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PROSPECT LEFFERTS GARDENS — Catholics traditionally mark the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi on Oct. 4 by performing acts of charity and bringing their pets to churches to be blessed by priests, celebrating him as the patron saint of animals.
However, there is another important tradition honoring St. Francis of Assisi — the Transitus.
A special prayer service held on the eve of the feast day to commemorate the saint’s death, the Transitus (Latin for “transition”) marks his passage from life on earth to eternal life in heaven and includes prayers, hymns, and a recounting of his final moments on earth.
Bishop Robert Brennan, who took part in the Transitus at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Prospect Lefferts Gardens on Oct. 3, said the service is “usually done within Franciscan circles,” but that he accepted an invitation from Father Thomas Vassalotti, the pastor of St. Francis of Assisi, to participate this year because it is the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ death in 1226 and a Franciscan Jubilee Year as declared by Pope Leo XIV.
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“It’s the first time for me, actually, to do it in a public way,” Bishop Brennan told the Tablet. “But it’s us sharing in very Franciscan spirituality.”
St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) founded the Franciscan Order, a religious order of priests and brothers.
The Transitus was immediately followed by a vigil Mass celebrated by Bishop Brennan. The evening also included veneration of a relic of St. Francis of Assisi. Father Orlando Ruiz, pastor of Our Lady of Peace Church in Gowanus, blessed members of the congregation by holding the relic to each person’s head.
The lights were turned off in St. Francis of Assisi Church for the first part of the Transitus as the congregation held lit candles to illuminate the church. When Father Vassalotti announced St. Francis’ death, he asked the faithful to extinguish their candles to mark the moment of transition.
In addition to honoring St. Francis, the Transitus can remind the faithful about life and death, Father Vassalotti said.
“Death is not an end, but a transition to a relationship with God in and through Jesus Christ,” he added.
The Scripture reading — John 13:1-17, the account of Jesus washing the feet of the disciples — and the recounting of St. Francis’ last words were significant moments during the evening, Father Vassalotti explained.
“John’s Gospel talks about Jesus washing the feet, an act of service,” he told the Tablet. “And St. Francis lived a life of service, so it reinforces that message of the importance of serving others.”
For Father Vassalotti, one of the most striking parts of the Transitus is the account of St. Francis’ final words to his brothers.
“You might expect a beautiful ending or some nice words of comfort,” he said. “But St. Francis was surprising in his choice of words to the brothers. He told them, ‘Hey guys, get to work.’ His final words were demanding.”
The Transitus and vigil Mass were just two of the ways the diocese celebrated the legacy of St. Francis of Assisi. On Oct. 4, the feast day itself, Bishop Brennan celebrated Mass at the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph in Prospect Heights.
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In addition, because St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals, churches across the Diocese of Brooklyn, like churches around the world, held animal-blessing events as priests welcomed the faithful and their pets.
For Bishop Brennan, the continued devotion to St. Francis shows that the saint’s witness still speaks to Catholics eight centuries later.
“He continues to inspire men and women, and so his effect is still felt in powerful ways,” he added, “right here in Brooklyn and Queens, but really all around the world.”
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