MEMORIAL OF ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI, OFM AND FOUNDER.
THE MEMORIAL OF ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI, OFM. DEACON AND FOUNDER.
"The seventy-two disciples returned rejoicing and said to Jesus, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.”
"Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you.
"Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
"At that very moment he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said,
“I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”
Turning to the disciples in private he said, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.” (Luke 10: 17 - 24).
Saturday October 4th is the Memorial of St Francis of Assisi, OFM.
Saturday , 4th October 2025 in the 26th week in Ordinary Time is the great feast of St Francis of Assisi, the Little One.
"Francis, the man of God, left his home behind, abandoned his inheritance and became poor and penniless, but the Lord raised him up." (Entrance Antiphon on the Feast of St Francis of Assisi).
Who is St Francis of Assisi? (1182 - 1226). Italian. Deacon and Founder of the Order of Friars Minor, popularly known as the Franciscans. We Salute all our Franciscan friends all over the world who have labored in the Lord's Vineyard since the 1220s in all fields of the Apostolate. Persevere to the end and your reward will be huge.
Francis became famous for imitating closely the poverty of Jesus Christ in spirit and in deed. Holiness always attracts. After Francis was seized by Jesus and said Yes to the Lord, Francis soon attracted a group of like-minded young men who bound themselves together to live evangelical poverty, chastity and obedience. Our Lord Jesus Christ, Head of the Church has used simple men like Francis and the Franciscans to renew the Church which is ever in need of reform.
What comes to your mind when you hear of St Francis of Assisi in 2025? Many people would think of a man of peace. "Lord, make me an instrument of peace..." Others will think of radical evangelical poverty... "The little poor man of Assisi." Both are salient attributes in the profile of this exceptionally gifted holy man. I want to mention too Francis' deep love of creation and care of the earth. Most people that are aware of the impending disaster from Global Warming will know Francis of Assisi and his contribution to this topical debate.
Other pivotal figures raised up by Jesus for the renewal of the Church are:
Benedict, Clare, Dominic, Ignatius Loyola, Teresa of Avila, Teresa of Kolkata, etc.
Are you the next great Saint? You too can be a saint. You too can be an instrument of Peace. You too can be committed to preserving the beauty and goodness of the environment for future generations and become an apostle of Care for Creation and Safe Environment.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."(Matthew 5: 3).
"We thank you for the beauty of creation: may the work of man not disfigure it, but enhance it to your greater glory." Amen.
"For some time already, Our Lord has made me desire to have adoration on Thursday in thanksgiving for the Holy Eucharist, and also in thanksgiving for the mystery of the priesthood. After Mass, I made my confession to the chaplain of the monastery. He confirmed certain things having to do with the resistances to grace that I confessed. He directed me towards the saints, something that corresponds exactly to the strong attraction to the friendship of the saints that has always marked my life." (IN SINU JESU, Thursday, October 4, 2007 Saint Francis of Assisi).
From the Gospel of today, we note:
The jubilant disciples fresh from their practice teaching declared to Jesus: "The demons are subject to us because of your name."
This is what impressed most the student missionaries. Do you believe in demons?
Today, belief in demonic spirits seems to have gone out of fashion. Note that the heart of our faith are truths revealed by Sacred Scripture, embedded in Sacred Tradition and confirmed by the authoritative teaching of the Magisterium. So this truth about demonic spirits cannot be in fashion or out of fashion.
Here is what the Holy Church teaches about demons:
"Satan or the devil and the other demons are fallen angels who have freely refused to serve God and his plan. Their choice against God is definitive. They try to associate man in their revolt against God." (CCC 414).
Why a special month for the Holy Rosary?
Because the Rosary is a special Prayer that came down from heaven to the Church. St Dominic received the Holy Rosary on behalf of the Church.
A FAMILY THAT PRAYS THE ROSARY TOGETHER STAYS TOGETHER.
Say the Holy Rosary every day in October.
For Prayers, Consecration, Litany, Testimony of Jesus about those who pray the Rosary, click the link below:
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