Blois 17 September
Feast of the Stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi
Sr. Reetha Paul
My dear sisters,
Peace and good.
For the past three years, we have been commemorating important events in the life of St. Francis of Assisi: 2023 - the Christmas at Greccio (1223), 2024 - the Stigmata (1224), 2025 - the Canticle of Creatures (1225), and this year, 2026, 800 years of his death (1226).
Eight centuries separate us from Francis. Yet his witness has lost none of its strength. His heart continues to speak to us, and his spirit continues to inspire us, because he discovered things neither time nor the upheavals of history can erase. Francis is not asking us to reproduce his time. He invites us to live the Gospel anew, with freshness and radicality in today's society.
After 800 years, the question is not: "What remains of Francis?" but the question must be "What remains of Francis in me? In us?
Is the spirit of Francis still alive in our communities?
Does his passion for Christ still burn in our hearts?
Does his love for the poor still disturb us?
Does his simplicity still convert us?
Does his fraternity still transform us?
Do his love and respect for creation still question us?
Is his joy still visible on our faces?
These are our real challenges for this centenary.
Let us begin, my sisters, to serve the Lord, for so far, we have done little or nothing. Yes, my sisters, let us begin again! Let us begin from where we are, with what we are and what we have, with our strengths and our weaknesses; begin together, and above all with confidence.
I wish each one of you joy, peace, and courage to take one more step to live the Gospel radically, of which St. Francis has left us the trace.
Happy feast of St. Francis and a joyous feast of Marie Virginie, our foundress, on October 10th.
United with you in prayer mission, and service
Sr. Reetha Paul
Superior General
