The second day of August is the Feast Day of Our Lady Queen of the Angels. The title refers to Mary's place of honor with her Son in the Kingdom of Heaven where Christ is King and Mary is Queen. Mary is placed over the angels who serve as God's messengers and guardians.
This feast dates back to before the days of Saint Francis. By the year 1045, there was a chapel in Assisi called Saint Mary of the Angels because it was believed angels had appeared there. By the time Saint Francis arrived in 1207, the church had fallen into disrepair.
Jesus appeared to Francis at the Church of San Damiano in Assisi and asked him to repair His church. Francis thought the Lord meant the physical building which he began to do immediately. Only later, Francis realized the Lord meant he was to repair the Church as the community of believers.
Saint Francis repaired three chapels. The third was popularly called the Portiuncula or the Little Portion, dedicated to Our Lady of the Angels and is now enclosed in a sanctuary at Assisi. The friars came to live at the Little Portion in early 1211. It became the “motherhouse” of the Franciscans and where Saint Clare came to the friars to make her vows in 1212 and where Saint Francis died in 1226.
The shrine is described as a replica of the little church, the "Portiuncula" or "little corner of the world" in Assisi. This is where Saint Francis began to understand his vocation to follow the Gospel, give up all worldly goods, pray for and advocate peace, and care for the poor and sick.
Because of the favors from God obtained at the Portiuncula, Saint Francis asked the Pope to grant remission of sins to all who came there. The privilege extends beyond the Portiuncula to others churches, especially held by Franciscans, throughout the world. Through this gift, God pours out His unfathomable Divine Mercy upon the world. The Portiuncula was a source of Saint Francis' adoration of God. His message of peace and love remains alive through the turmoil of today's world.
Our Lady Queen of the Angels, pray for us and all the intentions in our hearts.
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