August 2 and 3

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In Matthew’s account of the multiplication of loaves and fish, we hear the consequence of Our Lord’s Largesse:  “the people and ate were satisfied.”  Or as some translations notes”….they had their fill”.  Either way those who flocked to Jesus indulged in His unlimited mercy and compassion.  In our personal lives we recount all the times Christ has indulged us, indeed overwhelmed us with His mercy.  There is no greater evidence of this than in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  Is there any limit to God’s mercy”? No, there isn’t.  Though we at times lack the vision of seeing progress in our on-going conversion, each humble confession is an indulgence of God’s grace into our souls.  He sees it since He gives it.  Perhaps at the end of our life’s journey we will come to appreciate it if not beforehand.

In addition to the ordinary indulgence of grace, Our Lord has granted exceptional moments in time to be set free from the temporal punishments due to sin.  Sins confessed are indeed forgiven, but always justice, or making right for our hurts and faults, must be satisfied either here on in purgatory.

God has granted to St. Frances of Assisi his humble request on a night in July, 1216 in the tiny chapel (Portiuncula) of Assisi that whosever makes a pilgrimage to and confesses their sins would be granted the indulgence of freedom from purgatory as long as they remained in the state of grace.

Pope Innocent III extended to all parish churches throughout the world this indulgence to be kept from Vespers (the afternoon of August 1^st until sundown on August 2^nd, the Feast of Our Lady of the Angels.

The conditions to obtain this plenary (full) indulgence of the Pardon of Assisi for oneself or for a departed soul is as follows:

1. Sacramental Confession (during 8 days before or after August 2^nd).
2. Participation  at Holy Mass and reception of the Holy Eucharist.
3. Recitation of the Apostle’s Creed, Our Father and also a prayer for Pope Francis’ intention
4. And finally a visitation to your parish church or a Franciscan parish.  Because of the prevailing pandemic one may participate virtually though watching Mass on TV and making a spiritual communion. 

With grateful hearts we approach Our Lord for all the good He bestows on us.

With Blessings,

Father Langan