Have you ever heard of the Portiuncula Indulgence? I never knew of it until this year when a priest I follow on social media shared a post about it last month. And of course the renewed Catholic that I am didn't hesitate to learn more! However we always want to complicate things for some reason, and so my confusion to this "new" practice began.
This is where I started to search in depth on this subject. Why? Several Franciscan churches post various things! How will we know which one to follow and what's the updated one? Every post I read just made me more confused. I asked questions but no Franciscan ever answered me. What else to do but do an online search? And so here's the result of everything I found.
Before we begin, you must know about what an indulgence is so you understand what I'm talking about. Read here: What's Up With the Controversial Plenary Indulgence? If you're done reading that then let's proceed. 😀
source
The History
The story goes that this plenary indulgence began sometime in the year 1216. One day, St. Francis being ever pious, prayed as always for the reparation of mankind to God in the little church (Portiuncula) given to him by the Benedictines. Jesus then showed Himself along with Mama Mary and the angels. Because He was pleased with St. Francis He asked what the man would like.
The saint then implored that whoever goes to that Portiuncula church (dedicated to Our Lady of the Angels) that have repented and confessed their sins would be granted full pardon when they contritely ask for it. Jesus then said He grants the request but that Francis must go to the Pope to make it official.
The saint did go to Pope Honorius III, and that was how the said indulgence began. Of course several updates to the requirements has been done over the centuries. From being limited to that small church in Assisi, Italy, the practice was extended by several Popes to more churches and eventually to the other Franciscan orders too. Since the Apostolic Constitution, The Doctrine of Indulgences or Indulgentiarum Doctrina of 1967 was decreed, it has finally become available to all churches and parishes in the world.
source
What is a Portiuncula Indulgence?
Basically, indulgences can either be full or partial in terms of the required temporal punishments (or consequences) that will not be enforced anymore. Temporal punishment ends when our souls are finally completely cleansed! Plenary indulgences can fully remit the temporal punishment of our forgiven sins according to our guilt.
Again, the full details on the definition or explanation of plenary indulgence is in the previous post mentioned.
In short, the Portiuncula indulgence is a form of plenary indulgence.
REQUIREMENTS or HOW to Receive a Portiuncula Indulgence
Aside from doing the 3 plenary indulgence requirements which you've read in my post on indulgences, you must add this:
- Pray 1 Our Father and 1 Apostle's Creed in any church or parish of your choice.
Do all the required with the intention that you're doing each to acquire the Portiuncula Indulgence.
All are recommended to be done in one day. If such is not possible, everything must be done within 20 days of the specified date, in this case Aug 1 to 2. For example due to time constraints you can start doing it within 10 days before or on Aug 1 and make sure to complete all requirements until the 10th day after Aug 2.
Take note: This can only be applied to oneself or to a soul of our choice who's in purgatory. We can also tell Mama Mary and God that they can decide as to whom it should go.
source
How Many Prayers Do We Pray?
Traditionally it was a set of 6 Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be prayers (plus the 1 Our Father and 1 Apostle's Creed). That was the norm mentioned even in the 1959 The Franciscan Book of Saints by Fr. Marion Habig. However the Indulgentiarum Doctrina of 1967 already voided the six sets of prayers.
WHEN Can We Receive the Portiuncula Indulgence?
This can be done from noon of August 1 to midnight of August 2. With provision of 20 days. See current requirements.
WHY Aug 1 to 2?
- Aug. 1, St. Peter was freed from his chains.
- Aug. 2, Feast of the Our Lady of the Angels
Why Do Some Catholic/Church Social Media Posts Say it's from July 25 to August 10?
This is where the confusion can arise. It pertains to the previous "extension" rule of 8 days prior August 1 and after August 2. Because the Lord is very lenient, loving and merciful our Catholic practices are not as strict as we'd like to think.
Before the 1967 doctrine, if we cannot confess on Aug 1 to 2, we can do it 8 days prior or after said dates. Also, if anyone cannot take communion on Aug 1 to 2, then people could do it within that same time period. So essentially we could do the requirements step by step within those dates or do everything on Aug 1 to 2 only depending on the availability and our schedules.
But again the 8 days thing have already been superseded or voided by the 20 days decree as mentioned in the noted Apostolic Penitentiary document above. 😉
Can It Be Done Multiple Times Per Day or in Several Days or No?
Nope. A plenary indulgence can only be acquired once a day, even those previously declared toties quoties (as often as/repeatedly).
The days to acquire the Portiuncula indulgence are only on August 1 or 2 or the Sunday following it, if declared by a bishop and their parish priests. The 20 day leeway is only for fulfilling said requirements if it cannot be fulfilled on those specific August dates.
The Portiuncula, a.k.a. Porziuncola or Porzioncula By Alekjds - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0 | source
WHERE Can We Gain the Portiuncula Indulgence?
According to the Catholic Encyclopedia (1913) it was only available in all kinds of Franciscan related churches/parishes handled by the first and second orders of Franciscans, also by the Capuchins, Third Orders and Conventuals, etc. And it applied to any church whose priest was given the privilege to declare such thru the bishop's permission and approval too.
However that is already OBSOLETE information. We can already gain the Portiuncula Indulgence in ANY Catholic church/parish as written in The Doctrine of Indulgences from 1967. (Norm 15)
Points to Ponder
We really need to research and study Church teachings, traditions and Vatican decrees so we don't get confused by the variations of a single topic that are still getting posted to this day. Just goes to show how lazy we are to just copy-paste whatever somebody posted. 😂
Like, come on, each Church/Diocese/Archdiocese should be more responsible when posting any tradition and religious practice online. I had to do my own research just to find out what's the latest updated information! Newbies to doing Church traditions shouldn't have a difficult time following instructions but heck it gets complicated when there's no uniformity on online details.
Anyway now that everything's clear, let's strive to do this every August 1 to 2. But if time and circumstances do not permit then that's when we avail of the 20 day timeframe. Save the date! Let's not fail to gain the Portiuncula Indulgence every year from now on. 😉
