Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-07-28
PORTIUNCULA AT ST PATRICK's.
What It Is and How It May Be Gained
 -3 F. M. August to Sum- B set August 2.

AiOtoiS PiCty oi SoioAAAoAAS soAA AA2AA va a certain occasion to ask for himself a great favor and it should be grant ed. And Solomon answered.:
 "Oh, Lord God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David. my father; and I am but a child, and know not how to go out and come in. - Give, therefore, to thy ser want an understanding heart, to judge thy people, and discern between good and evil"
 So the chronicles of St Francis of Assist tell us that the Son of God, touched with his great zeal for souls, said to him in vision:
 Ask of me whatever favor thou pleasest and will grant it to thee, for have given thee to be the light of peoples and the support of my church."
 Ask of me whatever favor thou pleasest!"
 Oh, what a thing for the King of Heaven to say to poor man.
 There was no hesitancy in Fran cis's answer. He did not require time to think, so that he might get most out of his opportunity. His heart was full of but. one subject-the conver- sion of sinners; that the prodigal son (and his name is legion) might arise and go to his Father and God and may be reconciled. aE
 Out of his perfect love of God had hic fnr hic fo1lnU man. The brotherhood of man! The fatherhood of God! Oh, go, ye social ists and reformers, to St Francis, and learn the real meaning of those splen- did phrases! Quick and fervent came St Francis's answer:
 ''Oh, thrice Holy God! since have found favor in thine eyes, who am but dust and ashes, and most misera- ble of sinners, beseech thee with all the respect of which I am capable to deign to grant to thy faithful flock this signal grace:
 That all who, contrite, and having confessed their sins, shall visit this church may receive a plenary indul- gence and pardon of all their sins"
 And then, knowing that his request was unusual and extraordinarily bold, he appealed to the mother of God to add her prayers to his for this wholesome and unmerited appli- cation of the merits of Christ to poor men struggling with the world, the flesh and the devil. . And Mary, the mother of Holy Hope, seconded his appeal, and a great bank of big receipt for little de- posit was established forever for all those fortunate enough to know of it and wise enough to seek it.
 For the Son of God answered:
 'I grant the indulgence thou ask est, but on condition that it be rati- fled by my vicar, to whom alone l have given the power to bind and loose"
 At daybreak Francis set out with Fra Massco for Perugia, where Pope Honorius III then was.
 Most holy father" said he with his charming simplicity, "a few years ago I repaired a little church dedi-i cated to the mother of God in your dominions, and beg your holiness to enrich it with valuable indulgence without the obligation of almsgiv- ing" ....
 "I consent" replied the sovereign pontiff; but tell me for what num- Der of years thou requirest this par don?"
 Holy father, may it please your holiness to grant me souls-not years"
 Thou wishest for souls-not years"
 T desire. if your holiness pleases. that all those who, repentant and ab- solved. will enter the church of St Mary of Angels. shall receive the plenary remission of their sins for this world and the next" (That is to say, the entire remission of the tenn poral punishment due to sim.
 Francis, what thou askest is great. and quite unusual at the court of Rome"
 ''I do not ask it in my own name, most holy father. but in the name of Jesus Christ, who has sent me-"
 Then the sovereign pontiff repeated thrice "In the name of the Lord. we are pleased that thou shouldst have this indulgence"
 Upon some cardinals remarking that such favor would be prejudicial to the pilgrimages to Rome and Jerusalem. Honorius replied:
 We cannot revoke what We have freely conceded: we can only deter mine it's duration" Then, turning to Francis. he added: Tt is our will that this indulgence be available in per- petuity during the space of one nat ural day from the first yespers of the day following: ..
 Francis thanked the pope, bowed and humbiy retired. Honorius. see ing he was going away, called him back and said smiling:
 Simple man! where are you going. and what evidence have you of this indulgence?"
 Holy father. your word is enough: let Jesus Christ be the no- tary. the Blessed Virgn the charter. and the angels the witnesses. I re- quire no other authentic document, and leave it to God to prove that this work comes from him"
 After a reply of such sublime sim- plicity. he quilted Perugia with the blessing of the sovereign pontin to return to St Mary of Angels. Having stopped half way at a lazar house to take a little repose. he had vision, and. on awakening. called Masseo and said.
 Let us rejoice. brother. for af- | firm the indulgence the sovereign pontin has granted me is ratified in heaven"
 Yet the day of the year was not fixed. The pope had not named the