In January of this year, at La Verna in the Tuscan province of Italy, the opening celebration of the eighth centenary of the Stigmata of St. Francis (1224-2024) was held, similar to the events of last year for the crib at Greccio.
All the General Ministers were there (Massimo Fusarelli, OFM; Roberto Genuin, OFM Cap.; Carlos Trovarelli, OFM Conv.; Amando Trujillo Cano, TOR) along with Secular Franciscan Minister, Tibor Kauser, OFS, and Frances Marie Duncan, OSF, President of the International Franciscan Conference of the Brothers and Sisters of the Third Order Regular -- along with numerous friars, Sisters and laity of the Franciscan Family.
The gift of the Stigmata, the wounds of Christ on the body of St. Francis, are one of two "bookmarks" of our Franciscan Spirit . . .
The first was celebrated by Francis, and celebrated last December, at Greccio in 1223: The Incarnation of the Lord who made his Love Flesh by coming among us as one like us.
This other "bookmark," celebrated less than a year later in Francis' life, was the Love Made Flesh on the cross of Calvary.
Our great saint, Bonaventure of Bagnoregio, wrote about St. Francis' experience of September, 1224:
“Then one morning about the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross,
whilst he was passing on the mountainside,
Francis saw a Seraph with six fiery wings coming down
from the highest point in the heavens.
The vision descended swiftly and came to rest in the air near him.
Then he saw the image of a Man crucified in the midst of the wings,
with His Hands and Feet stretched out and nailed to a cross.
Two of the wings were raised above His Head
and two were stretched out in flight,
while the remaining two shielded His Body.”
Francis realized by divine inspiration that he was given this vision so that he would see that, as Christ’s lover, he would resemble Christ crucified perfectly not by physical martyrdom, but by the fervour of his spirit.
Happy Anniversary!