CELEBRATING SAINT FRANCIS
800TH ANNIVERSARY (1226-2026)

Introduction

In 2026, the Catholic Church commemorates the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi. Four decades ago, in anticipation of the 800th anniversary of the birth of the Poor Man of Assisi, a friar and a publisher joined forces to produce The Francis Book. It contains dozens of short reflections, by authors known and unknown, on the life and legacy of Saint Francis. Among these is a brief essay called Poor Man of God by Dan Mauk of New York City, who spent many years as a volunteer with Dorothy Day’s Catholic Worker Movement. These are Dan’s words, not mine. We are deeply grateful for his permission to share this reflection with our friends and followers around the world.

Poor Man of God
By Dan Mauk

Francis of Assisi is most easily remembered as a soul so full of love for God that his worldly cares were few and seldom. He was a gentle man, a man of great tenderness — so much tenderness that Thomas of Celano, the first biographer of Francis, describes how the Poverello once preached to the birds:

“My brother birds, you should praise your Creator very much and always love him: He gave feathers to clothe you, wings so that you can fly, and whatever else was necessary for you. God made you noble among his creatures, and he gave you a home in the purity of the air; though you neither sow nor reap, he nevertheless protects you and governs you without any solicitude on your part.” And it is said that the birds rejoiced at his words.

In The Little Flowers, we read that Francis tamed the fierce wolf of Gubbio; it “lowered its head and lay down at the saint’s feet, as though it had become a lamb.” But if we look further, we will see that Francis was more than just a lover of God’s animals, a man to be remembered in birdbath figures.

Francis Bernadone was a man who fully embraced the Gospels and found in the Word of God a way of life and a clear direction to follow, so much that he began a written Rule for his followers by saying: “The Rule and life of the Friars Minor is this, namely, to observe the Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ.” Francis realized that the “Rule” for Christian life had already been written and now only needed to be joyfully and seriously followed. The words of Matthew’s Gospel moved him to action and a lifelong commitment: “If you will be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come, follow me (Matthew 19:21).” And Francis repeated these words to those who came to follow him.

For his wealth, and for his spouse, he chose Lady Poverty, because, like Jesus, he had a Father in heaven who was his only treasure and he was solicitous in guarding this pearl of the Gospel. How great was his compassion for the poor, again described by Celano: “The soul of Francis melted toward the poor, and to those to whom he could not extend a helping hand, he at least showed his affection. Whatever he saw in anyone of want, whatever form of penury, he transferred in his mind, by a quick change, to Christ. Thus in all of the poor he saw the Son of the poor lady, and he bore naked in his heart Him whom she bore naked in her arms.”

Francis was a peacemaker in the true sense of the Gospels. For him, war, violence, and destruction had no place in the hearts of the children of God. In the Rule he wrote for the Third Order, the laity who chose to follow him, he declared that they were “not to take up lethal weapons, or bear them about, against anybody.” So warmed by God’s love, Francis’s heart was light and soaring — so much that he could walk through the woods praising God by rubbing two sticks as a violin. Francis, the man and character in Kazantzakis’s novel Saint Francis, could say, “When a person believes in God, there is no such thing as a mute piece of wood, or pain unaccompanied by exultation, or ordinary life without miracles.” Two sticks for a violin are all one needs if deep within the chambers of the heart there already lodges music so profound.

If we are to capture the essence of the man called Francis, the animating force behind him, it would be an injustice to focus in on merely one aspect of his life: his love for poverty, his simplicity and joy, his life of prayer, etc. To see the whole of Francis is to see a  man of God — one who say how well bound together are the body and the world, the soul and God.

When Francis knelt before the cross in the Church of San Damiano and heard the words of the Crucified Christ, “Go, Francis, and repair my house”, there took place in his heart a complete change that left him ever after burning with love for the Crucified One. In the years that followed, his joy and light-heartedness were also accompanied by times of deep and dark suffering. He knew well the “dark night of the spirit”, suffering many physical illnesses, seeing his quickly expanding order of brothers often falling into mediocrity and corruption. He was a man who had attained the mystical heights, planted deeply in suffering. But so in love with God was Francis, so filled with the Spirit, that even in the midst of darkness he would compose his famous poem and prayer, The Canticle of Brother Sun. Accordingly, he calls on all creatures, the sun, the moon, the stars, even suffering and death itself, to pour out their praise to God.

Today, while scientists guide and direct the great technology overcoming the earth, and politicians, authorities, and wealthy corporations dangle the world over the delicate fringes of destruction, we are able to look to Francis as a great witness, teacher, and guide. We can share in that greatness and power that made Francis exuberant with joy, true joy, if we are courageous enough to become little ones, and join him in his prayer: “May the power of your love, O Lord, fiery and sweet as honey, wean my heart from all that is under heaven, so that I may die for love of your love, you who were so good as to die for love of my love.”

Glory to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Saint Francis of Assisi, pray for us! Saint Clare of Assisi, pray for us! Our Lady of the Angels, pray for us! Pope Francis, pray for us!

ABOUT THE PRESENTER

Brother Patrick Garvey is co-founder and spiritual director of the Assisi Project. He is a graduate of the University of Southern Maine, Saint John Seminary, and the Catholic University of America. He is a writer, spiritual director, retreat leader, and university lecturer. He also serves as an Associate Minister in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport in Massachusetts. On October 3, 2023, the Feast of the Transitus of Saint Francis of Assisi, Brother Patrick was consecrated as a diocesan hermit by Bishop Mark O’Connell, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Boston. For more information about the Assisi Project and our ministries with adults of all ages and backgrounds, please contact Brother Patrick at brpatrick@assisiproject.com.

Art Credit: Brian – AdobeStock 1230819460

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ABOUT US

Founded in 2007, the Assisi Project is a Fellowship of Franciscans in Spirit with friends and followers throughout the world. We are dedicated to helping Christian believers of all ages more faithfully live the Gospel of Christ in the spirit of Saint Francis and Saint Clare of Assisi. We are also dedicated to promoting a devotion to Pope Francis (1936-2025) as a patron of peace, mercy, and fraternity in our sick and suffering world.

The Assisi Project is a non-profit, tax exempt charitable organization. Please support our ministry via Pay Pal (see link below) or mail a tax-deductible donation to the Assisi Project, Post Office Box 3158, Gloucester, Massachusetts 01931-3158. The Assisi Project Podcast is produced by the Assisi Project, Inc. Copyright 2025. All rights reserved. May the Lord give you peace!

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