Fall With Francis

October has been an eventful month so far in my FrancisCorps experience. I have continued to learn about St. Francis of Assisi and celebrated the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, which included attending the Transitus in his honor.

When I think of St. Francis of Assisi, I think of him as someone to be inspired by and look up to. He continued to learn how to live out the Gospel in his life. To me, he has been such a model, to the point where so many emulate his lifestyle to grow closer to God.

On Friday, October 3rd, I was given the opportunity to not only attend the Transitus of St. Francis but also participate. I had never been to Transitus before and it was wonderful to witness and hear the stories of St. Francis of Assisi in such a beautiful way. I saw how impactful St. Francis of Assisi was for me and for others, enabling people to live the Gospel in their own lives and work. Hearing about the different aspects of St. Francis’s life from my community members during the readings was a special moment. It allowed me to see not only how I could embody St. Francis’s characteristics in my own life and service, but also how my community could do the same.

St. Francis was driven and passionate about making God the center of his life. He wanted to live out God’s plan with his absolute best efforts. Having a drive for living the Gospel and a passion for serving the poor.

Volunteering at Francis House, I see the passion and love that so many of the employees have for their job! With this characteristic similar to St. Francis, I have been able to cultivate a deep love and passion for this job and the work that comes with it.

One of my favorite characteristics of St. Francis is his emphasis on relationships. Especially in the story of him and the brother who woke up in the middle of the night hungry and in distress during a fast. When the brother had eaten, St. Francis had also eaten, and then others followed. This effort to make his brother feel included and not feel shame is a beautiful perspective St. Francis had on relationships.

St. Francis had a profound love for those in his life, recognizing the importance of relationships. It is beautiful to see how community has impacted his life and the different ways it continues to impact the lives of others today. His way of life was centered around living in a community that considers everyone’s needs.

On the Feast of St. Francis, I was given the opportunity to go to Mass in the morning, followed by the Blessing of Animals, and dinner with the Friars. Celebrating this feast with those who look up to him for building a relationship with God and serving others. Observing the friars and their consideration for others during dinner and in our multiple interactions, I see how loving they are towards each other. Considering each individual’s personality and needs. This has been a reflection I have tried to encompass in my community with Amanda and Karlie. The three of us are different and have such amazing gifts, and taking those gifts and needs into account is something that St. Francis emphasized when living in community.

I am very joyful about the many things I got to experience and encounter in October; I am excited to see what November brings!

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