Saint Francis of Assisi is cherished by Christians across many traditions. As we approach his feast day on October 4, we celebrate 800 years since his death, which he lovingly called Sister Death. Although I am a Benedictine at heart, Francis holds a special place in my memories. I was born in San Francisco, the city named after him, where I was also baptized and later married. My wife shares this connection, having been baptized at Saint Francis Parish in her hometown in Mexico. I have visited Assisi three times, each marking a turning point in my life. The most recent visit was during my honeymoon, when my wife and I spent a day praying at the tomb of the Poverello. For a time, I was a musician at several parishes in the Archdiocese of San Francisco, including serving as organist at the National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi in the North Beach District. I would arrive early to find parking and enjoy coffee at the shop across the street. That year, every Sunday felt like a little piece of Italy with Francis. As this special anniversary approaches, I ask how we can honor Saint Francis and grow in having Franciscan hearts to serve Christ and the Church together. Here are three ideas to consider.
How To Honor St. Francis On His Feast Day
Celebrate the Eucharist and serve those in need. Francis loved both the Eucharist and cared for people who were struggling. Our faith reminds us that “the Eucharist commits us to the poor” (CCC 1397). Ask the Holy Spirit to renew your love for Jesus and help you prepare for Mass with deliberate intent. Take time to pray over the Scriptures and sit in silence before Mass. Without this, it’s easy to fall into routine and miss the meaning of the Eucharist. After Mass, consider volunteering at a soup kitchen, donating clothes you no longer need, or learning about local social issues and getting involved. Let your experience at the Eucharist inspire you to see Christ in those who are poor.
Try taking a walk in your neighborhood or in nature without any electronics. I’ve always loved coffee, and usually start my day with it and prayer. But since June, I’ve changed my routine. Now, I wait 90 minutes before having coffee and go for a walk before sunrise, leaving my phone and earbuds at home. The quiet, the shadows of the trees, and the occasional cat running in the neighborhood make it a peaceful time. This helps me listen to my body, enjoy the silence, and let my mind wander as “sister” moon lights the path. It’s a different kind of prayer that helps me focus on God. During these 50 minutes, I talk to God and return home feeling refreshed and ready for the day. Then I have my coffee as “brother” sun greets the morning. Since Francis was so connected to nature, this could be a good way for us to reconnect with God, nature, and ourselves while the world is still asleep.
Choose a sacramental that helps you pray, like a favorite rosary, a Benedictine medal, or a small San Damiano Cross. Keep it in your pocket. When your day gets busy or stressful, reaching for it can remind you that God is close. This practice is very Franciscan. Francis loved the incarnation and brought together the nativity scenes, giving us the Christmas creche. Having a sacramental helps us remember how close Jesus is in our daily lives.
As we consider what we can do in this Jubilee Year of Saint Francis, remember his unique encounter with our Lord. Through the San Damiano Cross, Christ spoke to Francis three times, saying, “Go, Francis, and repair my Church in ruins.” Francis took this to heart and rebuilt the church. Pope Benedict XVI described this moment:
“At that moment St Francis was called to repair the small Church, but the ruinous state of the building was a symbol of the dramatic and disquieting situation of the Church herself. At that time the Church had a superficial faith which did not shape or transform life, a scarcely zealous clergy, and a chilling of love. It was an interior destruction of the Church which also brought a decomposition of unity, with the birth of heretical movements. Yet, there at the centre of the Church in ruins was the Crucified Lord, and he spoke: he called for renewal, he called Francis to the manual labour of repairing the small Church of St Damian, the symbol of a much deeper call to renew Christ’s own Church, with her radicality of faith and her loving enthusiasm for Christ.”
Pope Benedict XVI
Francis took Jesus’ words to heart and rebuilt the small church outside Assisi, called the Portiuncula. There, he started the Friars Minor, gave Clare her religious habit, and began the Order of Poor Clares. Francis and his friars gathered at the Portiuncula each year to discuss their rule and renew their commitment to the Gospel. Francis died there 800 years ago, surrounded by his brothers, as he met Sister Death. This rebuilding sparked a new movement in the Church when renewal was needed.
Now, 800 years later, we are called to rebuild the Church in our own way. We can celebrate the Eucharist, care for those in need, connect with creation, and stay close to Jesus. Let’s go forward and be instruments of the Lord’s peace. Happy feast day!
Keep Learning About St. Francis
The Life of St. Francis of Assisi (Tan Classics)
Brother Francis of Assisi (for children)
St. Francis of Assisi: 800th Anniversary Illustrated Edition
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