You Can Visit Replicas of the Birth Place of the Franciscan Order - the Porziuncola - in the U.S.A.


Hidden inside the massive Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels near Assisi, Italy, sits a tiny, humble church built of tawny stone. Measuring just 18 by 10.5 feet, the Porziuncola ("little portion") is hidden by the grand basilica enclosing it. Yet this "church-within-a-church" draws endless crowds of pilgrims jostling to spend a few quiet moments inside.

Why? Because this modest chapel is considered the birthplace of the Franciscan order.

The History Behind the Chapel

According to tradition, St. Francis of Assisi experienced a mystical vision inside the then-dilapidated chapel around 1209. An image of Christ on a Byzantine crucifix commanded him: "Francis, Francis, go and repair My house which, as you can see, is falling into ruins."

Taking the instruction literally, Saint Francis received permission from the chapel's Benedictine owners to restore it. Joined by his earliest followers, he built a small hut nearby. By 1211, the Benedictines formally gave the Porziuncola to Francis to serve as the motherhouse for his new order.

"He felt our Lord there, and he made it the headquarters of his order."

— Fr. Robert "Bobby" Barbato

American Echoes of Assisi

While the original Porziuncola in Italy remains a major pilgrimage destination—especially during Franciscan Jubilee celebrations—stateside faithful don't have to cross the Atlantic to experience its spirit. Several faithful recreations exist across the United States.

                    ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
                    │               NOTABLE U.S. REPLICAS                    │
                    ├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
                    │ • San Francisco, CA (National Shrine of St. Francis)   │
                    │ • Steubenville, OH (Franciscan University)             │
                    │ • Washington, D.C. (Franciscan Monastery)              │
                    │ • Oak Brook, IL (Mayslake Peabody Estate - Temp Closed)│
                    │ • Burlington, WI (Assumption OFBM Province)            │
                    │ • Sylvania, OH (Regina Center)                         │
                    │ • Hanover, MA (Cardinal Cushing Centers)               │
                    └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

San Francisco: An "Exact Copy," Just 22% Smaller

Located at the National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi, San Francisco's Porziuncola chapel was dedicated in 2008 by Cardinal William J. Levada.

  • The scale: Built to fit inside a parish complex, it is scaled to 78% of the original size so visitors have room to walk around it.

  • The Experience: Like the original, visitors are often deeply moved. The shrine also holds a unique papal privilege granted by Pope Benedict XVI: pilgrims can receive a plenary indulgence once a year on a day of their choosing by visiting the site and fulfilling standard conditions.

Steubenville, Ohio: Outdoor Solitude & Student Life

Completed in October 1987 at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, this outdoor chapel holds a maximum of about 15 people.

According to Fr. Jonathan St. Andre, the university's Vice President for Franciscan Life, the chapel has become the heart of campus life:

  • It hosts perpetual adoration and is a popular site for quiet prayer (and even marriage proposals).

  • Students can be found sitting on its floors at all hours of the day and night.

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