Novena Prayer September 15-23
For the Intercession of St. Pio of Pietrelcina
Dear God,
You generously blessed Your servant, St. Pio of
Pietrelcina, with the gifts of the Spirit.
You marked his body with the five wounds of Christ Crucified,
as a powerful witness to the saving Passion and Death of Your Son.
Endowed with the gift of discernment,
St. Pio labored endlessly in the confessional
for the salvation of souls.
With reverence and intense devotion in the celebration of the Mass,
he invited countless men and women to a greater union
with Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
Through the intercession of St. Pio of Pietrelcina,
I confidently beseech You to grant me the grace of ...
(here silently state your petition).
Glory be to the Father...(3x). Amen.
Mark your calendars for these Shrine events:
- FEAST OF SAINT FRANCIS WEEKEND Thursday, October 3-Saturday, Oct. 5 Vigil & Transitus, Feast Day and Blessing of the Animals Download Schedule/Flyer
- COLUMBUS WEEKEND Sunday, October 13 Italian Heritage Parade "Feasting with Francis" outdoor dining fundraiser is SOLD OUT
As October 4 approaches, the National Shrine offers you an opportunity to assist in decorating the Church – as a sign of esteem for the Lord's faithful servant Francis of Assisi. YOUR DONATIONS will assist the Shrine in adorning both the historic church and the Porziuncola chapel with beautiful flowers. Please consider making an Offering for the intention of: a deceased or sick loved one or for prayers for yourself or others.
CLICK HERE, TO MAKE A DONATION ONLINE.
Alternatively, you can do the following:
On a blank envelope, please identify your donation for "ST. FRANCIS FLOWERS". Along with your gift by cash or check *(payable to National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi), please provide:
1) the name of the person who is the intention of the offering,
2) whether deceased, sick, etc., and 3) your name and number.
OFFERING ENVELOPES may be placed in the Collection basket at Mass or deposited in the center aisle Donation box in the rear of the church. You may also mail your donation to the Shrine office.
THE ASSISI PARDON
INDULGENCES GRANTED for the
Historic St. Francis Church
& Porziuncola Nuova Chapel
- On October 4th of each year, the Solemnity of Saint Francis of Assisi, principal co-patron of the Archdiocese of San Francisco,
- On August 2nd, each year, the Solemnity of Our Lady of the Angels *(within the Porziuncola Nuova itself)
- and once a year, on a day chosen by the Christian faithful,
- and as often as they assist in a group pilgrimage visiting the National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi itself.
CONDITIONS TO OBTAIN THE PARDON OF ASSISI
Plenary Indulgence
(for oneself or for a departed soul)
- Sacramental Confession to be in God's sanctifying grace *(to be received within eight days before or after initiate "appeal" for the Plenary Indulgence);
- *Participation in the Holy Mass with reception of the Holy Eucharist.
- Visit to a Catholic Church, followed by the Profession of FAITH (Nicene Creed or Apostles Creed),
- Recite the OUR FATHER, in order to reaffirm and give witness to one's Christian dignity, as a child of God, that one received in Baptism;
- Pray for the Pope's intentions: as Vicar of Christ, Shepherd of the Universal Church, and visible sign of unity among the Faithful
What is an indulgence?
"An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Chirst and the saints."81
"An indulgence is partial or plenary according as it removes either part or all of the temporal punishment due to sin."82 Indulgences may be applied to the living or the dead.
More on the Pardon of Assisi
Welcome to the National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi and the namesake of our city, San Francisco. The National Shrine is the property of the Archdiocese of San Francisco, and it consists of our historic Church built in 1849 and our beautiful Chapel (La Porziuncola Nuova, or Little Portion) built in 2008.
The National Shrine is not only located in the heart of San Francisco where Italian North Beach and Chinatown meet, it is "The Heart of San Francisco" in a singular way where Heaven and Earth meet like no other place in our city.
One of the reasons this Shrine is unique is its very urban location in the second most densely populated city in the country. But in the midst of an often rowdy, noisy, bawdy, and chaotic neighborhood (a bronze marker in the sidewalk reminds us that this was once "The Barbary Coast"), the Shrine's Church and the Porziuncola offer an oasis of peace, quiet, serenity, and refreshment to the thirsty spirit.
Saint Francis was very aware that all of God's creation is holy and that it reflects his beauty, truth, and goodness. But Francis appreciated churches, especially, because he knew that in these sacred spaces people could find and recognize the presence of God's spirit more easily than "in the world." That is why the Little Poor Man of Assisi dedicated a good portion of his life to rebuilding old abandoned churches, like San Damiano (where he had heard the voice of Jesus Christ) and Saint Mary of the Angels Porziuncola (or Little Portion).
We hope during your online visit to The National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi you will experience something of the reverence, tranquility, and blessings people find when they enter our actual doors. Thus, we invite you to take the virtual tours, light a candle, ask for our prayers, and to return to this site as often as you like, while allowing "The Heart of San Francisco" to become a place where your own heart can find a haven of rest. Yes, leave your heart in San Francisco!
We also invite you to take the opportunity to participate in the mission of The National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi by sharing with us your financial support, either by making a donation or by shopping at our online store. But even if you're unable to give anything at this time, please know that you are always welcome to visit us and to support our work with your prayers. We sincerely appreciate and thank you for your generosity of spirit.
The National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi, as with The Archdiocese of San Francisco, has a mission that is rooted in the Gospels and the social teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. Central to that teaching is the inherent dignity and sacredness of each human being.
We educate and advocate on this dignity in relation to the unborn child, the prisoner on death row, the homeless and hungry person on our streets, the elderly, the ill and disabled faced with the threat of assisted suicide, the stranger in our midst, and the poor and marginalized in our society and throughout the world. We are neither right nor left, Republican nor Democrat, but we formulate our agenda by the standard of human dignity that is reflected in our faith tradition.
- It is the purpose of the National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi to provide more abundant means of salvation, through the rich liturgical and devotional life of the Roman Catholic Church for the Christian faithful, including those who come as pilgrims from around the world to the City of San Francisco and the greater San Francisco Bay Area, who seek to encounter the living God through religious worship and special devotion to St. Francis of Assisi and the Franciscan saints.
- It is the further purpose of the National Shrine to welcome, share and extend this same spiritual experience and devotion to St. Francis of Assisi and the Franciscan saints to pilgrims and visitors of all faiths, religions, denominations, and nationalities.
- The Capuchin Franciscan Friars (OFM Cap.) and Staff of the National Shrine, therefore, provide a pastoral (i.e., welcoming and prayerful) environment with the hope that in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, spiritual nourishment healing and reconciliation will be found by all who visit the Shrine.
