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Porziuncola, also called Portiuncula (in Latin) or Porzioncula, is a small church located within the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli in the ''frazione'' of Santa Maria degli Angeli, situated about from Assisi, Umbria (central Italy). It is the place from where the Franciscan movement started. The name Porziuncola (meaning “small portion of land”) was first mentioned in a document from 1045, now in the archives of the Cathedral of San Rufino, Assisi. ==History== Although its existence can be traced back with certainty only to 1645, according to a legend the little chapel of Porziuncola was erected under Pope Liberius (352-366) by hermits from the Valley of Josaphat, who had brought relics from the grave of the Blessed Virgin. The same legend relates that the chapel passed into the possession of St. Benedict in 516. It was known as Our Lady of the Valley of Josaphat or of the Angels - the latter title referring, according to some, to Our Lady's ascent into heaven accompanied by angels; a better founded opinion attributes the name to the singing of angels which had been frequently heard there.〔(Bihl, Michael. "Portiuncula." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 12. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. 28 Apr. 2014 )〕 The chapel was located on a small portion of land ("Portiuncula") belonging to the Benedictine monks of Subasio. Later, the name of the land passed to the little church itself.〔 It was in bad condition, lying abandoned in a wood of oak trees. After a pilgrimage to Rome, where he begged at the church doors for the poor, Francis said he had had a mystical vision of Jesus Christ in the wayside chapel of San Damiano, about two miles outside of Assisi, in which the Icon of Christ Crucified came alive and said to him three times, "Francis, Francis, go and repair My house which, as you can see, is falling into ruins". Francis took this literally to mean the ruined church in which he was presently praying, and so sold his horse and some cloth from his father's store, to assist the priest there for this purpose.〔(Robinson, Paschal. "St. Francis of Assisi." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 6. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909. 29 Apr. 2014 )〕 His father Pietro, highly indignant, attempted to change his mind, first with threats and then with beatings. After a final interview in the presence of the bishop, Francis renounced his father and his patrimony, laying aside even the garments he had received from him. For the next couple of months he lived as a beggar in the region of Assisi. Returning to the town for two years this time, he restored several ruined churches, among them the Porziuncola, little chapel of St Mary of the Angels, just outside the town.〔 Francis built himself a small hut near the Chapel of Our Lady of the Angels and was soon joined by others. Here Francis founded the Order of Friars Minor. Around 1211 the small chapel was given to Francis by the Abbot of St. Benedict of Monte Subasio, on condition of making it the mother house of his religious family. Adjoining this humble sanctuary, already dear to Francis, the first Franciscan convent was formed by the erection of a few small huts or cells of wattle, straw, and mud, and enclosed by a hedge.〔 On Palm Sunday 1211 St. Francis received in this church Clare of Assisi and dedicated her to the Lord. The General Chapters, the annual meetings of the friars, were held in this church usually during Pentecost (months of May - June). Feeling his end approaching, St. Francis asked to be brought back to the Porziuncola in September 1226. On his death-bed St. Francis recommended the chapel to the faithful protection and care of his brethren. He died, in his cell, not fifteen yards from the church, at sunset on Saturday, 3 October 1226. However this may be, here or in this neighbourhood was the cradle of the Franciscan Order. After the death of Francis, the spiritual value and the charisma of the Porziuncola became even greater. St. Francis himself pointed out the Portiuncola as a primary source of inspiration and a model for all his followers. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Porziuncola」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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