Colombia: Hundreds of faithful fill the Porziuncola church in search of forgiveness from Assisi

Like every August 2, hundreds of faithful arrived early in the morning at the church of Our Lady of the Angels – La Porciúncula, in Bogotá (Colombia), eager to receive the plenary indulgence, thanks to the request made by Saint Francis of Assisi. did to Christ eight centuries ago.

The temple opened its doors at 7:00 am (local time) so that people could access the sacrament of Reconciliation and thus be ready for the central noon Mass, in which they could obtain – as in all the Franciscan churches of the world—the plenary indulgence if they also complied with receiving Communion and praying for the intentions of Pope Francis.

The Eucharist was presided over by the Auxiliary Bishop of Bogotá, Mons. Alejandro Díaz García, who recalled that in 1216 Saint Francis of Assisi requested Christ that each person who went to the chapel of the Porziuncola – located in the Basilica of Our Lady of the Angels, in Assisi (Italy) – could “give the gift of forgiveness, and of complete forgiveness, of forgiveness that would provide peace, serenity and joy to the heart.”

The founder of the Franciscans asked for that grace “and God granted it to him, because he is the only one capable of forgiving sins.” “But he asked Francis to go to the Pope (Honorio III), because God’s forgiveness comes through his holy Church,” indicated the auxiliary bishop.

This, explained Bishop Díaz García, recalls the importance of the sacrament of Reconciliation that is administered by priests.

In that sense, the auxiliary bishop affirmed that Jesus invites Christians to continually maintain “an attitude of conversion,” to not allow evil to nest and coexist among people.

At the moment of Communion, countless faithful came to receive the Body of Christ from the hand of Mons. Díaz García and the Franciscan priests present, while several brothers from the Order of Friars Minor accompanied the moment with songs.

Before ending the Mass, Bishop Alejandro Díaz blessed the gathered faithful, who gradually left the temple, while more people were lining up in the confessionals for the afternoon Eucharist.