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Our Lady of the
Angels of the Portiuncula
A town and parish situated about three-quarters
of a mile from Assisi. The town, numbering about 2000 inhabitants and
officially known as Santa Maria degli Angeli, has grown up around the
church (basilica) of Our Lady of the Angels and the adjoining Franciscan
monastery. It was here that on 24 Feb., 1208, St. Francis of Assisi
recognized his vocation; here was for the most part his permanent abode,
after the Benedictines (of the Cluny Congregation from about 1200) had
presented him (about 1211) with the little chapel Portiuncula, i.e. a
little portion (of land); here also he died on Saturday, 3 October,
1226. According to a legend, the existence of which can be traced back
with certainty only to 1645, the little chapel of Portiuncula was
erected under Pope Liberius (352-66) by hermits from the Valley of
Josaphat, who had brought thither the relics from the grave of the
Blessed Virgin Mary. The same legend relates that the chapel passed into
the possession of St. Benedict in 516.
The Abbot
of St. Benedict of Mount Subasio... by working of divine
grace and will, granted Blessed Francis and his brethren the
church of the Blessed Mary of the Little Portion, as the
smallest and poorest of all the churches they had. "And,"
said the Abbot, "we would want that this place be the head
of all your places."
Blessed Francis did rejoice most of all that the name of the
church was that of the Mother of Christ, and for that it was
so small and poor a church, and moreover that it was named
"Of the Little Portion," and that it was prefigured to be
the head and mother of the holy Brothers Minor.
It was revealed to St. Francis, that among all the churches
in the world that the Blessed Virgin loved, she loved no
other with so abounding affection as this church. And
because of this Francis had the greatest reverence and
devotion toward it.
"I will," said St. Francis, that this blessed place be and
remain forever the mirror and good ensample of the whole
Order, and as a candlestick before the throne of God and
before the Blessed Virgin burning brilliantly forever." |
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Shortly after 1290, the
chapel, which measured only about twenty-two feet by thirteen and a
half, became entirely inadequate to accommodate the throngs of pilgrims.
The altar piece, an Annunciation, was painted by the priest, Hilarius of
Viterbo, in 1393. The monastery was at most the residence, only for a
short time, of the ministers-general of the order after St. Francis. In
1415 it first became associated with the Regular Observance, in the care
of which it remains to the present day. The buildings, which had been
gradually added to, around the shrine were taken down by order of Pius V (1566-72), except the
cell in which St. Francis had died, and were replaced by a large
basilica in contemporary style. The new edifice was erected over the
cell just mentioned and over the Portiuncula chapel, which is situated
immediately under the cupola. The basilica, which has three naves and a
circle of chapels extending along the entire length of the aisles, was
completed (1569-78) according to the plans of Jacob Barozzi, named
Vignola (1507-73), assisted by Alessi Galeazzo (1512-72). The Doric
order was chosen. The basilica forms a Latin cross 416 feet long by 210
feet wide; above the middle of the transept rises the magnificent
cupola, flanked by a single side-tower, the second never having been
finished. In the night of 15 March, 1832, the arch of the three naves
and of the choir fell in, in consequence of an earthquake, but the
cupola escaped with a big crack. Gregory XVI had all restored (1836-40), and on 8 Sept., 1840, the
basilica was reconsecrated by Cardinal Lambruscini. By Brief of 11 April, 1909,
Pius X raised it to a
"patriarchal basilica and papal chapel". The high altar was therefore
immediately rebuilt at the expense of the Franciscan province of the
Holy Cross (also known as the Saxon province), and a papal throne added.
The new altar was solemnly consecrated by Cardinal De Lai on 7 Dec.,
1910. Under the bay of the choir, resting against the columns of the
cupola, is still preserved the cell in which St. Francis died, while, a
little behind the sacristy, is the spot where the saint, during a
temptation, is said to have rolled in a briar-bush, which was then
changed into thornless roses. During this same night the saint received
the Portiuncula Indulgence. The representation of the reception of this
Indulgence on the facade of the Portiuncula chapel, the work of Fr.
Overbeck (1829), enjoys great celebrity. |
The Portiuncula Indulgence could at first be
gained only in the Portiuncula chapel between the afternoon of 1 Aug.
and sunset on 2 Aug. On 5 Aug., 1480 (or 1481), Sixtus IV extended it to all
churches of the first and second orders of St. Francis for Franciscans;
on 4 July, 1622, this privilege was further extended by
Gregory XI to all the
faithful, who, after confession and the reception of Holy Communion,
visited such churches on the appointed day. On 12 Oct., 1622,
Gregory granted the same
privilege to all the churches of the Capuchins;
Urban VIII granted it for all
churches of the regular Third Order on 13 Jan., 1643, and Clement X for
all churches of the Conventuals on 3 Oct., 1670. Later popes extended
the privilege to all churches pertaining in any way to the Franciscan
Order, even to churches in which the Third Order held its meetings (even
parish churches, etc.), provided that there was no Franciscan church in
the district, and that such a church was distant over an Italian mile
(1000 paces, about 1640 yards). Some districts and countries have been
granted special privileges. On 9 July, 1910, Pius X (only, however, for
that year) granted the privilege that bishops could appoint any public
churches whatsoever for the gaining of the Portiuncula Indulgence,
whether on 2 Aug. or the Sunday following (Acta Apostolicae Sedis, II,
1910, 443 sq.; Acta Ord. Frat. Min., XXIX, 1910, 226). This privilege
has been renewed for an indefinite time by a decree of the S. Cong. of
Indul., 26 March, 1911 (Acta Apostolicae Sedis, III, 1911, 233-4). The
Indulgence is toties-quoties, that is, it may be gained as often
as one wishes (i.e. visits the church); it is also applicable to the
souls in purgatory.
From the Catholic Encyclopedia |
