Saint Francis of Assisi
For us Dominicans today’s feast of our holy father St Francis expresses the unique bond between the Friars Minor and the Friars Preachers, due to the affinity between the founders of these Orders in their historic mission in building up the Church. As Saint Catherine of Siena recorded of them most beautifully, ‘Truly Dominic and Francis were two pillars of Holy Church: Francis with the poverty that was his hallmark, and Dominic by his learning.’ We who follow them faithfully are taught to ‘become disciples of such humble masters.’
A contemporary of Saint Dominic, Francis (1182-1226), followed the poor Christ with an admirable simplicity, and the Crucified with singular charity. In living according to the form of the Gospel, he attracted to himself numerous brothers and sisters, whom he joyfully exhorted to love of poverty, praise of the Creator and obedience to the Church. He was marked with the stigmata of the Lord in 1224, and went happily to ‘Sister Death’ on 3 October 1226. He was canonised by Gregory IX in 1228.
This stained glass window of the saint is in the church of Holy Trinity, Sloane Square in London.
Saint Francis of Assisi
For us Dominicans today’s feast of our holy father St Francis expresses the unique bond between the Friars Minor and the Friars Preachers, due to the affinity between the founders of these Orders in their historic mission in building up the Church. As Saint Catherine of Siena recorded of them most beautifully, ‘Truly Dominic and Francis were two pillars of Holy Church: Francis with the poverty that was his hallmark, and Dominic by his learning.’ We who follow them faithfully are taught to ‘become disciples of such humble masters.’
A contemporary of Saint Dominic, Francis (1182-1226), followed the poor Christ with an admirable simplicity, and the Crucified with singular charity. In living according to the form of the Gospel, he attracted to himself numerous brothers and sisters, whom he joyfully exhorted to love of poverty, praise of the Creator and obedience to the Church. He was marked with the stigmata of the Lord in 1224, and went happily to ‘Sister Death’ on 3 October 1226. He was canonised by Gregory IX in 1228.
This stained glass window of the saint is in the church of Holy Trinity, Sloane Square in London.