Plenary indulgence announced
Not only will the visual impact and prayerful atmosphere of the famed Porziuncola church of St. Francis of Assisi in Italy be mirrored by an exacting replica at San Francisco’s National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi, but an indulgence nearly identical to the “Pardon of Assisi” has been authorized by the Church for the new San Francisco landmark.
Announced by the Archdiocese of San Francisco and Archbishop George H. Niederauer, a plenary indulgence for pilgrims who visit the new archdiocesan shrine will be available to faithful who visit the site following its Sept. 27 dedication through the end of the year and who fulfill the customary requirements. (For a full explanation of the indulgence, see Pages 6 and 7 of the special section inside.)
Cardinal William Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome and Archbishop Emeritus of San Francisco, will officially proclaim the indulgence during the dedication rite.
The indulgence will continue to be available at the local site indefinitely one day per year at a pilgrim’s choosing or on Aug. 2 or Oct. 4. Aug. 2 is the anniversary of the dedication of the original Porziuncola. Oct. 4 is the solemnity of St. Francis. The chapel and shrine church are located on the 600 block of Vallejo Street.
According to Church teaching, a plenary indulgence can remove temporal punishment due to forgiven sin. It may be applied to persons receiving it or by them to a faithful departed. An indulgence does not apply to the actual forgiveness of sin, which is sought through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Porziuncola Indulgence or “Pardon of Assisi” refers to the well-known indulgence attached to the small church near Assisi, Italy where St. Francis is said to have received his vocation on Feb. 24, 1208 and which largely served as his headquarters for the balance of his life.
The San Francisco Porziuncola, also referred to in Vatican documents as the Porziuncola Nuova, is a 78 percent scale, near duplicate of the original, said Angela Alioto, vice chair of the Renaissance Project.
The Porziuncola is the first phase in the Renaissance Project which will also entail creation of a piazza on Vallejo Street, significant upgrades to the National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi Church which houses the Porziuncola in an adjacent building, and a wide range of programs.
Those who visit the Porziuncola Shrine as part of an organized pilgrimage may also obtain a plenary indulgence.
By Dan Morris-Young
