Dear friends of Living Faith Foundation,
At first glance, Assisi, Italy, might seem like one of the many charming medieval villages scattered across Europe. But Assisi is also the birthplace of Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, born there in 1181. We know him as St. Francis, a man whose life and witness have left an enduring mark on human history.
For centuries, the remarkable life of St. Francis of Assisi has drawn people closer to the heart of the Gospel. He became a “holy fool” for God, embracing a life of complete poverty and radical trust. On October 4, we will commemorate the 800th anniversary of his birth into eternal life.
Francis died as he had lived: with nothing of his own. He asked to be naked so that he could enter eternity without even the robe on his back. His biographer, Thomas of Celano (1200–1255), records his final words: “Welcome, my Sister Death.”
For me, this anniversary is more than an occasion to remember a beloved saint. It is an invitation to let his Gospel-centered witness shape the way we live today.
Francis lived in a time marked by conflict, inequality and spiritual restlessness—not so different from our own. His response was disarmingly simple: draw close to Christ, welcome those at the margins, make peace where relationships are broken and receive Creation as a gift rather than a possession. Eight centuries later, his path remains both challenging and deeply hopeful. During this Jubilee year, each of us is invited to become a steady witness of peace in our homes, parishes, workplaces and communities.
I invite you to pause with me and ask: Where is God calling me to trade noise for simplicity, division for fraternity or indifference for loving attention?
Perhaps each of us can begin with one small faithful step this week. Invite a friend to pray with you. Learn more about Francis and his follower Clare. Reach out to mend a strained relationship. Spend a quiet hour outdoors, praising God for the beauty around you. No gesture is too small when we offer it with love.
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May St. Francis, brother of all Creation, teach us to follow Christ with joyful simplicity. Let’s ask him to help us become instruments of reconciliation, courageous servants of those in need and grateful caretakers of God’s gifts. May Francis’ Jubilee renew our living faith!
In gratitude,
