St. Francis Is the Perfect Saint for Our Time

Oct. 4, 2026

This Sunday, Oct. 4, is the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Because the feast falls on a Sunday, it is superseded by the Sunday liturgy and does not show up on most Church calendars. In this year of St. Francis, I am sorry to hear that.

We have a first-class relic of St. Francis (which means it is actually part of his body), and I will use it to bless the congregation. If you followed the beatification of Bishop Fulton Sheen last week, you may have noted that they were carrying his relic, which was his entire jaw.
   
Francis died 800 years ago this Sunday. He was one of the most extraordinary saints of all time. Perhaps more than any other saint, his life mirrored that of Christ, which is why he is so revered.

He lived a life of incredible poverty, choosing to possess Christ only. Later in life, he received the gift of the stigmata—the wounds of Christ in his own body. He is the first to receive that remarkable blessing.
   
Known as the patron saint of ecology and of animals, and of peace, he is a perfect saint for our own time.
—Fr. Mike Comer