Saint Francis of Assisi
We celebrate the Feast of St Francis of Assisi on October 4th. The feast commemorates the life of St Francis, who was born in the 12th century.
St. Francis Celebration at OLG
All are invited to honor St. Francis and the Franciscan Spirit at Our Lady of Guadalupe!
Who Is St. Francis
St Francis, who founded the Catholic Church’s Franciscan order, lived in Italy during the late 12th and 13th centuries. He is remembered for his generosity to the poor and his willingness to minister to the lepers. He is also remembered for his love for animals and nature. St Francis died at Portiuncula, Italy on October 4, 1226. Pope Gregory IX pronounced St Francis a saint in 1228. The pope also laid the foundation stone for the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, Italy, therefore sometimes you will hear St Francis referenced as St. Francis of Assisi.
The popular image of St. Francis of Assisi is warped with romantic notions. Many see him as a sweet simpleton who picked flowers and talked with animals. Francis was gentle and loved God’s creation, but he was not naive. Just the opposite. As a youth, he went to war eagerly, patiently endured imprisonment and illnesses, embraced Lady Poverty as his bride, and gave up everything to follow Christ. The real St. Francis of Assisi was a courageous spiritual warrior. (excerpt from loyolapress.com)
St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and ecology took the gospel literally by following all Jesus said and did. Read more about St. Francis
Our Parish Franciscan Spirit
In 1957, the Conventual Franciscan Fathers were appointed to be administrators of our church and have continued to serve the parish. With the arrival of the Conventual Franciscans, Cardinal McIntyre elevated the mission church to parish status in February 1958. With this new status, Our Lady of Guadalupe church experienced an increase in its community, from 400 families to over one thousand, as a result of its newly defined boundaries. Read more about our Parish History
Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
Additional St Francis prayers available on shrinesf.org