The Latin parish in Aleppo celebrated on Friday, October 4, 2024, a festive Mass in honour of the patron saint of their church and the founder of the Franciscan order (Order of Friars Minor), Saint Francis of Assisi. The celebration was attended by His Excellency Bishop Hanna Jallouf, with the participation of the Franciscan friars.
The Mass took place at the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi in Al-Aziziyeh, where parishioners, along with the youth and choir of Saint Francis, joined in the celebration. In a joyful atmosphere, the Saint Francis Scout group left a beautiful mark with their brass music as an expression of celebration for this blessed feast.
Immediately after the Mass, His Excellency the Bishop and the venerable priests welcomed all the church members to exchange congratulations.
The last moments of the life of Saint Francis of Assisi
After two years of receiving the stigmata of the crucified Christ and twenty years after his conversion, Saint Francis requested to be taken to the Church of St. Mary of the Angels: He wanted to fulfil his final debt to Sister Death to receive the eternal reward, especially in this church, with the help of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, he carried the spirit of perfection and grace. He was taken to this dear place to show by example that he had renounced the world and had nothing binding him to it, and during this sickness that intensified on him, he wanted to face it naked and unarmed.
After resting for a few days in this place he longed for, he felt that his hour of death was near. He called two of the brothers, who were very dear to him, and asked them to chant loudly a prayer to the Lord, with hearts full of joy for the approaching death, or rather the approach of true life. He managed to sing a verse from the Psalms of the Prophet David: “with my own voice I cry to the Lord; with my own voice I beseech the Lord…” and one of the brothers, very dear to Saint Francis and more zealous than all the brothers, witnessed this and knew that his hour of death was near, so he said to him: “Beloved Father, your children will become orphans and lose the light of their eyes! Remember your children whom you will leave as orphans, intercede for us for the forgiveness of all our sins and grant the present and absent ones the blessing of comfort.” Saint Francis said: “God is calling me, and to my brothers, present and absent, I forgive all your sins and offenses, I forgive them as much as I can, I declare this to you, and I bless you.”
After that, he asked for the Gospel to be brought to him, and he asked them to read a passage from the Gospel of Saint John where it begins: “Before the feast of the Passover, Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.” (John 13:1). He knew he would become ashes and dust so he wanted to be laid on the ground naked and have dust scattered on him. Many brothers, friars, and leaders were gathered, and while waiting respectfully for the moment of his blessed Transitus and blessed end, that Saint soul separated from the body, ascended to eternal light, and the Saint rested in the Lord. One of the brothers, a disciple of Saint Francis, a man of good reputation, saw the Saint’s soul ascending directly to heaven, shining like a star, large like the moon, radiant like the sun, and carried on a white cloud like snow.
Wishing you all a Happy Feast Day.
