October 4, 2026 St. Francis Sunday
October 4, 2026
St. Francis Sunday
Happy St. Francis day! Today marks the 800th anniversary of his death! And this is the 57th anniversary of having our parish watched over by him. I don’t think his day has ever actually landed on Sunday during my 25 years here. (Now if St. Francis would help me to be a better pastor, things might get better around here!)
For the 800th anniversary of the death of the founder of the Franciscan order, for the first time ever in February 2026, at the Basilica of San Francesco, millions of visitors have converged on the small Umbrian town of Assisi to honor the 13th-century saint.
Francis, who died on Oct. 4, 1226, espoused care for the poor, his love for animals, caring for the environment, something all people on this planet should follow – as the extreme heat waves are exhibiting from our misuse of the environment.
Those values were reflected centuries later in the actions of Pope Francis. The late pope chose his Papal name in honor of the medieval saint.
Following his death in 1226, artists would portray him with tonsured hair, the brown cloth robes that symbolized a life of poverty, and the knots on his cord that represented the three vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
In his biography of St. Francis, the standard of all the biographies of St. Francis, the 13th-century philosopher and theologian St. Bonaventure tells that St. Francis was praying at the broken-down church of San Damiano when "he heard with his bodily ears a Voice proceeding from that Cross, saying thrice: 'Francis, go and repair My House, which, as thou seest, is falling utterly into ruin.'"
At first he took the instruction in a literal interpretation of the crumbling remains of that building his was praying in. Later, Francis understood that it was regarding major criticisms leveled at the Catholic Church in the early 13th century. Namely, opulence had stood as a distraction from living a simple, prayerful life like Jesus. Sometimes referred to as "the legend of the speaking cross," this crucifix is often included in many visual renderings of Francis's life as a critical moment in Francis's ministry.
The San Damiano cross is a Romanesque wooden cross that measures 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide. It is now in the Basilica of St. Clare. Stylistically, it is known as icon crucifix, because it has a series of religious figures on it, including the crucified Jesus and witnesses to the Crucifixion: Our Lady Mary – mother of Jesus, John the Evangelist, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and the centurion who thrust his spear into Jesus’ side. This cross is often depicted in some of the paintings of him.
St. Francis received the stigmata in 1224. As the first person to receive the stigmata marks, it is one of his most identifiable physical depictions as if crucified, bearing in his body the five wounds which are truly the stigmata of Christ." These horrible wounds accentuated the idea of St. Francis as Christ-like — something meditated on in both devotional writing and art.
Recognizing Francis's already-widespread popularity, Pope Gregory IX ordered the construction of the Basilica of San Francesco even before Francis was formally canonized in 1228. The lower basilica was completed in remarkably quick time, and Francis's remains were formally interred in 1230. The frescos in the lower basilica show how quickly Francis's saintly virtues were illuminated on such a large space. The Basilica of San Francesco has even managed to survive two massive earthquakes in 1997.
Francis urged his followers to use visualization as a guiding tool in prayer. Frescos offered a suitable space for contemplation.
We can use Francis not to just understand changes to religious devotion in the later Middle Ages, but how the emotional style of Renaissance painting sought to capture the fantastical life of the 13th-century mendicant friar. Since the Middle Ages, art and devotional writing have been used to promote the virtues of St. Francis.
St Francis was conformed in every act with that of our Blessed Lord. For as Christ, before he began to preach, made choice of twelve Apostles, teaching them to despise all the things of this world, to follow him in poverty and in the practice of all other virtues, so St Francis, on the first founding of his Order, chose twelve companions, all lovers of poverty.
St Francis had renounced the world, and had so given himself to penance and mortification that many looked upon him as one out of his mind. He was scoffed at as a madman, was rejected and despised by his relations and by strangers, who threw stones and mud at him when he passed; yet he went on his way, accepting these insults as patiently as if he had been deaf and dumb.
The first companion of St Francis was Brother Bernard of Assisi. Bernard of Assisi, one of the richest and most learned nobles of the city, began to consider deeply the conduct of St Francis; how utterly he despised the world, how patiently he suffered injuries, and how his faith remained firm, though he had been for two years an object of contempt and rejected by all. He began to think and say within himself, “It is evident that this brother must have received great graces from God”; and so resolved to invite him to sup and to sleep in his house. St Francis accepted. Bernard, wanted to see the sanctity of St. Francis, ordered a bed to be prepared for him in his own room, where a lamp burned all night. Now St Francis, in order to conceal his sanctity, as soon he entered the room, threw himself upon the bed, pretending to fall asleep. Bernard likewise soon after went to bed, and began to snore as if sleeping soundly. On hearing this, St Francis, thinking that Bernard was really fast asleep, got up and began to pray. Raising his hands and eyes to heaven, he said, “My God! my God!” at the same time weeping bitterly; and thus he remained on his knees all night, repeating with great love and intensity the words, “My God! my God!”
Then Bernard, seeing by the light of the lamp the devout actions of St Francis and the expression of his countenance, and considering the words he spoke, was touched by the Holy Spirit, and resolved to change his life. The next morning, therefore, he called St Francis, and asked him: “Brother Francis, I am disposed in heart wholly to leave the world, and to obey thee in all things as thou shalt command me.” At these words, St Francis rejoiced in spirit and said, “Bernard, a resolution such as thou speakest of is so difficult and so great an act, that we must take counsel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and pray to him that he may be pleased to show us what is his will, and may teach us to follow it. Let us then go together to the Bishop’s palace, where we shall find a good priest who will say Mass for us. We will then remain in prayer till the third hour, imploring the Lord to point out to us the way he wishes us to select, and to this intent we will open the Missal three times.” And they set out together, heard Mass, and after they had remained in prayer till the time fixed, the priest, at the request of St Francis, took up Missal, then, having made the sign of the holy cross, he opened it three times, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The first place which he lit upon was at the answer of Christ to the young man who asked of him the way to perfection: If thou wilt be perfect, go, sell all that thou hast and give to the poor, and come, follow me. The second time he opened at the words which the Saviour addressed to the Apostles when he sent them forth to preach the Word of Truth: Take nothing with you for your journey: neither staff, nor scrip, nor bread, nor money; wishing to teach them thereby to commit the care of their lives to him, and give all their thoughts to the preaching of the Holy Gospel. When the Missal was opened a third time they came upon these words: If any one will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Then St Francis, turning to Bernard, said: “This is the advice that the Lord has given us; go and do as thou hast heard; and blessed be the Lord Jesus Christ who has pointed out to thee the way of his angelic life.” Upon this, Bernard went and sold all that he had. Now he was very rich, and with great joy he distributed his wealth to widows, to orphans, to prisoners, to monasteries, to hospitals, and to pilgrims, in all which St Francis assisted him with prudence and fidelity.
And so how St. Francis’ life continued until his death in 1226.
Let us pray.
In today’s gospel Jesus warns us that the Father expects us to use the talents which He has gifted us are used for the benefit of others – our families, our community and those less well off than ourselves. We pray that our response and efforts bear fruit and are pleasing to the Lord. We pray to the Lord.
As we conclude the Season of Creation, we pray join with St. Francis and ask that the Holy Spirit inspire our leaders and peoples to safeguard the earth, the wonderful garden we have inherited, so that we don’t leave a desert for our children. We pray to the Lord.
We pray with St. Francis for families in our community who struggle with financial, health or other worries that they are granted the government and community support which they need at this time. We pray to the Lord.
We pray that all new technologies must remain at the service of the human person rather than becoming yet another instrument of domination and injustice. We pray to the Lord.
We join St. Francis pray for peace and an end to war and aggression in our world. We pray to the Lord.
We pray to God for an increase of clergy and religious for our denomination that we might spread the message of Christ to all peoples without exception. We pray to the Lord.
That those who believe in our mission, will consider a donation to help us to have better resources so that we can expand our outreach to more people and bring them the Good News. We pray to the Lord.
For those on our parish prayer list, that they may receive swift answers to their needs and that they may find consolation through Christ’s healing presence. We pray to the Lord.
We bow our heads and remember in silence our own personal intentions and the intentions of those who have asked for our prayers (pause). We pray to the Lord.
We remember St. Francis by praying the famous prayer credited to him:
Lord, make me a channel of thy peace,that where there is hatred, I may bring love;that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness;that where there is discord, I may bring harmony;that where there is error, I may bring truth;that where there is doubt, I may bring faith;that where there is despair, I may bring hope;that where there are shadows, I may bring light;that where there is sadness, I may bring joy.Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted;to understand, than to be understood;to love, than to be loved.For it is by self-forgetting that one finds.It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.It is by dying that one awakens to Eternal Life.
Merciful God, you call us to be salt and light and to live as your righteous, holy people. We want to, Lord, but we fall short! We confess that there is good and bad, light and dark within our own hearts. We want to do what is right, but our fears and anxieties lead us to self-protection rather than vulnerability, to hoarding rather than freely sharing, to self-righteousness rather than compassion. Forgive us, O God. Restore us by your mercy that having received the gift of your infinite love, we might turn to our neighbor and give your love away. For the sake of Christ, we pray. Amen.
God Love You.
The Most Rev. Robert Winzens
Pastor – St. Francis Chapel
San Diego, CA.
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