The morning call., 1892-08-02
PORTIUNCULA DAY.
An Event in the History Of
Catholic Indulgences.
1t Owes It's Origin to Divine Fa vor Granted
to St. Francis Of Assisi-Me aiming
Of the Term.
Last night at the vesper hour the feast of

Last night at the vesper hour the feast of
the Porti uncula began in all the Franciscan
churches OF the universe, and few others
TO which the privileges Of the feast had
been granted by the Papal court.
Singular to say the name given the feast
is not that OF saint. 1t il word meaning
"a little piece"-whar, in Mexican days
would have been called "a concession" or
the real-estate agent OF the present time
would term "a lot''-the particular "little
piece" referred to being located near the
city of Assist, In Umbria. Italy, the birth
place of ST. Francis.
Standing upon this. in the beginning OF
the saints career. was the little church or
chapel of "Our Lady of the Angels" be-
longing the good friars of the Benedictine
order, who owned the adjoining property.
When the humble Francis realized that lie
had vocation to found a new religious
society, this church and its surroundings
which formed but a fraction of the monastic
property. was given over to him by the fol-
lowers Of ST. Benedict, and thereafter be-
came known as the PortiuncuIa as we'll as
the birthplace Of the franciscan order.
ST. FRANCIS FIRST VISION.
Here. in the month of October, 1921, as
the traditions OF the order have it, st. Fran
els was praying enc night for the CONVEX
sion of sinners, when he heard an angelic
voice say. ITO the chapel. Francis, to the
chapelp In obedience to the command he
entered the chapel aud there beheld a vision
OF the Son OF God, attended by Mary, his
mother, and legion of adorng angels.
The saint, transported with joy. DO wed
down In alteration, and the Lord, in recon-
pense for his labors In saving souls invited
him TO ask some favor for them. Then,
with becoming humility, the saint prayed
that all who, with contrite heart having
confessed their sins, shall visit the church
of the Portiuncula might receive plenary
indulgence. The vision granted the re-
quest, but conditioned that the favor should
be ratified by the Pope.
At daybTea next morning Francis and
companion set out for Perugia, where Pope
Honorius Ill was then staying. To him
the saint preferred the request, which was
immediately granted Thereupou some of
the Cardinals suggested to the Pontiff that
the favor would be pTejudicial TO the pill
grimages to Rome and Jerusalem. The
Pope refused, however, to revoke what he
had freely given. but resolved to limit its
duration to the space of one natural day
from yespers until vespers.
HOW THE DAY WAS APPOINTED.
1t was two years after the vision just re-
ferred TO before fast day was appointed.
One wiptry night in January, 1903, Francis
being tempted by Satan to abandon the
rigOrs OF his life, proceeded TO punish his
flesh with more than usual severity. There
upon Francis found himself envel0ped In
a supernatural light. surrounded with
white and red roses. Angelic voices in
vited him TO follow, and picking up a num-
Der of the miraculous blossoms he entered
the church and again beheld vision of the
Lord and his Blessed Mother. The Savior
then signfed his desire that the Indulgence
Of Portiuneula should be liked for the day
on which the church commentaries the
breaking of the bonds of Peter. prince of
the apostles.
Again obeying the divine command. the
humble monk set out for Rome and gained
udience Of the Pope, who, in accordance
with his request, fixed the indulgence for
August >.
At first the indulgence was only to be
aimed at the Porsiuncula itself. Subsequent
Pontiffs extended the privilege TO all the
churches Of the Franciscan order, wherever
situate, and as a special favor to limited
number of other churches as well. Through
these dispensations the indulgence Can be
gained at ST. Bonifaee's. and also at the
Spanish church in this city. At the former
great crowds of penitents surrounded the
conieSSionals last evening. The services
this morning will begin at daylight, with
masses every hour from $3.50 to 10 O'Clock,
when solemn high mass will be celebrated.