There was an unmistakable joy in the air at the Shrine of St. Anthony in Ellicott City, Maryland the first weekend of October. Throughout the weekend of St. Francis of Assisi’s feast day (October 4), the Shrine offered several opportunities for pilgrims to grow in relationship with this holy saint, Christ, and one another.
Perhaps the most poignant of these events was the Transitus of St. Francis, a Franciscan prayer service held on the evening of October 3, in remembrance of the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’s passing.
Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore, who preached at the Transitus, shared, “One of the most remarkable aspects of Francis’ life is his insistence on fraternity. He did not found an institution first – he formed brothers first.”
The Archbishop’s reflection emphasized how instrumental St. Francis was in changing the culture of the Gospel – that it is “lived together,” and not meant to be divisive. “The friars who gathered around Francis were not united by personality, politics, education, or social class. Many of them had little in common. What united them was Christ.”
The next morning, St. Francis’s feast day brought a new sense of hope and light which contrasted beautifully with the solemnity of the Transitus the prior evening. Through Mass and fellowship, the Franciscan spirit of fraternity was captured as visitors were drawn together to celebrate, worship, and be together.
At Sunday’s Mass, celebrant Fr. Albert Puliyadan, OFM Conv. echoed Archbishop Lori’s sentiments on the significance St. Francis put on living the Gospel out together. Fr. Albert described his experience of seeing the Lower Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Italy. As he looked around at the altar, he was “surprised to notice that the stones were not identical…but when all these different stones were put together, they created a beautiful harmony.” In a way, Fr. Albert pondered, we are like these stones. “We are not all the same…but we can all contribute to the building up of God’s kingdom.”
Every day, the Franciscan Friars who administer the Shrine of St. Anthony live out the fraternal faith that Archbishop Lori and Fr. Albert described. They imitate St. Francis’ love of the poor through their selfless dedication to serving the impoverished people of Baltimore. They minister to thousands of pilgrims each year at the Shrine through prayer and the sacraments, living out St. Francis’ call to bring people closer to Christ. They “[remind] the Church that simplicity is not weakness and that joy can coexist with sacrifice,” as Archbishop Lori so eloquently summarized.
As Companions of St. Anthony, we are invited to support the Friars in their ministries. Your generosity helps the Friars continue their work in the community and advances the Franciscan mission. St. Francis’s example invites us to choose compassion, humility, and service. May we be inspired by the Franciscan life to give of ourselves, care for creation, and pursue community.