Transitus of St. Francis of Assisi
Every evening of October 3rd since 1226, followers of the Franciscan Order have observed the memorialized the death of their founder, Francis of Assisi. Francis was quickly canonized — only 2 years later — and is one of the patron saints of Italy, as well as the patron saint of animals and the environment. Aside from being perhaps the most famous saint of the Catholic Church, his name has reached the Seat of St. Peter earlier this year. When Cardinal Jorge M. Bergolio was elected pope, he chose the name of “Francis” after the saint and the example he set for the Church for nearly a millennium.
Last night, the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi began with a funeral procession (called a “transitus”) and service for their founder-saint at St. Camillus Church in Silver Spring, MD. The ceremony begins with a procession of an empty Franciscan habit on a bier, symbolizing his body that was carried through the streets of Assisi. It concluded with a blessing with a relic of the saint and tolling of a bell. The ceremony is not just to remember their founder and his story, but all those Franciscans who have died since the beginning of the order.
A children’s choir sings beautifully during the Transitus of St. Francis of Assisi at St. Camillus Church in Silver Spring, MD.
The adult choir singing the responsorial Psalm at St. Camillus Church during the Transitus of St. Francis of Assisi.
A Franciscan monk rings a large bell at the conclusion of the Transitus of St. Francis of Assisi. The transitus is essentially a funeral procession.
