Feast of All Saints of the Seraphic Order

On November 29, the Franciscan family celebrates the Feast of All Saints of the Seraphic Order – remembering the countless Franciscan men and women who have lived out the Gospel of Jesus Christ by following the patterns of life left by Francis and Clare of Assisi. This date was chosen for the feast as Pope Honorius III confirmed the Rule of St. Francis on November 29, 1223.

Saints of the First Order

We rejoice that for the past 800 years, the Franciscan way of life has continued to inspire exemplary women and men. There now have been almost 100 Friars Minor ("Lesser Brothers") officially recognized as saints by the Church – 21 who lived before the various divisions formed within the Order, and since 1517, over 70 Friars Minor from their various independent branches: the Friars Minor (OFM), Conventual Franciscans, and Capuchins. Eleven of them have been canonized by Pope Francis: Ludovico of Casoria, OFM (+1885), Junipero Serra, OFM (+1784), Angelo of Acri, OFM Cap. (+1739), and most recently, Manuel Ruiz López, OFM, and seven other friars who were martyred in Damascus in 1860.

St. Angelo of Acri, canonized by Pope Francis on October 15, 2017

The Martyrs of Damascus, canonized by Pope Francis on October 20, 2024

Saints of the Second and Third Orders

Twelve Poor Clares have been officially recognized as saints, as well as fifteen women and men who belonged to various Third Order Regular congregations, most recently Dulce Lopes Pontes, SMIC (+1992), Maria Francisca Rubatto (+1904), and Carolina (Maria di Gesu) Santocanale (+1923). Then there are about 75 canonized women and men who were Secular Franciscans, four of whom were canonized by Pope Francis: Angela of Foligno (+1309), Pope John XXIII (+1963), Amato Ronconi (+1292), and Marguerite Bays (+1879).

St. Dulce Lopes Pontes, canonized by Pope Francis on October 13, 2019

St. Marguerite Bays, canonized by Pope Francis on October 13, 2019

And of course, there is even a greater host of Franciscan women and men who have been declared "Blessed" and "Venerable Servants of God." And all of us have known truly holy Franciscans whose lives were known to a smaller circle of people and so will never be officially "canonized," but who deeply reflected authentic Gospel values to us. They all continue to inspire us and we remember all of them today.

Cover image: The "Great Mosaic" from St. Francis of Assisi Church in New York City, depicting Mary Immaculate as Queen of the Seraphic Order, with Francis, Clare, and a variety of Franciscan saints beneath them.