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800th Anniversary of the Death of St. Francis of Assisi Mass
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OCTOBER 3, 2026In Commemoration of the 800th Anniversary of the Death of
St. Francis of Assisi, Bishop Edward M. Lohse will celebrate a special Mass on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 4 p.m. at St. Augustine Cathedral (542 W. Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49007), during which he will bestow an Apostolic Blessing, and impart a Plenary Indulgence during this Year of St. Francis.
A Holy Hour will precede the Mass at 4 p.m. and a Pet Blessing will follow the Mass on the Cathedral grounds, co-hosted by the SPCA of Southwest Michigan.
Learn more about the importance of a Plenary Indulgence and how to receive one below.
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- What is a Plenary Indulgence?
- What are the Conditions for a Plenary Indulgence?
- Which Acts Qualify for Plenary Indulgence?
- What is the Year of St. Francis?
- The story behind the Franciscan Jubilee
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what is a Plenary Indulgence?The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that a plenary indulgence is the “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 Christ and the saints.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1417)An indulgence frees the person from temporal punishment, as long as the certain conditions of the indulgence are met. Indulgences can be applied either to oneself or to the souls of the deceased, but they cannot be applied to other persons living on earth. A partial indulgence covers part of the punishment due for sins; a plenary indulgence removes all of it. A plenary indulgence can be gained only once a day.
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wHAT ARE THE CONDITIONS FOR A PLENARY INDULGENCE?Sacramental Confession (usually within 7 days prior to/or after the indulgenced act)Eucharistic Communion (usually within 7 days prior to/or after the indulgenced act, preferably at Mass on the day of the indulgenced act)Pray for the Intentions of the Pope (Typically with an Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, or combination of such, or other pious prayers or acts for the intentions of the Holy Father)Recitation of the CreedDetachment from Sin
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Qualifying Acts gIVEN BY pOPE leo xiv:
Summarized from the Decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary on the occasion of the Eighth Centenary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi, by which a special Jubilee Year is proclaimed, with associated Plenary Indulgences (1/16/2026):"Through the present Decree issued in conformity with the will of the Supreme Pontiff, on the occasion of the Year of St. Francis, a Plenary Indulgence may be granted under the usual conditions to all the faithful without distinction, who, with a spirit detached from sin, will participate in the Year of St. Francis by visiting in the form of a pilgrimage any Franciscan conventual church, or place of worship in any part of the world named after St. Francis or connected to him for any reason, and there they will devoutly follow the Jubilee rites or spend at least a suitable period of time in pious meditation and will raise prayers to God so that, following the example of Saint Francis, may sentiments of Christian charity towards one’s neighbor and authentic wishes for harmony and peace among peoples spring up in hearts, concluding with the Our Father, the Creed and invocations to the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Clare and all the saints of the Franciscan Family."Unlike many of the other years and indulgences granted, Pope Leo XIV limited this year's plenary indulgence to visiting places in connection with St. Francis of Assisi, or named after him. There is not an indulgence tied to the feast day itself, however, Bishop Lohse (because of the importance of this year, and the anniversary of the death of St. Francis) is choosing to give the Apostolic Blessing (which he may do up to three times a year) at the October 3, 2026, Mass at the Cathedral. This blessing has a plenary indulgence tied to it. Those in attendance or viewing via live stream may receive the indulgence when they meet the conditions.
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What is the year of st. francis?
To mark the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi, Pope Leo proclaimed a Special Jubilee Year of St. Francis (January 10, 2026 - January 10, 2027), inviting the faithful to rediscover the mercy, simplicity and peace that shaped Francis’ life.
St. Francis' call to live the Gospel continues to resonate across the Catholic Church and shows that God’s mercy works through people who have opened their hearts to His action. The Jubilee Year is an opportunity for the faithful to rekindle their faith, strengthen their relationship with God and with the community of the Church.The Apostolic Penitentiary, a Vatican tribunal that deals with matters of conscience, issued a decree published by the Franciscan Friars, declaring a yearlong celebration in honor of the Poverello, or the Little Poor One, during which every Christian, “following the example of the Saint of Assisi, may himself become a model of holiness of life and a constant witness of peace.”
Noting previous jubilee celebrations related to the works of St. Francis — such as the eighth centenary commemorations of the first Nativity scene, as well as his composition of the “Canticle of the Creatures” and his receiving of the stigmata — the decree stated that “2026 will mark the culmination and fulfillment of all previous celebrations.”
In its decree, the Apostolic Penitentiary also announced that plenary indulgences will be granted to Catholics “under the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father), which can also be applied in the form of suffrage for the souls in Purgatory.”
The indulgence will be granted to those who participate in a pilgrimage “to any Franciscan conventual church, or place of worship in any part of the world named after St. Francis or connected to him for any reason,” it stated.
The sick, the elderly and caretakers unable to leave their homes can also obtain a plenary indulgence under the usual conditions “if they join spiritually in the Jubilee celebrations of the Year of St. Francis, offering their prayers to the Merciful God, the pains or sufferings of one’s life.”
Pope Leo included the following prayer in his letter:"In this Year of Grace, I wish to offer you a prayer that Saint Francis of Assisi may continue to instill in all of us perfect joy and harmony:
Saint Francis, our brother, you who eight hundred years ago
went to meet Sister Death as a man at peace,
intercede for us before the Lord.You recognized true peace in the Crucifix of San Damiano,
teach us to seek in Him the source of all reconciliation
that breaks down every wall.You who, unarmed, crossed the lines of war
and misunderstanding,
give us the courage to build bridges
where the world raises up boundaries.In this time afflicted by conflict and division,
intercede for us so that we may become peacemakers:
unarmed and disarming witnesses of the peace that comes from Christ.Amen"
