On the 16th and 17th September 2024, the VIII Centenary of the impression of the Stigmata of St. Francis was celebrated at La Verna, in the presence of the Franciscan Family, religious, civil and military institutions from the area and many pilgrims.
The celebrations opened on Monday the 16th September with First Vespers in the Basilica; after the homily of Msgr. Andrea Migliavacca, Bishop of the Diocese of Arezzo-Cortona-Sansepolcro, in the parish church of Chiusi della Verna, the faithful arrived on foot at the Sanctuary for the Eucharistic celebration presided over by Br. Massimo Fusarelli, Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor.
In his homily, taking up the writings of St. Bonaventure, whose 750th anniversary of death falls this year, Br. Massimo underlined how Francis wanted to participate totally in the life of Christ, the key to fully understanding the life of the Poverello- the Poor Man: "The Stigmata speak to us of a knowledge of Christ who is a fire that burns. This illuminates and warms a Christian life that is often lukewarm and repetitive, where it seems impossible to give all of ourselves to the Lord. How satisfied we are, how afraid we are to give ourselves over to Jesus Christ, who 'takes nothing away from us and gives us everything', as Pope Benedict XVI said in an inspired way". The experience of the Stigmata profoundly changed Francis' life, which opened himself to the stigmatized of the time, of every time, in which war and violence seemed to win over humanity: "It seems to me that here is the greatest test of our faith today. Let's not avoid it. Let us enter into it," the Minister concluded, recalling that the Risen Christ transforms every wound into light.
On the 17th September, the Liturgical Feast of the Sacred Stigmata began with the signing of Lauds, presided over by the Vicar General of the OFM, Br. Ignacio Ceja. In the presence of the banner of the Municipality of Florence, historically linked to La Verna by an ancient patronage, in the solemn Eucharistic celebration over which he presided, the Minister General emphasized the humility and charity of Francis, whose stigmata remind all of us and the whole Church that it is possible to start again from those wounds, converting to humble service towards today's suffering.
As happens every day in the sanctuary, at 3.00 p.m. Nonne was recited, followed by the procession to the Chapel of the Stigmata where the friars prayed remembering this gift of love of the poor and crucified Christ that led Francis to a new life, it continued with the blessing with the relic of St. Francis from the square of the sanctuary. The Guardian of La Verna then gave the Guardian of San Damiano a copy of the Canticle of the Creatures, as an ideal "passing of the baton" for the new Centenary that the Franciscan Family will celebrate in 2025.
The day ended with the celebration of Holy Mass in the presence of the Tuscan Episcopal Conference and the singing of the solemn Second Vespers in the Basilica.
With these celebrations the Centenary of the Stigmata ended. Br. Livio Crisci, Minister of the Province of St. Francis Stigmatized, thanked the entire Franciscan Family for the realization of this Centenary, which saw thousands of pilgrims go to the Shrine and many participants join the initiatives organized in the Tuscany region and supported by Franciscans from all over Italy and beyond.
Read the homily of the Minister General (16 September) Italiano - Español
Read the homily of the Minister General (17 September) Italiano - Español
Download the Prayer to St. Francis in the Chapel of the Stigmata Italiano - Español
