Daily Meditation for October 16, 2026

In this month of October, we (indeed the whole world) have celebrated the 800th anniversary of the birth of St. Francis of Assisi. Taking note of the humble friar with his distinctive tonsure and brown habit, he is among the best know and loved saints in all of time…judging from the frequency of his presence in birdbaths and in gardens and on lawns and front yards! It is his humanity which endears him to us for, we too, might be afraid of disfigured leprous bodies and strange beggars who live on the margins. But, once convinced he was worthy to live the gospel radically, he dared to throw his father’s merchandize to the poor in the streets and strip himself of privileged and be enchanted with Lady poverty. The Lord called Francis to “rebuild my church” and that would never be done by preaching alone!  We are all called to build and rebuild the church in our day by the lives we live!

By Judy Kramer, OSB