Assisi: Thousands of pilgrims venerate relics of St Francis

Photo by Achim Ruhnau on Unsplash

Source: Vatican Media

For the first time in 800 years, the relics of the Francis of Assisi were put on public display in the Basilica named after him on Sunday. The exposition will continue for one month until 22 March. More than 400,000 pilgrims have already pre-registered to venerate the mortal remains on this much-loved Saint.

Franciscan Father Giulio Cesario said the thousands of pilgrims who came to Assisi for the first day of the viewing of the relics entered an "atmosphere of reflection but also of joy… to venerate the mortal remains of Saint Francis and hear him whisper in their hearts a word of goodness that sustains and encourages growth."

Father Cesario, the director of the office of communications of the Sacred Convent of Assisi, offered his "heartfelt" gratitude "to all who came who love Francis and who collaborate" with the friars "to make this occasion a true moment of fraternity."

The first day of exposition on 22 February was marked in a special way by the celebration of Solemn Mass by the Pontifical Legate for the Papal Basilicas of Assisi, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime.

In his homily, the Cardinal emphasized that St Francis of Assisi embodied a spirit of independence from "the logic of the world," a freedom that does not seek possessions but entrusts itself to God, that does not seek to dominate but to serve.

Cardinal Fernández Artime said embracing this spirit does not mean taking refuge in the past, but rather firmly facing the challenges of the present. He invited the faithful to ask themselves, as we begin the season of Lent, whether we want "to live according to the logic of self-sufficiency and power, or according to the logic of trusting obedience to God."

Recalling the Gospel account of the temptation of Jesus in the desert, Cardinal Artime noted that St Francis faced these same temptations, but rather than responding with pride, accumulation of wealth, and self-sufficiency, chose instead littleness, poverty, and obedience. St Francis, he said, "chose to worship God alone."

The cardinal explained that "the victory over temptation never closes us in on ourselves, but opens us to others" pointing to Christ leaving the desert to proclaim the Kingdom, and Francis, in imitation of the Lord, overcoming temptation in order to embrace the leper and all his brothers and sisters.

He went on to explain the connection between the day's Scripture passages and the veneration of the relics of Saint Francis, which is not simply an act of remembrance, but rather "a strong and concrete invitation" to ask ourselves "where is my desert? What temptation abides within me? Where does the Lord ask me to make a leap of faith?"

LINK

Official Assisi website: www.visit-assisi.it/en/