Joel 2:12–18; Psalm 51:3–4, 5–6, 12–13, 17; 2 Corinthians 5:20—6:2; Matthew 6:1–6, 16–18

Around the world in October, we Franciscans celebrate the Feast of St. Francis (October 4). One part of our annual observance is a service on the evening of October 3, known as the “Transitus,” or “passing” of St. Francis. It’s a simple time of storytelling and prayers that recall how, at the moment of his death, Francis called out “Welcome, Sister Death!”

What is a pilgrimage? It’s certainly not a vacation, says Greg Friedman, OFM, who leads tours in Assisi, Italy, and the Holy Land. “When you go on pilgrimage,” Fr. Greg says, “you are there to allow God to work in your life.”