Fr. David Convertino, OFM
Executive Director of Development
Dear Friends,
As the leaves begin to change and the air cools, we find ourselves in September—a month that carries with it a sense of reflection and renewal. For us Franciscans, this time of year holds special significance as we turn our hearts and minds to the stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi. The stigmata, those sacred wounds that our beloved Francis received, are more than a miraculous sign; they are a profound reminder of the depth of his faith and the powerful charisms that guide our Franciscan way of life.
When we talk about the stigmata, we’re not just recounting a miraculous moment from the past. We’re exploring how this event speaks to us today, how it invites us to live our faith in practical, everyday ways. The stigmata is a vivid symbol of St. Francis’s complete identification with Christ—his love, his suffering, and his unwavering commitment to the Gospel. But it’s also a call to each of us to consider how we can live out that same love and commitment in our daily lives.
The charisms of the Franciscans—humility, simplicity, peacemaking, and a deep love for all of creation—are the tools we have to carry this message forward. These aren’t just lofty ideals; they’re practical ways we can embody the spirit of St. Francis in our own lives. The stigmata reminds us that faith isn’t just something we think about on Sundays or during quiet moments of prayer. It’s something we live every day, in every interaction, and in every choice we make.
So, how can we take this message of the stigmata and apply it to our daily lives? Perhaps it’s in the way we approach challenges—with patience and love, remembering that even in our struggles, we are united with Christ. Maybe it’s in how we treat others, with kindness and humility, recognizing the presence of Christ in everyone we meet. Or it could be in our commitment to caring for the world around us, embracing the simplicity and reverence for creation that St. Francis modeled so beautifully.
This September, I invite you to reflect on how the stigmata can inspire your daily walk of faith. How can we, like St. Francis, bear the marks of Christ in our own lives—not in a physical sense, but in the way we live out our faith? How can we make our faith visible in the small, everyday actions?
Let us take this time to renew our commitment to living the Gospel with the same passion and dedication that St. Francis did. And in doing so, bring the light of Christ into the world in a way that is tangible, real, and deeply meaningful.