Extraordinary Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi.

From Our Spiritual Advisor:

Dear friends, 

I want to share something that is dear to my heart as a follower of St. Francis of Assisi.  This year we celebrate the 800th Anniversary of the death of Francis (October 3, 1226) -which Franciscans are referring to as the Easter of St. Francis.  To honor this saint and the impact he still makes on the Church, Pope Leo XIV has declared 2026 an Extraordinary Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi.  These words are from the Official Proclamation of this year: “If it is admirably true that “there is no other name under heaven given among men” (cf. Acts 4:12) except Jesus Christ, Redeemer of humanity, it is equally extraordinarily true that between the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, in an era of so-called holy wars, relaxed morals and misguided religious fervor, “a sun was born into the world”: Francis, who, as the son of a wealthy merchant, became poor and humble, a true alter Christus on earth, providing the world with tangible examples of evangelical life and a real image of Christian perfection. Our times are not very different from those in which Francis lived, and precisely in light of this, his teachings are perhaps even more valid and understandable today. When Christian charity languishes, ignorance spreads like bad habits, and those who extol harmony among peoples do so more out of selfishness than out of a sincere Christian spirit; when the virtual takes precedence over the real, social discord and violence are part of everyday life, and peace becomes more uncertain and distant every day; may this Year of Saint Francis urge us all, each according to our own possibilities, to imitate the Poverello of Assisi, to mold ourselves as much as possible on the model of Christ, to not let the intentions of the Holy Year just passed be in vain: may the hope that saw us as pilgrims now be transformed into zeal and fervor of active charity.” St. Francis urged all these followers to forgiveness and mercy because of God’s great love. He once wrote to a fellow friar: “And in this I want to know if you love the Lord and love me, his and your servant, if you will do this, namely: that there may never be any friar in the world, who has sinned as much as he could sin, who, after seeing your eyes, may go away without your merciful forgiveness, if he asks for it.” Francis understood the power of love and compassion and how it is expressed in forgiveness – by God and by us!  

So extravagant is the love of God!  When Lent is over we once again indulge in our favorite food or pastime.  Immeasurably more does God indulge in extending love and mercy toward us!  That’s the real meaning of indulgence. Unfortunately, indulgences have, over the centuries, taken on a quantitative character and the faithful may have gotten too caught up by the logistics of gaining an indulgence and missed the main point; e.g.,   take all these steps and you’ll gain a “thing”  called an indulgence.  Maybe we would do better by saying: “Come, with a sincere heart, aware of your need for God’s healing and mercy - and yearning for it, then put “feet” into your desire by showing up, by visiting a pilgrimage site if possible, and you will be graced beyond measure.  You will receive forgiveness and you will be strengthened in all you need to be a more faithful follower of Jesus Christ.” 

Three pilgrimage sites have been designated in our diocese:  the Portiuncula Chapel on the grounds of the Franciscans’ motherhouse in Sylvania, our motherhouse grounds and Blessed Sacrament Chapel in Tiffin, and the Basilica of Our Lady of Consolation in Carey.  As Cursillistas many of you have already experienced the grace of these places.  God is indulgent here in many ways.  Maybe it’s time for a pilgrimage; Cursillistas are already familiar with being pilgrims and after all, the Cursillo movement was born during a pilgrimage to Saint James Compostela in Spain.   See information on the enclosed flyer and posted in your parish churches. 

During this Jubilee Year of St. Francis may we as faithful Cursillistas along with every faithful Christian, following the example of the Saint of Assisi, become a model of holiness of life and a constant witness of peace. 

De Colores! 

Sr. Edna