The Washington times., 1901-07-29
TO CELEBRATE PoRT1uNcuLA
Frnncisan Fathers Preparing for
the Event This Week.

the Event This Week.
One OF the most picturesque of the
many celebrations of the ecclesiastical
year in the Catholic Church is that of
| the Feast of Our Lady of Angels. which
occurs this week. on Thursday and Fri
day. on which the far-famed indulgence
OF Portiuncula is obtained. On this day.
at any church under the administration
of the Fathers of the Order of St. Fran
els. may be witnessed the curious sight
of throngs of people emerging from the
sacred edifice. and. having reached the
open air. Immediately turning about and
again entering the church.
One who is stranger to Catholic GUS
toms cannot help wondering what 1t all
means. for the steady procession OF those
emerging from and re-entering the church
seems to be unending. II glance at the
interior of the church were taken, one
would see that all those who enter the
building kneel for a short time in prayer,
and then. arising. go outside. only to re-
turn.
The explanation Is found in the indul-
gence of Portiuncula-that great indul-
gence limited by extent of time only,
granted to ST. Francis himself. 1t may be
obtained by the faithful as often as the
church is visited during the prescribed
hours on August ! and 2. and each Of
the trips to the outside of the church
and return constitutes a visit. These
visits have given rise to the popular
name. .In-and-Out Day
Up to a comparatively recent time there
was no church in the vicinity of Wash
ington possessing this indulgence. Last
year, however. the Franciscan Fathers
at the monastery in Brookland announced
that 1t would be granted to all who WIS.,
tied the Chapel of the Holy Land during
the feast and complied with the other
usual requirements. On that occasion
the visitors numbered some 5000 persons.
and the Fathers hope that this year will
see very many more.
The indulgence of Portiuncula extends
from the first vespers of the feast of Our
Lady of Angels that is, from o'clock
on the afternoon of Thursday, August l.
to sunset on the day following. August 2.
According to the custom of the Catholic
Church, as the indulgence is plenary
one. only one can be obtained for oneself.
the others being for the benefit of the
souls In purgatory. The usual conditions
for gaining indulgences must be complied
with-confession and holy communion
but these may be made in any church
The visits to obtain the indulgence, how
ever are restricted to Franciscan edifices
The Fathers at the monastery will, as
last year, hear confessions. When the
visit is made. it is necessary to say
prayer for the intention of the Pope-one
of the litanies, decade of the rosary, or
any prayer of similar length.
On Friday. the day OF the feast proper,
special and elaborate services will be
held at the chapel. Holy mass will be
celebrated at 6. Z, and 8 o'clock. The
solemn high mass will be at 10 O'Clock
Compiine will be sung and benediction
given at o'clock
The following is the history of the In
duigence given by one OF the priests
at the monastery:
when ST. Francis had restored the
Church of st. Mary of the Angels he took
up his abode there, on account of his
great devotion to Our Lady. This was in
ZIG. One night he beheld in a vision, Our
Lord and his blessed Mother. surrounded
him ask what he would, and st. Francis,
emboldened by this, requested that all
those who, with contrite heart, con-
fessed their sins to a priest and received
absolution and a penance, should gain
pleuary indulgence by visiting that little
chapel
This Our Lord granted. directing him
to go to the holy father for the confirm
alton of the Indulgence. The Pope
Iionorius III. approved the indulgence of
the Portiuncula. but limited it to the
space of one natural day. Since then this
great privilege has been extended to all
Franciscan churches throughout the
world, so that the faithful may be en-
abled TO make use of it.