Pastor's Corner - Jan 18, 2025
Jubilee Year of St Francis!
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Peace and all good things to you! As you know this is a very special year for the Franciscan family throughout the world because we mark the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226). It is a joy to share the following news with you, and I have taken the announcement largely from our Franciscan Order’s website:
At the behest of Pope Leo XIV, the Vatican has decreed a special Year of St. Francis, from January 10, 2026, to January 10, 2027, on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the passing of St. Francis of Assisi into heaven. This decree grants, throughout the entire period, the possibility of obtaining a plenary indulgence. The Pope presents this time as a gift for the entire Church, not just for the Franciscan Family, so that the 800th anniversary may become an occasion for authentic spiritual renewal. The decree mentions how St. Francis remains extraordinarily relevant even in our own era and invites everyone to “become saints in the contemporary world, following the example of the Seraphic Patriarch,” turning hope into real charity and a real commitment to peace.
The plenary indulgence is granted under the usual conditions: sacramental confession, Eucharistic communion, and prayer according to the intentions of the Holy Father, with a heart detached from sin. It may also be applied in suffrage for the souls in Purgatory. It may be obtained by members of the Franciscan Family, ecclesial communities inspired by the charism of St. Francis, and all the faithful. During the Year of St. Francis, they need only make a pilgrimage to a Franciscan church or a place of worship dedicated to St. Francis, take part in the Jubilee rites or pause in prayer and meditation, and conclude with the Our Father, the Creed, and invocations to the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Francis, St. Clare, and the Saints of the Franciscan Family.
Special consideration is given to the elderly, the sick, and those who are unable to leave their homes. They may gain the indulgence by spiritually joining in the celebrations and offering their sufferings and prayers to God.... Thus, this Year of St. Francis presents itself as a time of favor, a grace offered to all, so that—as the Pope hopes—"feelings of Christian charity toward one’s neighbor and authentic desire for har- mony and peace among peoples may be reborn in hearts.”
As part of the Franciscan family, the Basilica of St. Stanislaus is grateful once again to open its doors to this time of grace and spiritual renewal. May St. Francis continue to inspire us on our spiritual journey and intercede for all of us during this special anniversary year.
Blessings,
Fr. Brad