Tonight, we gather together in a spirit of reverence and joy to celebrate a significant moment in the life of our beloved Saint Francis of Assisi—the “Transitus.” This term, derived from the Latin "transitus," means "the passage." On this night, we remember the moment in 1226 when Saint Francis transitioned from this earthly life to eternal union with God. We don't merely commemorate his death this night, but rather the life he lived which makes this such a joyous and special transition that continues to inspire countless individuals across the globe.
To someone new to the story of Saint Francis, you may wonder: who was this man, and why do we take such time to remember him? At first glance, Francis appears to be a man who lived over 800 years ago, yet his message is always contemporary and challenges us to rethink our lives in relation to the world around us. Born into privilege, Francis felt a profound call from God to live a life of radical simplicity and humility. He renounced wealth and societal status to embrace a life of poverty, echoing the teachings of Christ.
The Transitus is a pivotal moment, not just in the chronological timeline of Francis’ life, but in the spiritual journey that he embarked upon because being a people of vision, Christians see not an end in death, but a transformation into the immortality promised by Christ. It is an immortality not of this life, but of one which will be far more enhanced in every manner. Therefore, all of us who believer, will have a beautiful "Transitus" if we but believe, and love our Lord the way Francis and the saints did.
The setting sun of this day's evening captures the essence of Francis' relationship with God—a relationship rooted in love, surrender, and deep reverence for all creation, hard work, and the joy and rest that follows a life well-lived. As we reflect on this moment, we see not an ending, but a profound beginning. For in his passing, Francis invites us to embrace our own journeys and our ultimate call to holiness so as to see in death not an end, but the beginning of eternal life with the One whom we have loved, served, and desired to be with. Everything else becomes secondary, and this is when we begin to gaze outwards.
As he lay on his deathbed, surrounded by his brothers, Francis spoke about the beauty and wonder of creation he so cherished because it was a dim reflection of the One who is Beauty itself – the Lord God, our Heavenly Father, Almighty and Everlasting.
He intuited what we can all sense through right reason--that if all of this is so spectacularly beautiful, how much more the God who brought it into being? If all of it is so grand beyond our finite's mind imagination, how much more powerful and unimaginable must the Father be in his omnipotence? And yet, Francis knew that all of it one day would naturally fade away and hence the importance of Saint Paul's admonition which he embraced wholeheartedly to stay clear of attachments; "Those who use the things in this world should do so but not depend on them. It is clear that this world in its present form is passing away." Hence, Francis placed more importance on the things of heaven: love, forgiveness, compassion, etc because as Paul also noted in his writings; "When everything else disappears, faith, hope and love remain, and the greatest of these, is love."
Saint Francis of Assisi's last words to his friars, as recorded by his early biographers, were "I have done what was mine to do; may Christ teach you what is yours to do." These words reflect his deep commitment to his faith and his hope that his followers would continue the mission he had set forth during his life. Saint Francis passed away on October 3, 1226 and went to his eternal reward. A friend of the poor, and a founder of a religious community which exists today in vast numbers around the world, with the sole purpose of serving others and making this world a better place, while pointing the way to heaven, he leaves behind a legacy which is reminiscent of the Lord's whom he had followed so wholeheartedly. Having lived like him, and even been given to have some share in his passion through his holy stigmata, he now reigns with him forever.
Add comment
Comments