To mark the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi, the Centre for Catholic Studies (CCS) at Durham University will hold its third international Franciscan Studies conference, Life and Love Transfigured: Exploring New Horizons in the Franciscan Tradition, from April 14 to April 16, 2026.
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 24, the Franciscan family celebrates the memory of St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen (1577-1622), a heroic martyr for the Catholic faith.
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).
