Feast of Portiuncula

Mass Times: 6:45am and Noon.

Join the Conventual Franciscan Friars of Marytown as we celebrate the Franciscan Feast of Portiuncula. The Portiuncula (the name means “little portion”) is a small Romanesque church that lies in the center of the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels in Assisi, Italy. It is the spiritual center of the sanctuary which was the “evangelical and fraternal life of St. Francis”. It was here that Francis received his first followers and founded the Franciscan Order. And it was here on October 3, 1226 that Francis “welcomed death singing”.

In 1216 Christ appeared to Francis in the Portiuncula and asked Francis what he desired. Francis replied that he wished for everyone with “an upright and contrite heart” who comes to visit the church, to be granted “an ample and generous pardon with complete remission of all their sins”. The Lord granted his wish on the condition it be approved by the Pope. Francis immediately went to Pope Honorius III and received approval for the indulgence. A few days later Francis announced in tears to all gathered at the Portiuncula “My brothers and sisters, I want to send you all to Paradise.”

“The Portiuncula is a place of the soul; it is where Francis reawakened the longing for Paradise, the true Paradise that begins here on earth with an extraordinary tension, that is, holiness.”
–Pope Benedict XVI

CONDITIONS FOR RECEIVING THE INDULGENCE OF PORTIUNCULA
Within eight days before or after August 2, visit Marytown or another Franciscan church in order to:
•   Confess one’s sins to be in God’s grace
•   Attend Mass and receive Holy Communion
•   Pray, in particular:
    ✝  The Creed
    ✝  Our Father
    ✝  For the intentions of the Pope (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be)