When a loved one dies, we commemorate his or her life. As years pass, we continue to remember and celebrate this person’s life, especially on important anniversaries, especially birthdays and the date our loved one passed from this life into next.
As Franciscans, we also commemorate important anniversaries in the lives of Sts. Francis and St. Clare. Each year, we mark the anniversaries of their deaths with special liturgies and ceremonies. We pause to remember their passing and celebrate their entrance into eternal life.
We call this special ceremony a Transitus, a Latin term that means “passage” or “passing over.” Francis and Clare each have their own Transitus: Clare’s is the evening of August 10th, and Francis’s is the evening of October 3rd.
Death of Francis, by Giotto (Basilica of Santa Croce, Florence, Italy)
While there isn’t a set liturgy that all Franciscans use — each community designs its own — there are common elements: a narrative, drawn from 13th century accounts of the saint’s final hours and death; excerpts from the saint’s writings, which may be set to music or included in litanies or prayers; and blessings written by the saint. The Transitus for Francis also often includes the singing of the Canticle of the Creatures and the reading of John 13:1-15 (Jesus washing the disciples’ feet), because Francis asked for this Gospel passage to be read to him as he lay dying.
During each Transitus, we give thanks for the saint’s life and for God’s goodness. We express joy and gratitude for Jesus’s promise of eternal life. We also remember our own mortality and look to Francis and Clare for inspiration about ordering our own days and preparing for our inevitable deaths.
We welcome you to celebrate the Transitus of Clare and the Transitus of Francis with us!