ARTICLES
A fast of joy this Advent?
This Advent, as we approach the Year of Jubilee as pilgrims of Hope, we might consider making the period a fast of joy. We would do this not merely as a penitential act for the expiation of our past sins, but to express our hopeful hunger for a better reality,...
Fasting at Advent
Did you know that St Francis of Assisi prescribed fasting from the Feast of All Saints until Christmas, which means about the time of Advent? This prescription was included in both the Earlier Rule of 1221 (a more scriptural and biblical version of Francis’ Rule of...
The Stigmata of St Francis: From Wounds to New Life
“No! It can’t be real!” This was the response of many in St Francis’ time when they discovered that he carried the five wounds of the Crucified Christ after his retreat on Mt Alvernia in the autumn of 1224. But it was real. In fact, nine papal bulls (official...
The Pardon of Assisi
On 2 August of each year, the “Pardon of Assisi” is celebrated in Assisi in the Church of St Mary of the Angels. This church is also known as the Portiuncula, which means “little portion of land”. St Mary of the Angels is conceivably the most important Franciscan...
800 years on, St Francis’ tunic returns to Egypt
"A chance to follow in St Francis' steps": Eight centuries after the Italian holy man visited Egypt, his relics make a return. When Saint Francis made his renowned journey to Egypt in 1219, he was wearing the humble tunic which went on to become characteristic of his...
Young people of St. Francis look to a better world
Amid celebrations for the eighth centenary of St. Francis of Assisi's stigmata, hundreds of young people gather in Florence until Sunday to look at the future through the eyes of the great saint. Young people gathered in Florence, Italy, are trying to fully perceive...
The presence of God in all creation
Late in his life, and approaching “Sister Death”, Francis wrote a piece of poetic praise to the God he knew was present to him in all of creation. This renowned piece is a beautiful hymn of praise that Franciscans have treasured throughout the centuries. It is also an...
The Five Lents of Francis
The early sources about the life of Francis mention five “Lents”. A Lent to prepare for Easter and one for Christmas For 40 days before Easter, Francis observed the “Great Lent”, what we know as Lent today. Francis observed a similar period of 40 days of fasting and...
Learning from Blessed Gabriele Allegra
On the day of our Custody’s autonomy, 25 April 2023, OFM Minister General Friar Massimo Fusarelli presented me with a relic of Blessed Gabriele Allegra, who was named as the copatron of our Custody, together with St Anthony of Padua. It was such a precious gift. This...
Plenary Indulgence on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the “Nativity scene at Greccio”
From the 8th December 2023 till the 2nd February 2024 in every Franciscan church On the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the "Nativity scene of Greccio", the Apostolic Penitentiary granted a plenary indulgence to all the faithful who, from 8 December 2023...