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After spiritual conversion, St. Francis spent rest of life seeking to live Gospel, rector says
Developing
In Short: Father Bobby Barbato, rector of the National Shrine of St. Francis of Assisi, highlighted that Francis spent the rest of his life seeking to live the Gospel, not just imitating Christ but adopting his worldview.
Capuchin Franciscans and Franciscan Friars of the Renewal joined Dominican friars, Salesian sisters, and sisters of the Fraternité Notre Dame in a historic service celebrating St. Francis of Assisi.
"Francis said, ‘Don’t look at me. Look through me at Jesus,'" Barbato said, emphasizing Francis' focus on Christ.
Barbato also reminded the congregation that while many strive to follow St. Francis, God has a unique call for each individual.
"We are not supposed to become St. Francis of Assisi. We are not supposed to become St. Peter. We’re not supposed to become any of the saints," Barbato said.
The service included the Transitus, a ceremony marking St. Francis' passing from earthly life to eternal glory, with readings and hymns recounting his final hours.
"Finally, when all God’s mysteries had been accomplished in him, his holy soul was freed from his body and assumed into the abyss of God’s glory, and Francis fell asleep in God," Barbato read from a passage.
In the dimly lit church, a Franciscan habit lay on a makeshift bier, with the Easter candle symbolizing Christ’s resurrection.
Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone invoked St. Francis' legacy, praying for San Francisco to continue bearing fruit in faith.
"May the faith that took root in Assisi continue to bear fruit in San Francisco," Cordileone said.
The celebration also marked the 250th anniversary of Misión San Francisco de Asís, the historic Franciscan mission that gave the city its name.
"What draws me to St. Francis is that he was deeply Catholic, deeply humble, and deeply in love with Christ," said Archbishop Stanislaw Goudeau, reflecting on the saint's influence.
The service included prayers for the city, emphasizing compassion for the poor and welcome for strangers.
What this adds
The Transitus ceremony is a unique Franciscan tradition that commemorates St. Francis' death and transition to eternal life.
What's still developing
- For the first 24 years of his life, Father Barbato said, Francis had heard the words of the Gospel, and may even have admired them, but had not seriously considered putting them into practice.
- Francis spent the rest of his life seeking to live the Gospel, Father Barbato said, not simply by imitating Christ outwardly, but by taking on Christ’s way of seeing the world.
- St. Francis was living in the bishop’s house in the city proper, but wanted to die at the little chapel he helped rebuild and the Franciscan motherhouse: St. Mary of the Angels Porziuncola chapel.
- This story was originally published by Catholic San Francisco and distributed through a partnership with OSV News.
- In his homily, Capuchin Franciscan Father Bobby Barbato, rector of the National Shrine of St.
- “In these days, we have experienced the beauty of our universal fraternity in Christ,” the Pope told the faithful during his Angelus address after the final Mass of the July 27-31 papal visit.
- Archbishop Stanislaw Gadecki, president of the Polish bishops’ conference, said the event showed how, contrary to earlier concerns, the Polish youth are “equally enthusiastic” about Francis as they are about St. John Paul II.
- The large turnout, he said, was a credit to the young people, who have shown they are not “hopeless and worse than previous generations,” as some perceive them.
- The apostolic voyage began on a political note, with the Pope calling on Polish authorities to have a “spirit of readiness” in welcoming those fleeing wars and hunger.
- “There is a need to seek out the reasons for emigration from Poland and to facilitate the return of all those wishing to repatriate,” he said.
Sources
- Ncregisterlink