August 2nd is the day of the feast of Our Lady of the Angels, one of the most beloved devotions to the Virgin Mary. This date is especially associated with the small chapel of the Porziuncola in Assisi, Italy, and with a unique grace known as the Indulgence of the Pardon of Assisi, granted by Christ Himself through Saint Francis.

The Porziuncola: a house for the poor and sinners

The Porziuncola—which means “little portion”—is a humble chapel dedicated to Saint Mary of the Angels, where Saint Francis of Assisi experienced pivotal moments of his conversion and evangelical life. It was there that, in 1216, he asked Pope Honorius III for a plenary indulgence that would extend not only to friars and nuns, but also to lay people, men and women who desired to be reconciled with God.

This spiritual gift, known as the Porziuncola Indulgence, allows one to obtain complete forgiveness of temporal punishments due to sin, under the usual conditions (confession, communion, prayer for the Pope, and total detachment from sin). Saint Francis intended it as a sign of God’s merciful love, accessible to all.

An echo of Marian tenderness

Mary, as Lady of the Angels, is invoked here as the mother of the poor, of the little ones, of sinners seeking redemption. Her image guards the place where Saint Francis chose to “live and die.” And from there, her spiritual motherhood remains a refuge for those who journey amidst doubt, weariness, and wounds.

Today, devotion to Our Lady of the Angels has spread throughout the world. In Costa Rica, for example, she is the national patron saint, and every August 2nd, millions of faithful flock to the Cartago shrine in one of the most moving pilgrimages in Latin America.

A day to return to the heart of God

Celebrating this feast is not just about remembering an ancient story. It’s an invitation to allow ourselves to be touched by God’s mercy, to trust again, to know that we are loved and accompanied by the Virgin Mary. As at the Porziuncola, Mary opens the doors to a spiritual home where no one is excluded.

In a world that races, demands, and divides, Mary—Our Lady of the Angels—offers us a space of peace, silence, and consolation. Today, we can enter that small chapel of the soul, look at our Mother, and simply say to her: “Pray for us, now and at the hour of our death”.