St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Orem held a four-day celebration from Oct. 1 to Oct. 4 to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi. The event featured presentations on the saint's life, a traditional liturgy, and a blessing of animals.
Father Garret Edmunds, OFM, the last Franciscan priest to serve as pastor of the Orem parish from 1990 to 1996, led the festivities. During a presentation on Oct. 1, Edmunds discussed the historical impact of Francis, noting his 1219 meeting with Sultan Al-Kamil in the Middle East to discuss pilgrim access to the Holy Land. Edmunds noted that despite the ongoing Fifth Crusade, the two men parted as friends, and the sultan eventually promised that Francis and his followers could care for holy places in the Holy Land.
The celebrations included the Transitus of St. Francis of Assisi on Oct. 2. This liturgy commemorated the saint's death and included the reading of John 13:1-17 and the chanting of Psalm 142, which Francis reportedly intoned as he died. The ritual also featured a Franciscan habit placed on the ground to mirror how the saint lay when he died.
Edmunds addressed common misconceptions regarding the saint, stating that Francis did not compose the Prayer of St. Francis and did not say the phrase, Preach always and, when necessary, use words. He also noted that modern portrayals often simplify Francis into an iconoclastic figure, whereas the saint lived a complex life focused on embracing the Gospel and finding the sacred in all creation.
The jubilee year was proclaimed by Pope Leo XIV on Jan. 10 to run through Jan. 10, 2027. Bishop Oscar A. Solis designated the Orem parish as a pilgrimage site for the jubilee year. Faithful may obtain a plenary indulgence by making a pilgrimage to a site dedicated to St. Francis and meeting conditions such as receiving the Sacrament of Confession, attending Mass, and praying for the intentions of the pope.
