St. Francis of Assisi

An old ladder reaching into the night starry sky.

Creation Is a Ladder to God

Penance, poverty, humility and compassion were the values that forged Francis into a “cosmic brother,” one who was related to all creatures and to the elements of creation.
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A statue of St. Francis of Assisi on a horse as a young soldier

St. Francis Encounters the Crucified Christ

The Franciscan path to God is an inversion of monastic values. Rather than fleeing the world to find God, God is to be found in the world. The idea that “the world is our cloister” finds its root in Francis ...
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priest holding the sacramental bread to the sky.

St. Francis and the Body of Christ

Thomas of Celano, an early friar and author of three hagiographies of Francis, wrote that the saint “burned with a love that came from his whole being for the sacrament of the Lord’s body.”
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person drawing a heart in the sand

Love As St. Francis Did

To fully love as Francis did, there is no compartmentalizing. Can I follow this example?
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luggage on a road

On the Road Paved by St. Francis 

For some, the idea of not putting roots down and staying in one place may seem daunting—even impossible. But for this author, it’s part and parcel of her Franciscan identity and response to God’s call. 
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Pope Leo at St. Peter's

Editorial: Pope Leo XIV, Missionary to the World  

When the conclave concluded, many jaws—including mine—were on the floor as Pope Leo XIV stepped out on the central balcony at St. Peter’s Basilica.
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