Camminiamo insieme
The Pardon of Assisi. A free gift for a new journey
Editrice Shalom
Tempo di lettura: 4 min
Autore: Editrice Shalom
Cosa troverai in questo articolo?
Every year, on August 2, a special light is rekindled in the heart of Franciscan spirituality: the Pardon of Assisi. But what truly is this free gift, and why is it still so deeply relevant to us today? It is not a magic ritual, nor merely a pass, but an extraordinary opportunity for spiritual renewal, an invitation to return home, into the embrace of a Father who has always been waiting for us.
A story of infinite love and mercy
It all began on a night in 1216. Saint Francis was praying in the church of the Porziuncola when a light flooded it. He saw Jesus and His Mother, surrounded by a multitude of angels, and the Lord Himself asked him what he desired for the salvation of souls. Francis replied: “Lord, although I am a miserable sinner, I beg you to grant complete and generous forgiveness to all those who, repentant and having confessed, come to visit this church, with the full remission of all their sins”.
Jesus consented, but on the condition that Francis ask the Pope for this indulgence. The Poverello went to Honorius III and told him about the vision. When the Pope asked him how many years he wanted this indulgence to last, Francis replied: “Holy Father, I ask not for years, but for souls”. And when the Pontiff asked about a document, he answered: “Holy Father, your word is enough for me!”.
This is how, on August 2, 1216, Francis announced to the people: “My brothers, I want to send you all to Paradise!”. This was an extraordinary innovation: a free indulgence, which required no payment of money. It was the forgiveness of the poor, accessible to everyone, without the need for costly and lengthy pilgrimages to Rome, Santiago de Compostela, or the Holy Land.
A journey of transformation
The Pardon of Assisi is not a magic formula or a way to evade responsibility for our actions. One cannot expect to obtain this indulgence while remaining attached to one’s sinful situation. Rather, it is a “super” gift that invites us to a serious commitment to a renewed life.
Sin, even venial sin, creates a separation, a wound. The plenary indulgence, by removing the temporal punishment due to sins for which we have already received sacramental forgiveness, offers us the possibility of complete healing. But this is possible only if our hearts are truly turned toward God. The most important thing is a firm and sincere decision to detach ourselves from any attachment to sin, even venial sin.
The Pardon of Assisi is an opportunity to be truly freed and reconciled, made new, created once again to be children of God, and to live as brothers and sisters of Jesus, joyfully bearing witness to this newness.
The Conditions for Receiving the Pardon of Assisi
To obtain the plenary indulgence, which may be obtained for oneself or for a deceased person, it is necessary to fulfill certain conditions, in addition to the fundamental exclusion of any attachment to sin, even venial sin:
1. Visit to a Church: go to the Church of the Porziuncola (where it may be obtained every day of the year), or, from noon on August 1 to midnight on August 2 (or on the preceding/following Sunday with the consent of the Ordinary), visit a parish church, a Franciscan church, or a church that has the relevant indult.
2. Recitation of the Creed and the Our Father.
3. Sacrament of Reconciliation: it may be celebrated within the eight days before or after the day on which the indulgence is obtained. It is strongly recommended that it be celebrated before receiving the indulgence in order to be restored to full communion with God.
4. Participation in Holy Mass and Communion: this too may be done within the eight days before or after, but it is preferable that Communion be received on the same day as the visit to the church.
5. Prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father: at least one Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, or other prayers of your choice, to reaffirm one's belonging to the Church, whose foundation and visible center of unity is the Roman Pontiff. These prayers may also be recited within the eight days before or after, but it is appropriate to say them on the same day as the visit.
A gift for life, not just for the soul
This indulgence is a gift, an opportunity to respond to God's love with an authentic commitment to an evangelical life. It is an invitation to persevere in prayer and sacramental life, to walk in the way of the Gospel and be authentic children of God.
Imagine being a tree that has lost its leaves and fruit because of a long drought. The Pardon of Assisi is not a single rain that drenches you and disappears, but the promise of an inexhaustible spring beneath your roots, inviting you to dig deeper, purify the soil around you, and be reborn with new sap. It is the beginning of a blossoming that requires your constant care and desire to grow toward the light.
The Pardon of Assisi is a personal and communal journey toward divine mercy. What is your experience of or reflection on this gift? Have you ever visited the Porziuncola or obtained the indulgence? Share in the comments below how this message of hope resonates in your heart. We would love to read your testimonies and continue this reflection together.
