“I want to send you all to Paradise”
It was with these words that, on August 2, 1216, Saint Francis announced to the people the indulgence granted by Pope Honorius III. An indulgence that brought with it an extraordinary innovation: it was, in fact, a gratiosa indulgence, that is, a free one: it did not require any payment of money. All that was required was confession of sins and, instead of the long pilgrimages to Rome, Santiago de Compostela, or the Holy Land, a visit to the church of the Porziuncola.
For Saint Francis, the Indulgence of Assisi was thus the “forgiveness of the poor”. The privilege of the indulgence of the Pardon of Assisi, whose feast is celebrated on August 2, is a manifestation of God’s infinite mercy, from which the faithful derive great spiritual benefit; to enjoy its blessings, they are encouraged to approach Confession and Holy Communion, thereby drawing ever closer to the evangelical way of life lived by Saint Francis.
How Saint Francis asked for and obtained the indulgence
One night in the year of Our Lord 1216, Francis was immersed in prayer and contemplation in the little church of the Porziuncola, when suddenly a very bright light flooded the chapel, and Francis saw Christ clothed in light above the altar, with his most holy Mother at his right, surrounded by a multitude of angels. Francis silently adored his Lord with his face to the ground. They then asked him what he desired for the salvation of souls. Francis replied immediately: “Lord, although I am a wretched sinner, I beg you to grant that all who, repentant and confessed, come to visit this church may receive abundant and generous forgiveness, with complete remission of all their sins”. The Lord said to him: “What you ask, Brother Francis, is great, but you are worthy of greater things, and you will receive greater things. I therefore accept your prayer, but on the condition that you ask my vicar on earth, on my behalf, for this indulgence.”
And Francis immediately went to Pope Honorius III, who was in Perugia in those days, and candidly told him about the vision he had experienced. The Pope listened to him attentively and, after some difficulty, gave his approval. Then he said: “For how many years do you want this indulgence?” Francis sprang up and replied: “Holy Father, I do not ask for years, but for souls.” And happily he headed toward the door, but the Pontiff called him back: “What, you do not want any document?” And Francis said: “Holy Father, your word is enough for me! If this indulgence is the work of God, he will see to it that his work is made known; I do not need any document. This document must be the Most Holy Virgin Mary, Christ the notary, and the angels the witnesses.”
And a few days later, together with the bishops of Umbria and the people gathered at the Porziuncola, he said through tears: “My brothers, I want to send you all to Paradise!”
Required conditions
The indulgence of the Pardon of Assisi may be obtained only once, from noon on August 1o August at midnight on August 2 or, with the consent of the Ordinary, on the preceding or following Sunday (from noon on Saturday until midnight on Sunday).
It is possible to obtain the indulgence for oneself or for a deceased person, under these conditions:
1. Visit the church of the Porziuncola, a parish church, a Franciscan church, or a church that has been granted the indult. Recite the Creed to affirm one's Christian identity, and the Our Father to affirm one's dignity as a child of God.
2. Receive the sacrament of Reconciliation in order to be in a state of grace (within the eight preceding or following days)*.
3. Attend Holy Mass and receive Eucharistic Communion*.
4. Pray according to the intentions of the Holy Father (at least one Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, or other prayers of one's choice), to reaffirm one's belonging to the Church, whose foundation and visible center of unity is the Roman Pontiff*.
5. Exclude any attachment to sin, even venial sin.
At the Porziuncola in Assisi, the indulgence may be obtained every day of the year.
* Confession, Communion, and prayers according to the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff may be completed within the eight days preceding or following the day of the indulgence (provided one is not in a state of mortal sin); however, it is advisable that Communion and prayer according to the Pope's intentions take place on the same day on which one visits the chosen sacred place and participates in Holy Mass.
