It was 780 years ago, on October 3, 1226, that Saint Francis of Assisi died. He was 45 years old. At the time of his death, the Order was flourishing and numbered thousands of friars. The Province of the Holy Land had been created nine years earlier and several friars had already come to Jerusalem; Saint Francis himself was there between 1219 and 1220. However, the friars were not definitively installed in the Holy Places until 1229, at the fifth Station of the Cross.
Today their “general headquarters” is still in the Old City, near the New Gate, and the solemnities of the feast of the seraphic saint will be celebrated there, beginning with First Vespers. In the Church, following Jewish tradition, the day begins at sunset (And there was evening and there was morning – the first day. Gen. 1:5). Thus, the faith of the three great monotheisms considers this passage on earth as a night that will open onto the eternal light. That is why the First Vespers commemorate the death of the saint, his transitus; that is, his passage from death to the beatific vision, which is celebrated the next day.
All of the Franciscans who are present in the Holy City, except for those whose service in the sanctuaries and to pilgrims prevent them from attending, gather at 5:30 p.m. in Saint Saviour’s Church to chant the death of the Little Poor Man from Assisi. They will be joined in their prayer by the students of the country’s pontifical universities: the seminary in Beit Jala and the Salesians, who have now been installed in Jerusalem. The students will join the Franciscan friars in formation, for whom this feast is the occasion to renew their vows, following the example of their holy Founder, who even at his death continued to exhort his brothers to “divine love. He spoke at length about persevering poverty and patience and the faith of the holy Roman Church, placing the holy Gospel ahead of other observances”, as he rejoiced at having been faithful to the end. [1]
After Vespers, all the students will enjoy a fraternal meal together. At the 10:30 Mass the next morning, a large gathering of religious and laypeople from the city will join the Franciscans of Jerusalem [2]. Some people will be surprised to see a Dominican – this year, Father Jean-Michel Poffet, director of l’École Biblique – presiding over the ceremony and another Dominican, Father Olivier-Thomas Venard, delivering the homily. The two friars of the Order of Preachers will be joined as principle concelebrants by the Father Custos, Brother Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and his Vicar, Brother Artemio Vitores. Francis and Dominic met in Rome around the year 1215. Both founded mendicant Orders, and their differences never separated them. The friars wish to demonstrate in this way the communion between their holy founders.
But the Dominicans will not be the only religious present. Following tradition, the Friars Minor have invited a representative from each of the city’s Catholic communities of men. Of course, anyone who wishes to may join the Mass, but the representatives will also be present at the festive meal following. Of special note this year will be the presence for the first time of the Mother Abbess of the Poor Clares of Jerusalem. She will not, however, be the only woman in the refectory. All the religious brothers and sisters of the city are invited, along with the Consuls General and their spouses, with pride of place given to the four protector-nations of Holy Land Christians: Belgium, Italy, France and Spain [3].
Chanting the Second Vespers after a beautiful day, the Franciscan friars of Saint Saviour’s will enjoy a more intimate time together in memory of Saint Francis. There will be an evening and there will be a day, and the Franciscans of the Holy Land will gently return to their daily life.
MAB
[1] Saint Bonaventure, Major Legend of Saint Francis, 14: 4 and 5
[2] The celebration is not restricted to Jerusalem. The principal convents of the Holy Land have also sent out numerous invitations to share their joy in the gift of Saint Francis.
[3] The order of precedence is fixed by the length of tenure of the serving Consul. Thus, after the Consul General of Belgium is replaced in November, the order of precedence for the Christmas celebrations will be Italy, France, Spain, Belgium
Today their “general headquarters” is still in the Old City, near the New Gate, and the solemnities of the feast of the seraphic saint will be celebrated there, beginning with First Vespers. In the Church, following Jewish tradition, the day begins at sunset (And there was evening and there was morning – the first day. Gen. 1:5). Thus, the faith of the three great monotheisms considers this passage on earth as a night that will open onto the eternal light. That is why the First Vespers commemorate the death of the saint, his transitus; that is, his passage from death to the beatific vision, which is celebrated the next day.
All of the Franciscans who are present in the Holy City, except for those whose service in the sanctuaries and to pilgrims prevent them from attending, gather at 5:30 p.m. in Saint Saviour’s Church to chant the death of the Little Poor Man from Assisi. They will be joined in their prayer by the students of the country’s pontifical universities: the seminary in Beit Jala and the Salesians, who have now been installed in Jerusalem. The students will join the Franciscan friars in formation, for whom this feast is the occasion to renew their vows, following the example of their holy Founder, who even at his death continued to exhort his brothers to “divine love. He spoke at length about persevering poverty and patience and the faith of the holy Roman Church, placing the holy Gospel ahead of other observances”, as he rejoiced at having been faithful to the end. [1]
After Vespers, all the students will enjoy a fraternal meal together. At the 10:30 Mass the next morning, a large gathering of religious and laypeople from the city will join the Franciscans of Jerusalem [2]. Some people will be surprised to see a Dominican – this year, Father Jean-Michel Poffet, director of l’École Biblique – presiding over the ceremony and another Dominican, Father Olivier-Thomas Venard, delivering the homily. The two friars of the Order of Preachers will be joined as principle concelebrants by the Father Custos, Brother Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and his Vicar, Brother Artemio Vitores. Francis and Dominic met in Rome around the year 1215. Both founded mendicant Orders, and their differences never separated them. The friars wish to demonstrate in this way the communion between their holy founders.
But the Dominicans will not be the only religious present. Following tradition, the Friars Minor have invited a representative from each of the city’s Catholic communities of men. Of course, anyone who wishes to may join the Mass, but the representatives will also be present at the festive meal following. Of special note this year will be the presence for the first time of the Mother Abbess of the Poor Clares of Jerusalem. She will not, however, be the only woman in the refectory. All the religious brothers and sisters of the city are invited, along with the Consuls General and their spouses, with pride of place given to the four protector-nations of Holy Land Christians: Belgium, Italy, France and Spain [3].
Chanting the Second Vespers after a beautiful day, the Franciscan friars of Saint Saviour’s will enjoy a more intimate time together in memory of Saint Francis. There will be an evening and there will be a day, and the Franciscans of the Holy Land will gently return to their daily life.
MAB
[1] Saint Bonaventure, Major Legend of Saint Francis, 14: 4 and 5
[2] The celebration is not restricted to Jerusalem. The principal convents of the Holy Land have also sent out numerous invitations to share their joy in the gift of Saint Francis.
[3] The order of precedence is fixed by the length of tenure of the serving Consul. Thus, after the Consul General of Belgium is replaced in November, the order of precedence for the Christmas celebrations will be Italy, France, Spain, Belgium