Year of St. Francis

St. Francis of Assisi is one of the most beloved saints in our Catholic culture. His statue graces many gardens, and he is associated mostly with his love for animals. But the story of St. Francis is much more powerful than the superficial image of a holy man with a bird perched on his shoulder. Francis of Assisi, the son of a rich merchant, gave up wealth and influence to courageously follow Christ. He gathered a band of followers to join him in being committed to poverty, peace, and preaching the Gospel. This year, we are also called to follow the model of St. Francis. On January 10, our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV declared a “Year of St. Francis” in commemoration of the 800th anniversary of the saint’s death on October 3, 1226.

In his proclamation, Pope Leo emphasized that following the footsteps of St. Francis is a
powerful way to keep our eyes fixed on the Gospel when the discord and strife in everyday life tries to distract us:

When Christian charity languishes, ignorance spreads like immorality, and those who
exalt concord among peoples do so more out of selfishness than out of a sincere Christian spirit; when the virtual takes over the real, disagreements and social violence are part of everyday life and peace becomes more insecure and distant every day, this Year of St. Francis spurs all of us, each according to our possibilities, to imitate the poor man of Assisi, to form ourselves as far as possible on the model of Christ …

This year, let us imitate St. Francis of Assisi; let us be peacemakers in our families, our parish, and in our world. Let us strip ourselves of the need for power and prestige and walk humbly in the footsteps of this holy man who walked humbly in the way of Christ. From now until January 10, 2027, Pope Leo encourages us to see this as a sacred time “in which every Christian faithful, following the example of the Saint of Assisi, may himself become a model of holiness of life and a constant witness of peace.”

The Prayer of St. Francis continues to be a favorite hymn of many. As we begin 2026, let us
continue to follow its heeding and be witnesses of hope, reconciliation, fraternal charity, and
instruments of peace.

Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.