: sir 24:1-4, 16, 22-34
Resp: psa 34:5, 7, 9-10, 18-19
2nd: gal 4:3-7
Gsp: luk 1:26-33

Audio (MP3)

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Video – Marian Shrines of the World #9: St. Mary of the Angels of the Portiuncula

Fra Cyprian — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 14:51:32 +0000

Marian Shrines of the World #9 – St. Mary of the Angels of the Portiuncula ( 7 min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

August 2nd is the feast day of St. Mary of the Angels of the Portiuncula, near Assisi, Italy. It was this small church which St. Francis rebuilt and where he established his first community of followers. Join Fr. Andre as he details the story of this beautiful Marian Shrine.

Audio (MP3)

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Aug 02 – Homily – Fr Peter Fehlner: St. Mary of the Angels and Indulgences

apostolate — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 12:55:59 +0000

Homily #110802l ( 11min) Play – On the feast of St. Mary of the Angels Fr. Peter Fehlner explains the importance of the Portiuncula Chapel in Assisi where St. Francis started his order and saw it grow. Father explains this in relation to the plenary indulgence that the Pope gave to the chapel. He also mentions the indulgence given to the church where Father was preaching at the National Shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe where a plenary indulgence can be received on several occasions during the year.
Ave Maria!
Mass: Our Lady of the Angels of the Portiuncula – Feast – Form: OF
Readings:
1st: sir 24:1-4, 16, 22-24
Resp: psa 34:5, 7, 9-10, 18-19
2nd: gal 4:3-7
Gsp: luk 1:26-33

Audio (MP3)

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Aug 02 – Homily – Fr George: Portiuncula, the Grand, Small Chapel

apostolate — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 11:58:49 +0000

Homily #120802 ( 08min) Play – Fr. George Roth preaches on the feast of Our Lady of the Angels which is celebrated as a Solemnity by the FIs. He explains how the chapel of Our Lady of the Angels (also called the Portiuncula) is so important to the foundation of the Franciscan order and has an extra special place in the hearts of the Franciscans of the Immaculate.
Ave Maria!
Mass: Our Lady of the Angels of the Portiuncula – Feast – Form: OF
Readings:
1st: sir 24:1-4, 16, 22-24
Resp: psa 34:5, 7, 9-10, 18-19
2nd: gal 4:3-7
Gsp: luk 1:26-33

Audio (MP3)

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Our Lady of the Angels and the Portiuncula Indulgence

Sr. JosephMary f.t.i. — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 16:00:25 +0000

Ave Maria Meditations

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.

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