This statue of Francis is the centerpiece of our Centennial Garden at Monocacy Manor in Bethlehem, Pa.
With Francis As Our Guide
Our Sisters Reflect on the Saint’s Influence on Their Lives & Spirituality
“If God can work through me, he can work through anyone.”
Among the stops on a Franciscan pilgrimage to Assisi is this small storage room in which Francis’ father imprisoned him for rebelling against his wealthy lifestyle.
As we observe the Feast of St. Francis — marking the death anniversary of Francis of Assisi in 1226 — our community usually conducts sacred rituals to honor the saint from which we draw our name and our way of gospel living. As we continue to endure a worldwide pandemic, this particular October 4 is like no other. Our Sisters in their varied locations have been unable to host their annual Transitus services, reenacting Francis’ final hours before passing into eternal life. Our practices and prayers have been more private in these strange days, but Francis remains in our hearts. In fact, he’s always been there.
Born into a life of luxury, Francis of Assisi did the unthinkable — cast off extravagance to live the simplest of lives, opening his heart and hands to the poor and relishing in God’s gifts of nature. He was a rebel of sorts, infuriating his wealthy father, renouncing his inheritance, promoting peace, and withdrawing from external influences. His only bride was Lady Poverty, as he worked relentlessly at Christ’s request to physically and spiritually rebuild the Church.
FINDING FRANCIS
Sister Rosalia Giba, who died in 2023, came to embrace Francis based on the example of his she found in her parents and in the older members of our own community who taught her at the former St. Gabriel School in Pittsburgh.
“I became a School Sister of St. Francis because I witnessed the spirituality of Francis in the Sisters that taught me — gentleness, love of nature, kindness,” she remembered. “I also learned a lot about Francis from my parents. They belonged to the Third Order of St. Francis, so every month we went to the Franciscan Friars in Avalon, Pa., for prayer and a homily.”
Even as a child, Sister Frances Marie Duncan, general minister, found in Francis a symbiotic soul. Later taught by our Sisters at St. Francis Academy in Bethlehem, Pa., she knew her vocation for religious life would be best lived out in a Franciscan community.
“I believe that I most fell in love with St. Francis because of his love of poverty. His outreach to those on the edge of society, like the leper, attracted me most to him,” Sister says. “I always have had a special love in my heart for the poor, and I long for a simpler way of life.”
Although it wasn’t until joining the Vocation Club in high school that she learned about Francis, Sister Barbara Ann Webster quickly found that she and he had much in common.
“Francis lived a simple life. I did too. Francis was a free spirit. I was too,” she says. “Francis talked to God through nature. I was taught by my grandmother to see God in nature. Francis and I clicked from the first moment of our introduction.”
Their relationship has spanned a lifetime, Francis’ example a constant thread through life’s major moments for Sister Barbara, now 86. “In moments of decision, I’ll ask, ‘What would Francis do?’” She says. “I’ll put things in Francis’ hands and ask for guidance. In moments of joy and sorrow, Francis is my spiritual mentor.”
EMULATING FRANCIS
In their lives and ministries, our Sisters embrace Francis’ way of life by leading simple lives, taking vows of poverty, and — whenever and wherever possible — responding to those in need. They reuse, they recycle and delight in the simplest pleasures.
“The more I reflect on St. Francis, the more I respect him and his way of life,” said Sister Norberta Kralosky, who died in 2022. “St. Francis came from a good financial background, but he gave it all up for a higher cause. He regarded the poor, especially lepers, as folks in need and let others see how God blessed people who are kind. What a good example he was for others.”
“Francis and I clicked
from the first moment
of our introduction.”
“We are Franciscans, and we follow Francis’ style of gospel life. As a Franciscan, I try to follow the gospel spirit of Francis like he shared it with the townspeople of Assisi,” said Sister Amata Shina, who died in 2022. “In my ministry and in my daily living, I try to remember that I am called to be turned totally to God.”
“I try to limit my personal possessions and try to dress very simply as a sign of my vow of poverty,” says Sister France Marie. “I long also for his sense of solitude in nature.”
Simplicity means not only limiting tangible things, but also drowning out the unnecessary noise of life, rejecting any distractions from the work at hand.
“I have avoided creating idols of persons — with the exception of St. John Paul II — and detaching myself from cultural dictates, such as fashion, new trends and popular TV shows,” says Sister Irene Novak. “These should not determine my worth or destroy my serenity.”
Sister Nancy Celaschi, a guide with the Franciscan Pilgrimage Programs based in Italy, has unique insight into the life and legacy of Francis and his follower Clare of Assisi, knowledge gained through countless trips to the sacred places and spaces once occupied by Francis and Clare themselves.
“Whenever I speak about Francis and Clare, I remind my hearers — and myself — that whenever we tell their story, we are talking about how they developed a relationship with Jesus,” Sister says. “Anything we say or do or reflect on should help us in developing and fostering our own relationship with Christ. It’s all about Him, not them or us.”
It was two years prior to his death that Francis, while deep in prayer on Italy’s remote Mt. Laverna, had a vision and subsequently bore the marks of the crucified Christ on his hands, feet and side.
CONVERSATIONS WITH FRANCIS
If given the opportunity, Sister Rosalia said she would have spent precious moments in conversation with Francis discussing that very same Stigmata.
“I would tell him that it was his great love for Christ that God honored him with the Stigmata,” Sister said. “I want to ask him what his feelings were when he first glanced upon the wounds on his hands and feet. I would also speak to him of how God blessed us by sending followers to the Franciscan community.”
Can you imagine a few moments, a chat, a phone call or even a text message exchanged with someone of Francis’ spiritual stature? Needless to say, our Sisters have a few questions.
“Since he peacefully and successfully rebelled against the trends of his time, I wonder what he would suggest to help us be sincere followers of Jesus, rather than honor popular trends such as government, particularly political parties and their agenda,” says Sister Irene.
Sister Frances Marie might press Francis for answers to more practical problems, ones the leader of a religious community might ask. “I think I would ask him how he knew what God wanted of him and how we can discern God’s will for us in these troubled times in the Church, in our nation and in our religious life.”
the journey continues
While our Sisters long ago made their vows to honor God and Francis by living a simple lifestyle of caring for the poor, their work continues. Francis left some very large footsteps to fill, but the ideals he prioritized hundreds of years ago are as prescient as ever.
“I try to emulate his ability to be at peace with all people and circumstances in life,” says Sister Francis Marie. “But I still have a lot of work to even come close to his ability to promote peace.”
“It’s possible to take the many events of his life and see how he loved God and others,” said Sister Norberta. “I’m proud to have him as a saint for which our community is named.”
“As a Franciscan, I am called to live out our charism — living in intimate union with Christ in the midst of apostolic work,” said Sister Amata. “It is a continuous conversion. This turning to Christ is never accomplished once and for all. This is an ongoing religious experience. It is the work of a lifetime.”