The other element that the image of Christ on the cross portrayed was that of charity, compassionate love. The themes of the decisive importance of Jesus and the rejection of him are linked in verses 25–30. This would complete what began at San Damiano when “the wounds of the sacred Passion were impressed deep in his heart, though not yet on his flesh.” Francis sought repeatedly for ways to encourage the brothers to give birth to these essentials, to strive for purity of heart, and thus give birth to Christ in their own lives. (just cut the pieces from the right colors of paper for her order) . He felt this mysterious change in himself, but he could not describe it. Matthew 11:25-30 In the Incarnation, God revealed to us who God is. History of St. Francis of Assisi. Phone: 813-229-1595 B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. The Incarnation showed us the face of God. Francis is one of the most venerated religious figures in Christianity. The lyrical text focuses on St. Francis’s affinity with animals and describes him simply as a man who preached and sang with ‘people and dogs and flowers and fish and frogs.’ . 1 Behold him in whose time the house of God was renovated, in whose days the temple was reinforced. 509 N. Florida Avenue We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, As we internalize the same, we are slowly transformed into the image of Jesus, which is the image of our true self. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Francis of Assisi (as also partially the feast of the Stigmata of St. Francis). Often associated with the Italian Saint Francis of Assisi (c. 1182 – 1226), but entirely absent from his writings, the prayer in its present form has not been traced back further than 1912. While he was distinguished by his commitment to poverty and preaching the gospel to the … 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father. Change ). Francis’ biographers point out that, when people met up with Francis or heard him preach, it was not simply a question of listening to words of peace and joy. Tuesday - Friday: 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Ant. It’s good to be home. Many Catholic churches in Australia celebrate the Feast of St Francis of Assisi on October 4. ( Log Out /  PO Box 1524 The relation between God and Jesus is so close that the only adequate terms for it are Father and Son. The distinguishing marks that identify me are the same I see in Jesus: poverty, humility and charity, which are identifying marks of the face of God. Many churches in the United States celebrate the Feast of St Francis of Assisi on October 4 each year. Although Jesus was God, he did not cling to this status. The feast commemorates the life of St Francis, who was born in the 12th century and is the Catholic Church’s patron saint of animals and the environment. Although he believed that the task of “rebuilding” the Church was just a matter of stones and mortar, his life-style changed accordingly. He is the patron saint of those who care for plants and animals. Some call it poverty of being or ontological poverty. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Jesus’ outstretched arms drew in all humanity, welcoming every creature into the embrace of God’s tender love through mercy, forgiveness and acceptance of all. Amen. So it is better for us to remain silent about it too. Nonetheless, some were attracted to the simplicity and sincerity of his new life. Both Francis and Clare must have spent countless hours contemplating this mystery. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! This is the essence of poverty. Fax: 813-221-2350 We might, then, have expected the early appearance of a sequence for the Poverello. These devotional fest wishes are very spiritual blessings of Feast of St Francis of Assisi Greetings.So Now share as much as you can these blessed wishes with your family and friends.And enjoy these wishes with your friends. 11: 25-30: Jesus as the Wisdom of God Jesus, as God, chose to become human, or poor, in order to reveal God’s self, which is love, and teach us our true identity. The Incarnation Is Key It meant obedience to all, being subject to all, just like Jesus, the Word made flesh, who did not cling to honor, status or power. With amazing love he bore in his heart and always held onto Christ Jesus and Him crucified.” Sit before the crucifix, listen to your heart and hear Jesus say: “Jim, Joanne, David, Beth, Jerry, Bob, Susie, Carol, go rebuild my house; as you see, it is all being destroyed.”. Feast of St. Francis of Assisi “Brother Sun…, Sister Moon…” are words from the beautiful Canticle of St. Francis of Assisi to the creation of God. It is a popular day for pets to be “blessed”. Yet it lies at the heart of Francis’ spirituality and mission. The Holy Eucharist: Rite Two . What do we see? Francis became conformed to the Crucified to such a degree that at the end of his life he appeared like the Crucified with the wounds of Christ engraved into his flesh. Dianne Bergant and Robert J. Karris (Collegeville, Minn.: Liturgical Press, 1989) B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. 0 Comments. Or visit the Basilica of St. Clare within the walls of Assisi. The image of Christ in Francis was very real, as we read in Celano: “The brothers who lived with him know that daily, constantly, talk of Jesus was always on his lips, sweet and pleasant conversations about Him, kind words full of love. As we embrace this process, we take a major step towards discovering who we are as a disciple of Christ; we are also well on the way to rebuilding our inner life and ultimately rebuilding the house of God. Physical Address In 1228, Pope Gregory IX (d. 1241) canonized Saint Francis of Assisi, barely two years after his death on 3 October 1226. But what does this image portray? In recognizing his true self in this image, Francis embraced the essence of his being and the realization that he needed nothing else to give him worth. When the Feast of St Francis of Assisi is in 2021, millions of people, usually small children, bring their animals to the temple to get blessing this Holy day of St. Francis for them. City life was reviving, after many centuries of stagnation after the fall He founded the men’s Order of Friars Minor and the women’s Order of Saint Clare, among many others. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. PSALMODY. “From that time on, compassion for the Crucified was impressed into his holy soul. 14 Brothers may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 1 Francis a thoroughly Catholic and apostolic man was sent to prepare the way for the Gospel of peace. Date: October 4, 2018 Author: Wm. 25 At that time Jesus said in reply, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Notices about the event are posted in church bulletins and press releases to remember St Francis of Assisi on this day. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. Out of the fullness of his heart his mouth spoke. Ant. As I am transformed into that image, I become the person God has always intended me to be. Tampa, FL 33602, Monday: Closed It meant generosity of spirit and generosity of heart, the willingness to let all others be first. At San Damiano the Crucified Christ challenged St. Francis to “go rebuild My house.” That task meant Francis had to transform himself first. Your holy and true command. bluebird of bitterness says: October 4, 2020 at 9:16 am. Saint Francis of Assisi, the acclaimed Catholic friar, philosopher, mystic, and teacher, is celebrated by the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi every October 4. View all posts by Wm. Inspired by Saint Francis’s own reverence and love for animals, this book will encourage readers young and old to join in with the clucks of the chickens, the whirring of the cicadas, and the songs of the nightingale. Today is the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, whom I chose as my confirmation saint when I was received into the Catholic Church in 1999. The language of verse 27 is very similar to many passages in John’s Gospel (see John 3:35; 7:29; 10:14–15; 17:1–3). true faith, certain hope, and perfect charity, St. Joseph Church, Galion As the sun rose on the town of Assisi, Italy on the morning of October 4, 2013, the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, another Francis appeared at the Serafico Institute, a charitable facility in Assisi that cares for seriously disabled children and young people. The Challenge of the San Damiano Cross Like Jesus, humility for Francis meant not to cling to anything or appropriate any goods, titles, honors or position. Rather, they were confronted with these realities in the person of Francis. Focused on Christ Monday - Friday: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm, 813-229-3400 But St. Francis was a little different. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”. The Feast of St. Francis of Assisi 10:00 AM + October 4, 2020 Welcome! … But St. Francis was a little different. October 4 th is St. Francis’ feast helping us to recall how he talks about the love of nature and the love of the creatures whom roam through nature. This image of Christ as seen on the cross became an essential component of Francis’ new self. This choice was the epitome of humility. These were, and are, essential components of the human makeup. He was always with Jesus: Jesus in his heart, Jesus in his mouth, Jesus in his ears, Jesus in his eyes, Jesus in his hands, he bore Jesus always in his whole body…. ( Log Out /  A pilgrimage to Assisi would be incomplete without time at the sanctuary of San Damiano. Sunday: 8:30 am - 1:30 pm. —Francis of Assisi: Early Documents, Volume 1: The Saint, New City Press, p. 283-4, Let the Crucifix Speak to You It also ties in most intimately with his experience before the San Damiano Crucifix and the invitation to rebuild the Church. "Come let us adore Christ the King who exalts the humble." One day in 1206, as Francis, now 24 years old, prayed in the tiny church in San Damiano, Christ spoke to him from the crucifix saying, “Rebuild my Church.” Taking the words literally, Francis set about the task of rebuilding the forsaken wayside chapel of St. Damian in the valley below Assisi. For two days the entire town is illuminated by oil lamps burning consecrated oil brought from a different Italian town each year. . Feast ofSt. Daniel J. Harrington, SJ, “Matthew” in The Collegeville Bible Commentary eds. Born in 1181 in Assisi, that most special place, young Franky was the spoilt child of a rich family. Meanwhile, in 1210 Francis walked to Rome with his band of followers in order to obtain the blessing of the Pope on the founding of his Order. “Strikingly beautiful woodcuts and an oversized format create a first-rate visual accompaniment to this imaginative story about St. Francis of Assisi. In so choosing, Jesus could accept everything to which human nature is prone, even death. The Song of Francis and The Animals. Saint Francis is the founder of the Franciscan religious order. In Jesus, God’s own wisdom dwells and can be learned. Perhaps, after Our Lady, the most beloved Saint of all time is St. Francis of Assisi, "il Poverello" (the Little Poor Man). Sources In 1209, Pope Innocent III had a dream in which he witnessed the walls of the great Lateran Basilica, the symbol of the universal Church, slowly falling down. Woodcut artist David Frampton captures the exuberant songs of Francis and the animals in charming, colorful woodcuts that underscore the harmony between humans and the natural world. 507 N. Florida Ave In the Incarnation, Francis saw that becoming human was the basis for humility. To imitate relates to the word “image.” In our context here, it means I become the image upon whom I gaze. I want to focus on just the last of these four directives: “imitate Christ.” That is the key to understanding what happened to Francis at San Damiano and the key to an effective rebuilding of one’s life. The Gospel for the feast of St. Francis is merely the old 1st choice of the common of confessors not martyrs, formerly heard more often than any Many churches in the United States celebrate the Feast of St Francis of Assisi on October 4 each year. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. It was a transformed heart, a transformed self, into the image of Christ that became the tools by which society, the Church and all life could be rebuilt. “Pat Mora praises in poetry Saint Francis’ calming way of communing with creatures great and small in this celebratory picture book, made all the more joyous by Frampton’s handsome colored woodcuts.”, Kirkus Reviews Every pilgrim who visits Assisi must make the short walk outside the city walls and spend time at the sanctuary of San Damiano. It is a popular day for pets to be “blessed”. The blessing of pets is one way we celebrate the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, who saw God’s love in everything God has created. The service honouring St Fran... English/NatThe quake-battered residents of Assisi marked the feast day of their patron saint on Saturday, with an outdoor Mass. Building Your Child’s Relationship with Books. The Feast of St. Francis of Assisi on Oct. 4 is a time when those in Catholic health ministry — and all people — can celebrate God's creation. Because of his love of nature, he has become one of the best-known and most popular saints in the world. The original crucifix of San Damiano is housed therein. Independent publisher since 1911 of intellectual books on ethics, theology, biblical studies, and social criticism, and Bible commentaries and dictionaries Both feasts use the same very accommodated first reading, with overtones of the Francis story, but ripped out of its context. Usually, when we think about saints we think about great people who do really nice things for other people. One day in 1206, as Francis, now 24 years old, prayed in the tiny church in San Damiano, Christ spoke to him from the crucifix saying, “Rebuild my Church.” Taking the words literally, Francis set about the task of rebuilding the forsaken wayside chapel of St. Damian in the valley below Assisi. C HA annually develops and shares numerous resources for use at meetings, events and throughout the year.. In embracing our humanness, Jesus did not cling to being God. What were the steps? The most visible, tangible expression of this was the cross. Tampa, FL 33601-1524, Parish Office The other arena is that of relationships, whether among friends, in the family, community life or one’s workplace. Blessing of the Animals celebrations are held on October 4, the feast of Saint Francis, all over the United States. It meant to be a servant to all, even inanimate creatures. It is here that humility, poverty and compassionate charity are brought to life and nowhere else. Yet undoubtedly the most universally loved saint of that century of saints was St. Francis of Assisi, whose feast we celebrate today. Saturday: 5:00 - 5:30 pm, 6:30 - 7:00 pm At first he interpreted his experience in a literal manner, doing all he could to provide the means, with stones and mortar, to rebuild the physical structure of San Damiano, which actually was in ruins. Francis would learn that his self-image, that is, his identity, was to become that of Christ on the cross. (Scratches that one from the Panic and Worries List.) Matthew has put together traditional sayings according to the following outline: the praise of the Father (vv. It seems to me we must come to a moment in life where, like Francis, we say: “This is what I want and desire with all my heart.” Once that is clear, then the rhythm of daily prayer is essential. While he was distinguished by his commitment to poverty and preaching the gospel to the least fortunate, history extolls him for his unusually profound love for animals. Although St. Francis is one of the most popular saints of the Church, and his feast is a huge celebration in Assisi, there are no particular foods attached to that festival. W E believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. This meant recognizing and accepting the worth and dignity of each one. 518 N. Marion St. 28″Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Sunday Mass Schedule: 7:30 am, 9:00 am, 10:30 am, 12:00 pm, 5:30 pm, The Feast of St. Francis of Assisi: October 4th. Feast Day – October 4 St Francis was the son of Peter Bernardone, a wealthy merchant of Assisi. We need to beg God for the kind of transformation of heart needed to have a dwelling place for humility and poverty and charity. Chosen by God to be a living manifestation to the world of Christ’s poor and suffering life on earth, he was early inspired with a … Francis of Assisi. All genuine searchers for wisdom are invited to come to Jesus. enlighten the darkness of my heart and give me B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. mindful webworker says: October 4, 2020 at 8:59 am. Before the utter collapse of the church, however, a small man wearing a simple gray tunic tied at the waist by a cord rushed up to support the church and prevent its collapse. Himself. Herein begins the mystery of the cross in Francis’ life. The change that would take place within Francis’ heart was imaged by what he gazed upon, and this new self would become his tool for renewing the house of God. Translated from Ecclesiastical Latin, the word “transitus” means “the time of passage through death to new life.” Tradition teaches that in accordance with his final wishes, Francis (unable to walk due to illness and the effects of the stigmata) was carried back to Assisi shortly before his death. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Therefore, only Jesus can pass on to others real knowledge of God. Introduction. Like Liked by 1 person. The key to this is the Incarnation. FEAST OF ST. FRANCIS NATIONAL SHRINE OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI VIGIL: Evening Prayer, October 3. On seeing him, Pope Innocent recognized Francis as the figure in his dream and eagerly blessed him and his followers and verbally approved their rule of life through which they would renew (rebuild) the Church. How did Francis go about rebuilding his life? Then in verse 27 Jesus asserts that God has granted him the revelation of himself as completely as a father discloses himself to a son. “Francis was more than a little stunned, trembling, and stuttering like a man out of his senses. And we honestly believe the wounds of the sacred Passion were impressed deep in his heart, though not yet on his flesh.” The cross is a mirror. Celebrating Francis during a pandemic Although we can’t gather in large groups this year, friars around the Province of St. John the Baptist are planning to celebrate the Feast of St. Francis in creative and safe ways. 15 For neither does circumcision mean anything, nor does uncircumcision, but only a new creation. Feast of St Francis of Assisi. . He prepared himself to obey and pulled himself together to carry out the command. Publishers Weekly Paul’s words in Galatians 2:20 are then very fitting: “It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me.” Then I am my true and genuine self. 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