Professor of Franciscan Research in the Franciscan Institute of St. Bonaventure University
Dominic V. Monti, OFM, is a Franciscan Friar of Holy Name Province (USA) and currently professor of Franciscan Research in the Franciscan Institute of St. Bonaventure University. He devoted the greater part of his ministry to teaching the History of Christianity, in particular the history of the Franciscan movement. He has contributed two volumes to the Works of St. Bonaventure series and is author of Francis & His Brothers, a popular history of the Friars Minor.
On February 8, Franciscans honor the memory of Blessed Jacoba (or Jacopa) di Settesoli (c. 1190-1238), a Roman lay woman of an aristocratic family who became a close friend and supporter of St. Francis.
On January 31, Franciscans remember Blessed Ludovica (Louise) Albertoni (1473-1533), renowned for her works of charity and deep mystical union with God.
On January 30, Franciscans honor the memory of St. Hyacintha Mariscotti (1585-1640), a nun of the Franciscan Third Order Regular. Hyacintha’s life illustrates that conversion to deep, authentic Gospel values at times takes twists and turns.
On January 16, Franciscans celebrate the feast of St. Berard and four friar companions, the first martyrs of the Order, who were beheaded in Morocco on this date in 1220.
On January 14, Franciscans honor the memory of Blessed Odoric of Pordenone (c. 1286–1331), one of the most prominent missionaries of the later Middle Ages.
On January 11, Franciscans honor the memory of Saint Thomas of Cori (1655–1729), a Franciscan who is not well known outside the region of Rome; he was canonized only in 1999.
On January 7, Franciscans in the United States celebrate not only St. Angela of Foligno [see reflection for January 4] but also join their brothers and sisters elsewhere in recalling the memory of a Friar Minor known for his profound spiritual life: Saint Charles of Sezze (1613–1670).
On January 4, Franciscans, especially the Third Order, both Secular and Regular, celebrate the memory of the great mystic, Saint Angela of Foligno (c. 1248–1309).
Christmas was such a special feast for Saint Francis because it reveals so vividly the deepest mystery of God: that our God totally empties self in the person of Jesus to share our frail humanity.
On December 15, Franciscans, especially Secular Franciscans and Third Order Regular congregations, honor the memory of Blessed Mary Frances Schervier (1819–1876).
On December 12, Catholics in the Americas celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which today is one of the most popular Christian shrines in the world. Franciscans were there at the beginning of this story.
On December 8, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, especially significant for Franciscans, as under this title we honor Mary as Patron and Queen of the Seraphic Order.
On November 29, the Franciscan family celebrates the Feast of All Saints of the Seraphic Order – remembering the countless Franciscan men and women who have lived out the Gospel of Jesus Christ by following the patterns of life left by Francis and Clare of Assisi.
On November 17, we celebrate the memory of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary or Thuringia (1207–1231), a Franciscan laywoman who is venerated today as patroness of Secular Franciscans and of the many congregations of women and men following the Franciscan Third Order Regular Rule.
On November 14, Franciscans honor the memory of Saints Nicholas Tavelic and his three companions, friars who were martyred in Jerusalem on this date in 1391.
On November 13, Franciscans in most countries celebrate the memory of St. Didacus (Diego) of Alcalá (c.1400-1463), known for his life of humble service and as the Patron of San Diego, California. (In the United States, his memorial is observed on November 7 since the 13th is the feast of St. Frances X. Cabrini.)
On November 5, many Franciscan communities of men and women have a special day of remembrance of their deceased members: "All Souls of the Seraphic Order."
On November 4, the Church celebrates the memory of St. Charles Borromeo, a great pastoral theologian and one of the outstanding figures of the Catholic Reformation. He was a Secular Franciscan.
On Sunday, October 19, 2025, Pope Leo XIV canonized seven new saints in St. Peter's Square. One of the Church's new saints is Dr. José Gregorio Hernández, a physician and Secular Franciscan (1864-1919), known as the “doctor of the poor.”
On October 23, the Church remembers Saint John of Capestrano [John Capistran] (1386-1456), a Franciscan friar who had a prominent and multifaceted ministry as a preacher and reformer in 15th-century Europe.
On October 20, Franciscans celebrate the memory of Blessed Contardo Ferrini (1859-1902), a brilliant Italian legal scholar and professor and fervent Secular Franciscan.
On October 19, Franciscans in most of the world celebrate the memorial of Saint Peter of Alcántara, a zealous reformer (in the United States his memory is kept on October 22).
On October 11, the Catholic Church celebrates the memory of Pope St. John XXIII (1881-1963), a Secular Franciscan affectionately known as the "Good Pope."
On October 6, Franciscans honor the memory of Saint Mary Frances of the Five Wounds (1715-1791), a Secular Franciscan noted for her deep life of prayer and works of charity.
On October 4, Franciscan men and women join other Christians, many religious people of other faiths, and countless people of goodwill throughout the world to honor the inspiring memory of Francis of Assisi, known as “il Poverello," that is, "the little poor one."
The feast of the great archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael (September 29) should not go by without recalling the deep devotion Saint Francis had to these heavenly protectors of Christians.
On September 26, Franciscans remember the martyr St. Damian, patron of the small church in Assisi so central in Franciscan history, but we also celebrate St. Elzéar of Sabran (1285-1323) and his wife, Blessed Delphine of Gland èves (1284-1358), committed Secular Franciscans.
On September 23, Catholics celebrate the memory of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina (1887-1968), the Capuchin Franciscan friar still best known simply as "Padre Pio," who has become one of the most popular saints in the Catholic Church.
On September 18, the Franciscan family celebrates the memory of St. Joseph of Cupertino (1603-1663), a Conventual Franciscan friar popularly known for the paranormal phenomena that marked his life.
On September 17, Franciscans celebrate the Feast of the Stigmata of St. Francis, to recall Francis's body being wonderously marked with the wounds of Christ.
As the Church celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows (September 15), it is good to know the important role that Franciscans played in promoting this particular image of Mary and why.
On September 7, Franciscans rejoice, especially with countless young people, as Pope Leo XIV canonizes Blessed Carlo Acutis (1991-2006), as the Church’s first millennial saint.
On September 4, the Franciscan family celebrates the memory of Saint Rose of Viterbo (c. 1233-1251), an audacious young Secular Franciscan woman who challenged her contemporaries as a public preacher.
On September 2, Franciscans honor the memory of Blesseds John Francis Burté, Apollinaris Morel, and Severin Girault—Franciscan friars who were among the 116 priests and seminarians massacred on this date in 1792 at the Carmelite church and friary in Paris during the French Revolution.
On August 25, the Church celebrates the feast of St. Louis IX of France (1214-1270), co-patron of the Secular Franciscan Order and of Third Order Regular men and women.
On August 19, the Franciscan family remembers Saint Louis of Toulouse (1274-1297). Although virtually unknown today, Louis was a phenomenon in his own time, a prince who renounced a throne to become a Franciscan.
"Let us all rejoice in the Lord, as we celebrate the feast day in honor of the Virgin Mary, at whose Assumption the Angels rejoice and praise the Son of God."
Eighty-four years ago on August 14, 1941, Fr. Maximilian Kolbe, OFM Conv., was killed with a phenol injection inside a starvation cell of Block 11 of the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz.
On August 11, the Franciscan family celebrates the feast of St. Clare of Assisi (1193-1253), the first woman to join Francis and his brothers in forging a new Gospel way of life.
On August 8, with the rest of the Church, the Franciscan family celebrates St. Dominic, although not simply as a memorial but as a feast, honoring him as "our holy Father."
On August 5, Franciscans and many Canadian Catholics remember Blessed Frédéric Janssoone (1838–1916), a Franciscan friar noted as “God’s pedlar (peddler),” a missionary evangelizer and pastoral organizer.
On August 4, the Church celebrates the memory of Saint Jean-Baptiste-Marie (John) Vianney (1786-1859), the most noted of the many diocesan priests who have been attracted to Franciscan values and joined the Secular Franciscan Order.
On July 30, US Franciscans especially celebrate the feast day of Blessed Solanus Casey (1870-1957), a Capuchin friar noted for his deep prayer, compassion for the sick, and outreach to the poor.
On July 21, the Franciscan family, with the rest of the Church, celebrates the memory of St. Lawrence of Brindisi (1559-1619), who has been described as "the Capuchins' Renaissance man."
On July 17, Franciscans in the U.S.A. honor the memory of St. Francis Solano (1549-1610), celebrated missionary to South America. The rest of the Order presently celebrates his memorial on July 14 [in the U.S., it's transferred due to the memorial of St. Kateri Tekakwitha].
On July 10, the Franciscan family celebrates the memory of Saint Veronica Giuliani (1660-1727), a Capuchin Poor Clare nun who is one of the foremost mystics in the Catholic tradition.
On July 9, Franciscans celebrate the memory of Saints Nicholas Pieck (1534-1572), Willehad, and their seventeen companions, martyred during the brutal religious wars that accompanied the Reformation in Europe.
On July 8, the Franciscan family celebrates the memory of Sts. Gregory Grassi, OFM, Marie Hermine, FMM, and Companions, martyred in China in July 1900 during the Boxer Rebellion.
On July 4, Franciscans celebrate the memory of St. Elizabeth (Isabel) of Portugal, Secular Franciscan (1271-1336), known in her lifetime as a great peacemaker. (In the United States, her feast is observed on July 5 since July 4 is Independence Day.)
On July 1, all Catholics in the United States join Franciscans in celebrating the memorial of Saint Junipero Serra (1713-1774), the "Apostle of California." (Elsewhere, his feast day is August 28, his date of death.)
On June 30, the Franciscan family honors the memory of Blessed Ramon Llull, a Secular Franciscan scholar committed to mission to the Islamic world (1232-1316).
On June 19 Franciscans recall the memory of Venerable Matt Talbot (1856-1925), an Irish Secular Franciscan considered a patron of men and women struggling with alcoholism and other forms of addiction.
On May 21, Franciscans honor the memory of Blessed Franz Jägerstätter (1907-1943), an Austrian Secular Franciscan who was a conscientious objector executed by the Nazis.
On May 20, the Church celebrates the feast of Bernardino (Bernardine) of Siena (1380–1444), a Franciscan friar and celebrated preacher called "The Apostle of Italy.”
On May 13, Franciscans celebrate the memory of a lesser-known Spanish friar saint, Pedro Regalado (Peter Regulatus) (1390–1456), who devoted his life to prayer and contemplation.
On May 12, Franciscans celebrate the memory of St. Leopold Mandic of Castelnuovo (1866–1942), a Capuchin friar famous for his dedicated ministry in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
On April 28, Franciscans—especially Secular Franciscans and members of the Third Order Regular—honor the memory of Blessed Luchesius of Poggibonsi (c. 1180-1260).
On April 23, the Franciscan family celebrates the memory of Blessed Giles of Assisi (c. 1190–1262), one of the first companions of St. Francis. A recent study capsulizes him as a “mystic and rebel.”
On April 21, the Franciscan family celebrates the memory of a Bavarian Capuchin brother, Conrad of Parzham (1818-1894), who was known for his life of deep prayer, practical wisdom, and humble, cheerful service.
On this Easter Sunday, let us meditate on the powerful image of the Resurrection in the lower basilica of San Francesco in Assisi, reflecting on this passage from “The Tree of Life” by Saint Bonaventure.
On Good Friday, you might like to join in the Psalm Francis composed for his Office of the Passion to mark the hour of Jesus’s death. It is a collage of Biblical passages, mainly from the Psalms, phrases from the liturgy, and his own reflections.
Holy Thursday begins the Paschal Triduum, also known as the Easter Triduum. During these special days we recall Christ’s suffering, dying, and rising—the events that reveal the full depths of God’s love for our broken humanity.
Christians begin Holy Week on Palm Sunday, which is beautifully depicted in a fresco by Pietro Lorenzetti in the lower Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi (c. 1315–20).
On April 16, we venerate the memory of St. Benedict Joseph Labre (1748-1783), a Secular Franciscan who chose the life of a penitent pilgrim, ending his days as a "street person."
On April 4, the Franciscan family honors the memory of Saint Benedict of Palermo, sometimes called Benedict the African or the Black (1526-1589). In Italian he is referred to as “il Moro” (dark-skinned), and this was often translated into English as “the Moor.”
On March 19, as the Church celebrates the solemnity of Saint Joseph, it is interesting to note the important role the Franciscan family played in spreading devotion to him.
On March 18, Franciscans commemorate Saint Salvador of Horta (1520–1567), a Catalan friar known in his lifetime for his humility, intense prayer life, and healing powers.
On March 12, Franciscans remember Blessed Angela Salawa (1881-1922), a Secular Franciscan whose life was marked by prayer, humble service, and outreach to the sick and wounded.
On February 25, Franciscans remember Blessed Sebastian de Aparicio (1502–1600) who lived a highly unusual life on two continents, first as a devout layman and then as a Franciscan friar.
On February 19, Franciscans celebrate the memory of Saint Conrad of Piacenza (c. 1290–1351), a lay penitent hermit known for his life of contemplative prayer.
In preparation for the 750th anniversary of the death of St. Bonaventure, Doctor of the Church, on July 15, here is a letter from the Ministers General of the First Order and the Third Order Regular.
On Monday, March 4, in Matelica (Macerata, Marche), Italy, the Franciscan world laid to rest Sister Chiara Augusta Lainati, O.S.C., 85 years old, esteemed philologist and scholar of the writings of Saints Clare and Francis.
Francis: Brother of All: The Fraternity in the Proposal of the Saint of Assisi explores the distinct features of the Franciscan conception of universal brother/sisterhood.
The Franciscan world was saddened during this joyous season by the sudden death on December 21 of one of the major scholars of our intellectual-spiritual tradition, Fr. Michael Blastic, OFM. Fr. Michael, a much-loved friar, was Distinguished Visiting Professor of Franciscan Studies at the Franciscan School of Theology in San Diego, California.
On the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the St Francis and the "Nativity scene of Greccio", the Apostolic Penitentiary granted a plenary indulgence to all the faithful who, from 8 December 2023 to 2 February 2024, visit a Nativity scene in a church entrusted to Franciscans all over the world.
This article examines the 1223 events at Greccio and brings attention to the frequently overlooked collaboration of laity and the broader participation of the natural world.
On August 11, the church, especially the Franciscan movement, celebrates the feast of St. Clare of Assisi (1193/94-1253), first woman companion of St. Francis and Mother of our Poor Clare Sisters.
Announcing a significant publication for those who are interested in the Franciscan spiritual tradition. St. Veronica Giuliani (1660-1727), an Italian Poor Clare, is recognized as one of the great mystics in the history of Christianity.
A new documentary on Franciscan Sister Thea Bowman, “Going Home Like a Shooting Star: Thea Bowman’s Journey to Sainthood,” shines a light on her life and work as an advocate for racial justice and intercultural understanding.
On September 23, Catholics celebrate the memory of St. Pius of Pietrelcina (1887-1968), the Capuchin Franciscan friar still best known simply as "Padre Pio," who has become one of the most popular saints in the Church.
On April 3, the Franciscan family honors the memory of St. Benedict the Black or Benedict the African (1526-1589). He was referred to in Italian as “il Moro” (dark-skinned), and this was often translated into English as “the Moor.”
