The daily tribune., 1908-07-31
GREATEST
OF ALL The
FESTIVALS


of Sunday. the indulgence of Portiun.
oula. the greatest of all festivals of
purely Franciscan origin, will be
celebrated throughout the world by
members and devotees of tile three
orders instituted by the great St.
Francis. Confessions in preparation
for the reception of hold communion
will be heard this afternoon and
evening and tomorrow morning by
the Franciscan fathers everywhere.
The festival IL entirely different
from other Catholic observances, it
being celebrated solely on account
Of the indulgence. Portiunoula IL
neither saint. nor mystery, but
the name Of very small church
near Assist, in Italy, which although
but very small has become famous
throughout the world by means OF the
memorable and singular Indulgence
which St. Francis gained for this
little chapel.
| The great doctro of the church, st.
BOneventura. relates that in the
month of September. in the year 1921
st. Francis had vision in the little
chapel Of Santa Maris, of the angels.
commonly called Portiuncula, Christ
accompanied by his holy mother and
a multitude Of angels appeared at the
altar. encouraging him. with these
words, "rhat he might ask a favor
for the salvation of souls. - The
saint trusting in the intercession of
the most holy mother with great con-
| fidence, thus addressed the lord, say
ing II poor sinner, ask of thy
divine majesty this favor for the
Christian people. that all who having
sincerely confessed. devoutly visit
this church, may obtain general in
diligence and full remission of all
their sins" And the Lord remained
silent at this petition to indicate. it
seems, that the saint had asked some.
thing extraordinary. st. Francis had
recourse to the intercession of his
mother, the blessed Virgin Mary, and
| 1t was with her powerful assistance
that he obtaine the granting of his
petition. with the injunction to repair
to the vicar of Christ, Honorions Ill :,
who WAS then sovereign pontiff, and
to ask this Indulgence at his hands in
the name OF the Lord. This st.
Francis did. but II WAS not until
Aug. 1, 1928. that this WAS granted.
Since that time thousands of pill
grims have visited this little chapel
every year on the first OF August.
On these occasions every confessor
In the neighborhood WAS engaged
night and day administering the
sacrament OF i'enance to contrite sim
ners. As the little church is not
able to hold even a hundred persons,
the visitors walk In endless process
sion, praying and singing. They
enter at door below and leave at a
side door of the upper end. This pro-
cession commences with vespers on
the first OF August. and continues
throughout the whole night. without
Interruption. until sunset of the fol-
lowing day. At present the cupola
OF magnificent dome vaults above
the little chapel Of Portiuucula, yet
on the day Of the famous Indulgence
even the large dome is too small for
the immense number Of pilgrims.
For more than zoo years this indul :
gence could not be gained In any
other church than the chapel of Por-
tiuncula, not even by Franciscans.
Pope Gregory XIV on July 4, IG22.
extended the Indulgence to all
churches OF the three orders Of st.
Francis. Hence It Ia that all the
faithful Of the secular or religious
state may gain this Indulgence by
visiting a Franciscan church.
To secure this great grace 1t IL nee.
and receive holy communion worthily
either ON the day Of Portiuncula or
the LAY previous. This latter may
be done In any church. The third