The Feast of the Portiuncula

A copy of the original,
in Mayslake, MA

August begins for Franciscans with the Feast of the Portiuncula on August 2. When Saint Francis set out on his new way of holiness, the Portiuncula (Italian for little portion, as in a little piece of land) had a small, ruined chapel known as “Our Lady of the Angels.” Although it had little earthly splendor to recommend it, its name, location and dilapidation charmed the young man. It became his favorite spot on earth and, when the time came, the site he chose for his death. Its poverty reminded him of Bethlehem and Nazareth where Mary had her baby and raised her child.

Seeing that many poor people had fallen into grave sin and were required to do burdensome penances, the Poverello (the Little Poor Man) asked the Pope if they could come to the Portiuncula, rather than distant Rome or embattled Jerusalem. There, if they went to confession, attended Mass and received communion, professed their Catholic faith and prayed for the Pope, they would receive remission of all their sins since the day of their baptism till the day they entered his little shrine.

Pope Honorius readily granted the privilege to Saint Francis although the newly popular custom of making pilgrimages to Rome had created a financial boon for the city. Like everything else in religion, the papal decision was not without controversy. Some people complained that the Church forgave sinners too easily. They should be made to make the long trips and pay the price of their evil. Later pontiffs extended the Portiuncula Indulgence to all churches if they complete the requirements eight days before or after the feast.

The original chapel
in Assisi

The indulgence follows a long tradition of the Church continually finding easier ways to offer the path of penance to repentant sinners. When the Sacrament of Penance first appeared it was a long and difficult process and many never completed it. Gradually our Mother the Church has made the sacrament more approachable and more reassuring to those who are truly repentant.

In the hospital today, I often assure the family of recalcitrant sinners, “As you love this foolish Veteran, the Lord loves him infinitely more, and will not lose him.”