The Franciscan Crown is a devotion taught to us during our formation as Franciscan Sisters and still appears in our official documents as a “part of our tradition.” Until 1969, professed sisters in our congregation wore the seven-decade rosary attached to the cord that was part of our habit. This prayer form, which focuses on the seven Joys of Mary, has always appealed to me.

And among the seven Joys celebrated in the Crown, the third joy–The Nativity- seems to me to be so very Franciscan. The little prayer we were taught to recite with this Joy goes like this: O Mary, so poor in the stable, obtain for us the riches of Franciscan poverty, that will aid us to find Jesus, and say with truth, ’my God and my all.’ Those five words regarding poverty always make me think- what are the riches of Franciscan poverty? Now- today- for me- for all Franciscans?

As I try at various times to unwrap the meaning of the phrase for myself, different ideas surface, often evoked by other words in the prayer. ‘So poor in the stable,’ for instance: evidence of poverty can be hard to find in many classical art portrayals of the Nativity- but then I’m led to ponder St. Francis’ creation of a living nativity scene in Greccio 800 years ago. What a gift to us to consider that Francis was so moved by the humility of God’s Son coming to earth in human form in such a setting. As he often did, Francis let his enthusiasm to share his understanding lead the way to bring vibrant life to his expression of faith in what happened in that stable- real people, live animals, and a baby! It seems to me that Francis’ desire to live in poverty radically would have been affirmed by his comprehension of the incomprehensible: the Son of God chose to come into the world in utter poverty!

The phrase about how the riches of Franciscan poverty “will aid us to find Jesus” also can be mined for meaning over and over. Sometimes, I consider how Francis saw Jesus in the leper and greeted him with a kiss, or when Francis was in Rome and went to sit with the beggars in St. Peter’s Square, so eager was he to be identified as one of them! How those actions of Francis remind me to be sure I am looking for and responding to Jesus in the lepers and beggars of today- the marginalized, homeless, migrants – our brothers and sisters all!

“and say with truth, ‘my God and my All’! To live an authentic Franciscan life certainly has the potential to lead each of us to such a profession of faith. Undoubtedly, Francis uttered those words with great passion, humility, and conviction. In fact, I’ve read that Bernard of Quintavalle witnessed Francis praying all night with just those five words repeated over and over. What a challenge for me to someday be able to utter the words as full-heartedly and in truth!

Sr. Regina Holtz, FSP
Franciscan Sisters of Peace