The Day of the Portiuncula Indulgence - August 2

The Portiuncula Indulgence, also known as the Pardon of Assisi, is a specific plenary indulgence granted by the Catholic Church, with its origins traditionally linked to St. Francis of Assisi in the early 13th century. This indulgence reflects the saint’s profound desire to lead souls to God's mercy.

Understanding Indulgences.

An indulgence is defined as “a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints”. An indulgence can be partial, removing part of the temporal punishment, or plenary, removing all of it. Indulgences may be applied either to oneself or to the souls of the deceased by way of suffrage.

Historical Context

The Church’s practice of granting indulgences grew out of the early‑Christian habit of asking the prayers of martyrs and other holy persons to “shorten” the severe penances imposed for sin. The Baltimore Catechism records that this custom “has been in use in the Church since the time of the apostles” and began with the earnest petitions of the martyrs on behalf of the faithful.

During the first centuries the Church gradually formalised the remission of canonical penances. By the eighth‑century “penitentials” already allowed a lighter penance to be substituted for a harsher one, and the practice of granting indulgences for pilgrimages, almsgiving and other works of charity became common.

The earliest indulgence that can be called an official papal declaration is the plenary indulgence granted by Pope Urban II at the Council of Clermont (1095). There the pope proclaimed that anyone who, after a sincere confession, went to Jerusalem to liberate the Church “shall have that journey counted in lieu of all penance.” This papal act expressly remitted the whole temporal punishment attached to the sins of the crusaders, making it the first recorded plenary indulgence issued by the Holy See. Thus, while the spirit of indulgences dates back to apostolic times, the first documented official indulgence, specifically a plenary indulgence, was the 1095 decree of Pope Urban II at Clermont, which linked the remission of penance to the Crusade.

Historical Context of the Portiuncula Indulgence

According to tradition, while praying in the little chapel of Portiuncula, a small church dedicated to Our Lady of the Angels near Assisi, St. Francis of Assisi experienced a vision of Christ and the Virgin Mary. In this vision, he was granted a spiritual favor: that anyone who visited the chapel, repented of their sins, and fulfilled certain conditions could receive a complete pardon from all temporal punishment due to sin. This indulgence was traditionally approved by Pope Honorius III on August 2, 1216. While the historical authenticity of its origin from St. Francis is a subject of some dispute due to a lack of early documentation, its juridical certainty has been affirmed by papal declarations. Pope John XXIII affirmed the annual renewal of this ancient indulgence on August 2, noting its significance for the remission of sins.

Gaining the Portiuncula Indulgence Today

Over time, the Church extended the possibility of gaining this indulgence beyond the original Portiuncula chapel. Today, a plenary indulgence can be obtained on August 2, or on another more suitable day designated by the local ordinary, by devoutly visiting a parish church. This also applies to cathedral churches and co-cathedral churches, even if they are not parochial, and to quasi-parochial churches. During the visit, the faithful must recite the Our Father and the Creed.

To receive a plenary indulgence, including the Portiuncula Indulgence, the faithful must fulfill the following conditions:

1. Perform the Indulged Work: This involves devoutly visiting a parish church (or other designated church) on August 2 (or the designated day) and reciting the Our Father and the Creed.
2. Sacramental Confession: Receive the Sacrament of Penance. A single sacramental confession can suffice for gaining multiple plenary indulgences. This condition can be fulfilled several days before or after the performance of the indulged work.
3. Eucharistic Communion: Receive Holy Communion. A single Holy Communion is required for each plenary indulgence gained. It is fitting that this be received on the same day the indulged work is performed, though it can be fulfilled several days before or after.
4. Prayer for the Intentions of the Supreme Pontiff: This condition is fulfilled by reciting at least one Our Father and one Hail Mary for the Pope's intentions, though any other prayer according to one's piety and devotion towards the Roman Pontiff is also acceptable. This condition is also fittingly fulfilled on the same day as the indulged work.
5. Complete Detachment from Sin: It is essential to be free from all attachment to sin, even venial sin. If this complete disposition is lacking, or if the required work and the three aforementioned conditions are not met, the indulgence will only be partial.

A plenary indulgence can be gained only once a day, except for those in danger of death.

The Portiuncula Indulgence remains a powerful reminder of God’s mercy and the spiritual legacy of St. Francis, inviting the faithful to conversion, prayer, and renewal each year.

 

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