Following the example of St Francis

From the Ordinary Jubilee of 2025, we have entered a Year of St Francis celebrated from 10 January 2026 to 10 January 2027. In this extraordinary jubilee, which commemorates the eighth centenary of the passage of St Francis of Assisi, the Christian faithful are invited to follow the example of the Saint of Assisi, becoming models of holiness of life and constant witnesses of peace.

As Pope Leo XIV said in his letter to the Ministers General of the Franciscan Family on the opening of the centenary, “In this age, marked by so many seemingly interminable wars, by internal and social divisions that create mistrust and fear, he continues to speak. Not because he offers technical solutions, but because his life points to the authentic source of peace.”

The Holy Father concluded his letter thus, “Dear brothers and sisters, may the example and spiritual legacy of this Saint, strong in faith, steadfast in hope and ardent in active charity towards his neighbour, inspire in everyone the importance of trusting in the Lord, of living a life faithful to the Gospel, and of accepting and illuminating every circumstance and action of life with faith and prayer.”

So how may we follow the example of St Francis? We offer here some suggestions for action and reflection from “Francis of Assisi: A Seed for Eternal Life“, a letter from the Franciscan Family issued in Assisi on 10 January 2026 on the occasion of the centenary.

Action

• Perform an act of mercy toward someone on the margins of society.
• Spend 10 minutes in silence in front of a crucifix.
• Participate in the Eucharist with renewed attention.
• Give thanks for the Church, even with its shortcomings.
• Apologise to someone instead of justifying yourself.
• Bring peace to a conflict within family or at work.

Reflection

• I try to recognise the “lepers” of my time; who are the excluded people I encounter?
• Where do I see today the “opened eyes” of the Crucifix looking at me?
• How do I experience my belonging to the Church with its poverty and riches?
• Where do I “sow my seed” of the Gospel? Where are my places of witness?
• Do my relationships seem “circular” or “pyramidal”? Where do I recognise that I am exercising power rather than service?
• How do I effectively bring peace to the places where I live?