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3rd October: The Transitus of St. Francis of Assisi

Each year on October 3, Franciscans around the world mark the Transitus of St. Francis of Assisi the moment the saint passed from earthly life to heavenly glory in 1226.

This year holds special meaning as the 800th anniversary of his death and during the Jubilee Year of St. Francis proclaimed by Pope Leo XIV. The Transitus is not simply a remembrance of death, but of the way Francis faced it: with radical fearlessness and praise. Even as he lay dying, nearly blind and in pain, he recited his Canticle of the Creatures, singing of God’s glory revealed in Brother Sun, Sister Moon, and all creation.

Franciscan communities commemorate the evening with readings from his life, Scripture, hymns, and prayer. For all the faithful, the Transitus offers a powerful reminder that death, when embraced with trust in God, becomes the gateway to eternal life.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled, as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
St. Francis of Assisi, marked with the wounds of Christ, pray for us!
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Spot The Difference Challenge

Picture hunt of the day

Find the differences and mark them in the top picture. Like | Comment | Share and post your answer in the comment

This World Is Not Ours

“Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)

In the last few Sundays, we have heard Jesus present parables in our Gospel passages. Interestingly, these parables are centred on working in the vineyard. We heard about the master who kept hiring labourers in his vineyard, and today, we hear about the tenants who refused to deliver the expected products of the vineyard. As children of God, we have been hired (at various times) into His vineyard. Regardless of when we were hired, God expects us to bear fruit – He demands that at harvest time, we will account for our opportunities, gifts and talents.

Another theme that connects these parables is God’s patience, His willingness to continue forgiving and giving second chances. Remember that Jesus spoke these parables in response to Peter’s question: “How often will my brother sin against me and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” In today’s parable, the Master kept sending messengers into the vineyard, without minding the negative reports they brought. He even sent his only Son. In this parable, Jesus is teaching us to be patient with others when they disappoint us, just as God is super patient with us.

Let us now consider other lessons contained in today’s readings:

1. This World Is Not Ours
Just as Jim Reeves sang, “This world is not my home…” Jesus reminds us again that we are, at best, tenants in this world. The vineyard does not belong to us; we brought nothing to this world (as Job would say: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb”), and more still, just as the householder worked hard to put everything in place (planting, digging and building) before hiring the tenants, God created a world and put everything in order before creating us humans to “till it and keep it”. (Genesis 2:15).

Too often, like the tenants in Jesus’ parable, we forget that we are mere caretakers in this world and that, no matter how hard we try, we can never own anything. Painfully, all our problems, fights, quarrels, worries and anxieties arise from our attempts to own the world. No wonder St. John would say: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father but of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust of it.” (1 John 2:15-17)

Consider the parable; it is a true picture of life on earth today. Know this: your money, your house, your land, your clothes, even your body; everything in your name is not yours. This is why Jesus would tell us, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:19-20)

2. Stop Worrying Over What Is Not (And Can Never Become) Yours
Isn’t it funny that we spend our entire lives worrying about the things that we didn’t even bring into this world in the first place? Isn’t it strange that after all our struggles, pain, sleepless nights, and headaches, we would still have to relinquish everything one day? As the author of Ecclesiastes asked: “What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun?” (Ecclesiastes 1:3). No matter how wealthy, successful, or influential we become, when our time comes, we must go. So why worry? On the other hand, no matter how poor we are, we still must go.

Jesus would say: “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? … And which of you can add one cubit to his lifespan by being anxious?” (Matthew 6:25-27). This brings us to our second reading today, where St. Paul says: “Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6).

Sometimes we cannot help it. There are moments when I feel like the world is crumbling on my feet, moments when I am overwhelmed with fear. As St. Paul says, the only cure for this feeling is PRAYER (acknowledging God, the owner of this world, making your requests known in faith; cf. Matthew 7:7) and THANKSGIVING. Yes, gratitude works magic. Learn to give thanks when you are worried; it helps to shift your mind away from the pain and gives you a reason to smile.

3. Avoid Negativity; Learn to Select Your Thoughts
In our second reading, St. Paul clearly defines the thoughts permitted in our minds as Christians. He says: “Whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8). St. Paul says: “Give no room for negativity.”

Come to think of it, did these thoughts run through the tenants’ minds in today’s Gospel passage? If their thoughts were honourable, pure, or lovely, would they beat up the servants sent to collect the vineyard’s produce? If their thoughts were good, would they kill the son of the householder? Dear friends, we must realise that the mind is so powerful and the thoughts we allow determine our lives. As the book of Proverbs says: “Keep your heart with all vigilance; for from it flow the springs of life.” (Proverbs 4:23). Even St. Paul warns that when we allow bad thoughts in our minds, we make the Holy Spirit sad. (Cf. Ephesians 4:30-32).

4. Use Your Opportunities in Life, or They Will Go to Others.
Jesus concludes our Gospel passage: “Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it.” (Matthew 21:43). Dear friends, we must certainly do God’s will. If we refuse to cooperate with God, He will surely find willing others. As Jesus said in our Gospel passage last Sunday: “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.” (Matthew 21:31)

Your talents are gifts; your parents are gifts; your unique experiences in life are gifts –they are all opportunities in disguise. God does not work arbitrarily; He plans long before He does something (Cf. Jeremiah 29:11). Nothing happens by chance. Your life is not a mistake. Consider everything that has ever happened to you as God’s way of planting a vineyard, setting the hedge, digging a w**e press and building a tower for you. Now, God expects you to bear fruit. You must give an account of your life.

Let us pray: Almighty ever-living God, who, in the abundance of your kindness, surpasses the merits and the desires of those who entreat you, pour out your mercy upon us to pardon what conscience dreads and to give what prayer does not dare to ask. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Liturgical Colour: Green. Bible Study: Isaiah 5:1-7, Ps. 80:9,12-16,19-20, Philippians 4:6-9, Matthew 21:33-43)
Fr. Evaristus E. Abu
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TODAY’S CATECHISM QUIZ

𝑪𝒂𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝑪𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒄 𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒂 𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏?

Why is human dignity central to Catholic teaching?
゚

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗔𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗝𝗘𝗦𝗨𝗦 — 𝗔 𝗣𝗢𝗢𝗟 𝗢𝗙 𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗖𝗬
Where does a sinner go when guilt becomes heavy?
Where does the wounded soul turn when it has fallen again?
Where can the heart that feels unworthy find forgiveness, healing, and peace?
To the Heart of Jesus.
The Sacred Heart is not a heart closed to sinners. It is the Heart of the Son of God, pierced for us, burning with divine love and overflowing with mercy.
✝️ 𝗔 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗣𝗜𝗘𝗥𝗖𝗘𝗗 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗨𝗦
At Calvary, the Heart of Jesus was pierced with a lance, and blood and water flowed from His side.
«“One of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out.”
— John 19:34»
The Church has always seen profound meaning in this mystery.
From the pierced side of Christ flows the grace He won for humanity through His Passion and death. The Heart that was wounded is the Heart that continues to invite the wounded.
Jesus does not hide His wounds from us.
He shows them to us.
And those wounds proclaim:
“My mercy is greater than your misery.”
✝️ 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗢𝗨𝗟 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗥𝗘𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗡𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗛𝗜𝗠 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗦 𝗠𝗘𝗥𝗖𝗬
Perhaps you have sinned.
Perhaps you have fallen into the same weakness more than once.
Perhaps you have carried a burden of guilt for years.
Perhaps you have wondered whether God can still forgive you.
Do not allow shame to convince you to run away from Christ.
Run toward Him.
The Sacred Heart reminds us that God's mercy is not exhausted by our failures.
This does not mean that sin does not matter. Sin wounds our relationship with God and calls for genuine repentance.
But when we repent sincerely, Christ does not meet us with hatred.
He meets us with mercy.
That is why the Church gives us the Sacrament of Reconciliation: so that the sinner can return to the merciful Heart of Christ and hear the words of absolution.
✝️ 𝗔 𝗙𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗔𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗗𝗢𝗘𝗦 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗥𝗨𝗡 𝗗𝗥𝗬
Human patience can become exhausted.
Human forgiveness can have limits.
Human love can grow weak.
But the mercy of Christ is not measured by the limitations of human hearts.
The Sacred Heart is an inexhaustible source of divine love.
The more deeply we recognize our need for mercy, the more deeply we can appreciate the love revealed in Christ.
His Heart is a refuge for the repentant, strength for the weak, consolation for the sorrowful, and hope for those who have fallen.
✝️ 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗔𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗧
When you are discouraged, come to His Heart.
When you are tempted, come to His Heart.
When you have sinned, repent and come to His Heart.
When you are carrying a cross, come to His Heart.
When you are grateful, come to His Heart.
When you cannot find the words to pray, simply remain before His Heart.
Jesus Himself says:
«“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”
— Matthew 11:28»
The Sacred Heart of Jesus is an invitation:
Come closer.
Come home.
Come and receive mercy.
𝗦𝗔𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗝𝗘𝗦𝗨𝗦, 𝗜 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗜𝗡 𝗬𝗢𝗨.
May we never become so ashamed of our wounds that we stop approaching the One whose Heart was wounded for us.
His Heart was opened so that we might discover the depth of His love.
✝️ 𝗜𝗴𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘂𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗺
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