Plenary Indulgence

Plenary indulgence – a full pardon of sins.

Performed by: FR Michael Della Penna at St. Francis Church in Boston's Historic North End on August 2nd, 2024.

St. Francis had a vision that the Virgin Mary asked him what grace he desired. His answer: that all who visit his church would receive a plenary indulgence – a full pardon for their sins.

According to the traditional account, in July, 1216, St. Francis was praying in the Portiuncula, when he had a vision of Jesus and the Virgin Mary surrounded by a host of angels.

Mary asked him what grace he desired, to which Francis replied that he desired the complete forgiveness of all sins for everyone who came to his beloved little church.