by

THE SERMON OF SAINT FRANCIS

INTRODUCTION

On October 4th, people of faith and goodwill everywhere celebrate Saint Francis of Assisi. For eight centuries, Saint Francis has been venerated as patron of pets, merchants, families, peacemaking, and environment protection. Francis is a healer, mystic, and miracle maker.

The Poor Man of Assisi’s spirituality is rooted in the joyful appreciation of seeing God’s love in every living thing, in all creatures great and small. Francis thanked God for his human brothers and sisters. He also praised the Lord for every bee, every bird, every boar, and every  plant and pebble upon which he walked.

Almost everyone knows about how Saint Francis preached to the birds. But we sometimes forget about the larks. On the evening Francis passed from this life, the larks, who normally shun the shadows of twilight, circled his cell in flight, singing and weeping their friend into heaven. In this spirit, we pray with one of our favorite poems.

THE SERMON OF SAINT FRANCIS
BY HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW

Up soared the lark into the air,
a shaft of song, a winged prayer,
as if a soul released from pain
were flying back to heaven again.

Saint Francis heard: it was to him
an emblem of the Seraphim;
the upward motion of the fire,
the light, the heat, the heart’s desire.

Around Assisi’s convent gate
the birds, God’s poor who cannot wait,
from moor and mere and darksome wood
come flocking for their dole of food.

‘O Brother Birds,’ Saint Francis said,
‘Ye come to me and ask for bread,
but not with bread alone today
shall ye be fed and sent away.’

‘Ye shall be fed, ye happy birds,
with manna of celestial words;
not mine, though mine they seem to be,
not mine, though they be spoke through me.’

‘Oh, doubly are ye bound to praise
the great Creator in your lays;
he giveth you your plumes of down,
your crimson hoods, your cloaks of brown.’

‘He giveth  you your wings to fly
and breathe a purer air on high,
and careth for you everywhere,
who for yourselves so little care!’

With flutter of swift wings and songs
together rose the feathered thongs,
and singing scattered far apart;
deep peace was in Saint Francis’ heart.

He knew not if the brotherhood
his homily had understood;
he only knew that to one ear
the meaning of his words was clear.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) was born in Portland, Maine. He graduated from Bowdoin College. As a poet and educator, he became famous throughout the world for Evangeline, Paul Revere’s Ride, and The Song of Hiawatha. He is also remembered as the first American scholar to translate the Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri. In 1875, he wrote The Sermon of Saint Francis. Upon his retirement from Harvard, he lived in the house that served as George Washington’s military headquarters during the Revolutionary War. He rests in peace at Mount Auburn Cemetery.

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!

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THE ASSISI PROJECT
A FELLOWSHIP OF FRANCISCANS IN SPIRIT
INTERCESSORY PRAYER MINISTRY

Members of the Assisi Project, ranging in age from 18 to 102, pray each and every day for all who ask for our prayers. If you would like our fellowship to pray for you or your special intention, please contact Brother Patrick at brpatrick@assisiproject.com. In communion with Pope Leo XIV and in solidarity with people of faith and goodwill everywhere, we also pray for peace, truth, and justice. In addition, we pray for all migrants and refugees; for the courage to speak truth to power; and for the poor, the persecuted, and the unjustly imprisoned. Please join us in prayer by clicking the link below! Thank you for your prayers! May God bless you! May the Risen Lord give you peace!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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 with the blessing of Cardinal Sean O’Malley. For more information about the Assisi Project and our good work with adults of all ages and backgrounds, please contact Brother Patrick at brpatrick@assisiproject.com.

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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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In Memory of Constance McGrath