Tag Archives: passing

The Passing of Pope Francis.

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The Vatican

I have a bad habit of waking up very early in the morning; 5:00 AM, early in the morning! I usually cannot fall back asleep, so I looked at my IPhone, and saw the bulletins, announcing the passing of Pope Francis, head of the Catholic Church. Now, I am a skeptic of such “news” that comes over the Web. So I turned on the TV, and sadly saw that it was true.

It was a bit of a shock, because earlier there were scenes of a weakened Pope Francis waving to the crowds. There was hope that he would have survived this bout of illness. It was not to be.

Pope Francis, in my mind, and it will be my hope; will be remembered as a unique and holy father of the Church. He will definitely be missed.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him! Through the mercy of God, may he rest in peace.

The Transitus of Saint Francis of Assisi

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TransitusOn this evening, October 3rd, throughout the world, members of the Franciscan family, and persons attracted to Francis of Assisi; are gathering in churches, chapels, friaries, monasteries, and convents. We gather to commemorate the passing of a beautiful soul, from this life into eternal life in heaven. We will read the stories of his final days, offer prayers of thanksgiving to God, for the gift of Francis.
St. Francis of Assisi, born a cloth merchant’s son, he would become a mystic, an evangelist, a lover of the poor, a lover of God. Through him, people were drawn back to faith, to living the Gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ. Thousands of men were inspired to follow Francis as members of the Order of Friars Minor; thousands of women joined his disciple, Clare of Assisi, in monastic communities known as the Poor Ladies, later the Poor Clares. And thousands of ordinary people, men and women, farmers and merchants, rich and poor; gathered together as Penitents, under his and his brethren’s guidance. They would become known as the Third Order of St. Francis, later the Secular Franciscan Order.
For twenty years, Francis strove to live the Good News of the Jesus Christ; now his life on this earth was ending. Friar Thomas of Celano, an early biographer of the saint, told this story of his passing:
“Then, when many brothers had gathered about, whose father and leader he was, and while they were standing reverently at his side awaiting his blessed death and happy end, his most holy soul was freed from his body and received into the abyss of light, and his body fell asleep in the Lord. One of his brothers and disciples, a man of some renown, whose name I think should withhold here because while he lives in the flesh, he prefers not to glory in so great a privilege, saw the soul of the most holy father ascend over many waters directly into heaven. For it was like a star, having in some way the immensity of the moon, but a certain extent the brightness of the sun, and it was borne upward on a little cloud.” Celano, First Life: 110
Francis of Assisi, by his life and his words, continues to inspire many Christians to live a deeper commitment to Christ. The story of his life continues to inspire pilgrims to come to Assisi, to visit the places key to life, and to his final resting place. Pax et Bonum!