St. Francis of Assisi

According to the decree, Pope Leo has established that from Jan. 10, following the closing of the church’s Jubilee Year, until Jan. 10, 2027, a special Year of St. Francis.

Out in my perennial garden, nestled among the bleeding hearts and hyacinths, stands a well-worn clay statue of St. Francis of Assisi made by an artisan in Mexico. The unusual characteristics of the statue make it a conversation piece as well as a spiritual touchstone that helps keep me centered as I dig and weed and plant each spring.

On a dusky fall evening, I take a walk down a familiar neighborhood street. Ahead of me, a small deer looks my way at the same moment I spot him. Freezing, I realize he’s being followed by seven companions. They dash across the street and disappear into a backyard.

Liturgy shapes our buildings and our buildings shape our liturgy. Basic principles for designing or renovating churches are drawn from several of Vatican II’s documents on the liturgy, but we cannot build churches that are modeled on what we understood about the worshiping Church in years gone by because we are a different Church.

On the 800th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi setting up the first Nativity scene, the creche in St. Peter’s Square in 2023 will come from the Diocese of Rieti, Italy, and pay tribute to the scene set up in the diocese in 1223.

The pope met in Assisi with young economists, entrepreneurs, financial advisers, scholars and scientists who have been working for two years on the Economy of Francesco project.

How can we be instruments of peace in this weary world?

In the spotlight: Pet blessing, Afghan refugees, Father Kapaun funeral