800th Anniversary of "Pardon of Assisi" which we enjoy at St. Mary of the Angels

According to tradition, on Aug. 1, 1216 St. Francis of Assisi saw a beautiful vision of Jesus and Mary in the Portiuncula chapel in Assisi. In the wake of this experience, he prayed that all pilgrims to the chapel would receive a plenary indulgence. This prayer was granted on the condition that he received permission from the Pope.

This August 2 marks the 800th anniversary of the “Pardon of Assisi,” commemorating when  St. Francis persuaded Pope Honorius III to allow pilgrims to receive a plenary indulgence at the Portiuncula--the "little portion" church called St. Mary of the Angels after which our parish was named by our first Franciscan mission pastor. 

The Church granted the priviledge of this same indulgence to St. Mary of the Angels church.

For generations, pilgrims to Olean have taken advantage of the mercy of this indulgence on August 2, the feast of St. Mary of the Angels. 

Last year, Pope Francis marked the Pardon of Assisi -- celebrated as the feast of Our Lady of the Angels of Porziuncola--saying the feast “is a powerful reminder to bring ourselves closer to the Lord in the Sacrament of Mercy, and to receive Communion." The pope will celebrate the anniversary this year with a private pilgrimage to Assisi on August 4.