Each year on 4 October, Christians and many others around the world celebrate the Feast of St Francis of Assisi- the joyful friar whose life of simplicity, compassion, and kinship with all creation continues to inspire, eight centuries on.
Born in Assisi in the late 1100s, Francis turned from wealth and ambition to follow Christ in poverty and joy. He lived among the poor, cared for the sick, sought peace in times of conflict, and taught that every creature is a brother or sister. His friendship with Clare of Assisi and his tender love for the natural world still speak powerfully today.
The Feast is a day to say thank you for this vision of hope – to remember that faith is about relationship: with God, with one another, and with the Earth itself. In October 2026 we will mark 800 years since St Francis’s death – not as a moment of mourning, but of renewal. The anniversary invites us to walk again in his footsteps: to live simply, act justly, rebuild what is broken, and recognise Christ’s presence in every person and every part of creation.
As we approach this milestone, we celebrate not only the memory of a saint, but a living movement of peace, reconciliation, and joyful love that our world still needs today.
