The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-07-31
BISHOP OF MOBILE
ISSUES CIRCULAR

The Right Rev Bishop. Allen has is.
sued the following circular letter in
regard to the "Portiuncula Indulgence"
The spiritual children of st. Francis
Assist throughout the world have been
celebrating this year the Tooth ami
versary of the founding of ST. Francis
of Assist of the Friars Minors, and
now our holy father, Plus X, invites
the whole Christian world to have
part in this celebration. In this, no
doubt, he wishes to make us reflect
ION the beautiful lessons of humility
and charity practiced by St. Francis
and his followers-lessons quite at
variance with the materialistic and
pleasure-loving spirit Of our time.
In a document recently issued by the
holy father MONTH Proprio." the ex-
ltraordinary privileges of the Portiun-
icula indulgences are made accessible to
lCatholi everywhere throughout the
world. This indulgence is attached to
Visiting particular churches or oratories
and on the day set apart, plenary in
Idulgence can be obtained Totes Quo
ties" as often as a Catholic, having
FULFILLED the other requirements, shall
visit the church on that particular day
land pray for the intention of the SOW
lereign pontiff. The holy fathers docu-
ment reads as follows:
Now that the solemn celebrations
in honor of the seventh centenary of
the foundation of the most noble Order
of Friars Minors are drawing to a
happy close, in order that the mem
DRY of so suspicious an occurrence may
be duly preserved and gladly second
ing the pious wishes of the faithful
for more easy way of gaining the
Indulgence known as the Portiuncula,
we have decided and do decree, of our
own motion and with certain knowl-
edge by our supreme apostolic author
1ty. as follows:
f"All the concessions, however grant
ed, which have not yet expired, con-
corning the said indulgence, remain
ing In force, we grant faculty TO the
ordinaries of places, all and several to
appoint in their respective jurisdictions
one or more churches or public or SENT
public oratories, according to circuin
stances, where the faithful. having duly
confessed and approached the holy
table and praying according to our In
tention, may gain 'toties quotes pie
nary indulgence applicable also to the
souls in purgatory, from the vespers
Of the first day of August to sunset
current year, Just as II they visited any
church of the Order of Friars Minors.
And this same Indulgence, under
the same conditions and IN the same
manner, we grant to be gained by the
faithful of both sexes who lead life
In common provided they visit their
own church or when they have not
church their own domestic oratory in
which the blessed sacrament is pre-
served.
Finally, that nobody may be de-
prived of any special circumstances of
this most noted spiritual benefit, we
are pleased to grant faculty to the
said ordinaries of places to appoint for
the obtaining of the above mentioned
Indulgence, both for the faithful who
live in the world and those pious per-
sons who dwell in communities, in
stead of August 2 the following sun
day, from the vespers of saturday to
sunset itself, with the condition, how
ever. that nobody may twice enjoy this
concession.
I'VE earnestly desire and urgently
recommend that in the churches and
oratories designated as above, on the
day appointed for the gaining of the
indulgence special public applications
be made to God for the supreme pontiff
for the ministers of the sanctuary, ana
for the entire church militant, and that
these be accompanied by the invocation
of the seraphic patriarch, the litanies
OF the saints and benediction of the
blessed sacrament.
s'Thus do we Will, decree. sanction,
comma nding those concerned to pro-
vide that all this be Immediately