Franciscans celebrate the Feast of the Stigmata of St. Francis on September 17. We have been gifted with a very insightful treatment of this event by friar historian Michael F. Cusato in his new study: Francis of Assisi: His Life, Vision and Companions (London: Reaktion Books, 2023).
This book presents four different dimensions of Franciscan practices around material possessions, with six reflections per topic.
On August 11, the church, especially the Franciscan movement, celebrates the feast of St. Clare of Assisi (1193/94-1253), first woman companion of St. Francis and Mother of our Poor Clare Sisters.
On August 8, with the rest of the Church, the Franciscan family celebrates St. Dominic, but not simply as a memorial but as a feast, honoring him as "our holy Father."
Announcing a significant publication for those who are interested in the Franciscan spiritual tradition. St. Veronica Guiliani (1660-1727), an Italian Poor Clare, is recognized as one of the great mystics in the history of Christianity.
The Church celebrates the feast of Saint Anthony of Padua on June 13. During Anthony of Padua’s lifetime, the Catholic Church was under attack from several sects, especially the Cathars (“pure ones”), sometimes known as “Albigensians,” after the town of Albi in southern France, one of the group’s early strongholds.
On May 30 the Franciscan family celebrates the memory of St. Camilla Battista da Varano (1458–1524), a noted Poor Clare humanist and spiritual writer.
On May 28 this year, most Christians throughout the world will celebrate the feast of Pentecost, praising God for the gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church.
On April 23, the Franciscan family celebrates the memory of Blessed Giles of Assisi (c. 1190–1262), one of the first companions of St. Francis. A recent study capsulizes him as a “mystic and rebel.”
