St. Francis of Assisi never celebrated an American Thanksgiving with the turkey and trimmings, old family stories being recounted and the sounds of NFL football pervading in rec rooms across the nation.
But one thing is sure: he would approve of the idea of celebrating gratitude.
After all, St. Francis was the saint of gratitude. After he returned from war as a young soldier, he became a changed man. Captured and held for a year, the young Francis experienced the visions and embraced poverty that animated his future life and inspired friars and their friends for centuries.
He returned to his home city with a renewed sense of gratitude for all of God’s Creation. He saw himself as a creature of the universe, a brother to the sun and the stars, with gratitude for the wind, water, and earth, gifts from God that sustain all of humanity.
That vision of gratitude for creation is inspiring college students at Franciscan universities around the world, including Siena College near Albany, New York, where students crowded conference rooms to hear about ways to address the looming crisis of climate change. (see story in this issue)
Declared by President Abraham Lincoln in the darkest days of national strife, American Thanksgiving is our secular holiday with the deepest spiritual connection. This month is an opportunity for all to reflect upon why we remain grateful, even in the midst of turmoil and anxiety. It is especially meaningful for those followers of Francis of Assisi who reflect the gratitude radiated by the medieval Italian saint who still inspires generations today.
You can be part of sharing that gratitude with those served by the friars. There are so many who live in great need and may find it hard to feel gratitude this holiday season. The soup kitchens and social ministry efforts provided by Franciscan parishes and institutions provide a glimmer of hope. You can be part of that mission to the poor by creating a lasting legacy of care by remembering the Franciscan Friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe in your will or trust.
Planned Giving to the Franciscans allows you to make a charitable contribution as part of your overall financial and estate planning. You can do this in a variety of ways, including bequests, charitable trusts, life insurance policies, and retirement accounts.
To learn more about how you can help the Franciscan Friars help our poor and marginalized sisters and brothers with your legacy gift, contact Brian Smail, OFM, via email at bsmail@friars.us or by calling 646-473-0265, ext. 303.
