On October 3, the date of the death of St. Francis of Assisi, Franciscans of the first, second, and third orders celebrate a ritual service to remember the passing of St. Francis from life on earth to his place with God. It is the goal of this commemorative service that Franciscans remember the teachings of St. Francis as seen through the words of St. Thomas of Celano and St. Bonaventure.

St. Francis lived to serve God. And, he instructed not only all of his followers, but all creatures to so as well. For St. Francis did indeed see all creatures through the eyes of God with great love and affection. Even death itself was welcomed by St. Francis as he saw it as a way to praise God. He went joyfully in his final hours to meet what he called, “my sister death”.

When the hour of his death had approached, St. Francis called all of the Franciscan brothers to his side and addressed them with great fatherly love. He reminded them of the value of poverty, humility, patience, living the Gospel, following Christ, and remaining faithful to the Holy Church. Then, at the moment of his death he stretched out his arms in the form of a cross and gave all his brothers, those present and those absent, a blessing in the name of Christ crucified. He told them that he was on his way to God and he commended them to the favor of God. Then he asked his brothers to read the passage in the Gospel of John describing Jesus washing the feet of his apostles at the Last Supper. It is this final image of humility which he shared with his dearly beloved Franciscan brothers. At this, St. Francis fell asleep in Christ and his soul was taken to God.

As we look at the life of St. Francis as a great model of living the Gospel and being Jesus  Christ to the world we ask Francis to bless us and assist us to be Jesus Christ to the world. And, we can remember St. Francis daily as we wear a beautiful gold St. Francis saint medal or Franciscan Tau cross medal.

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