by Debi Haug, AFCU

In the Franciscan world, we are especially grateful to Pope Leo for recognizing this year as a Jubilee Year for Franciscans. Over the past several years, we have been commemorating the 800th anniversaries of pivotal moments in the life of St. Francis: the approval of the Rule of St. Francis (2023), the reception of the Stigmata (2024), the composition of the Canticle of the Creatures (2025), and, finally, the death of St. Francis in 2026.

In marking this Jubilee, Pope Leo invites us into prayer:

Saint Francis, our brother,
you who eight hundred years ago
went to meet Sister Death as a man at peace,
intercede for us before the Lord.
You recognized true peace in the Crucifix of San Damiano;
teach us to seek in Him the source of all reconciliation that breaks down every wall.
You who, unarmed, crossed the lines of war and misunderstanding,
give us the courage to build bridges where the world raises boundaries.
In this time afflicted by conflict and division, intercede for us so that we may become peacemakers:
unarmed and disarming witnesses of the peace that comes from Christ.
Amen.

As Franciscans, we are focused on the charism that has been modeled by Francis and Clare and
carried forward by countless women and men in the Franciscan family. Central to this charism
are care for the poor, reverence for creation, and a commitment to being a sign of peace in a
fractured world.

This prayer, given to us by Pope Leo, seems very appropriate for us to reflect on. With all that is
going on in our country and in the larger world, we can be reminded of the importance of
building bridges, being peacemakers, and remembering that peace does indeed come from
Christ.

With Pope Leo’s recognition of this Jubilee Year, we are invited to renewed spiritual
engagement: to visit Franciscan places of worship, to participate in spiritual conferences, and to
cultivate a deeper, more mature faith. This year, find something a little extra to do, and find a
way to make it meaningful. Maybe dig deeper into the life of Clare, find a daily devotion to
focus on for the next few months, do some research on a lay Franciscan who has done much to
make our world a better place, plant some flowers and take joy in their beauty!

As we continue to celebrate this Jubilee Year, may these small ways to live out the Franciscan
charism inspire us to carry the spirit of St. Francis back into our communities. Being rooted in
prayer, having a commitment to peace, and ensuring an attentiveness to the cries of the poor and
the earth, may we live this holy year as true witnesses to all things Franciscan!