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.

The earlier and later rule for the Friars Minor begins with a promise of obedience; Brother Francis promises obedience and reverence to the Lord Pope Honorius and his canonically elected successors and the Roman Church, and the rest of the brothers are obliged to obey Francis and his successors. (Rule of 1223, Chapter One). This can often imply a necessary introduction, customary in medieval church writing formularies, or a pious introduction to obedience. However, in Francis’ deep understanding of surrender, there is a reflection that the Church and its ministers could offer guidance and that the brothers would do well in surrendering to this wisdom. The wisdom to see that God has put people in our lives to help us just when we need their perspective.

It can hit hard at any moment. Often when least expected. You find yourself confronted with a grounding reality. Until now, you’ve lived a lifetime without acknowledging or contemplating the prospect of an invading vulnerability. This intrusion shatters you to your core. You ask, “Why me?” you become bitter and lash out at life with accusations of “foul” and “unfair.” Wealth becomes meaningless, status insignificant, vanity loses all appeal, and self-betrayal sets in. You doubt whether you truly are the person you have known yourself to be.

Sometimes, I hit a mental roadblock when I think about Francis and Clare or read academic writing about them. If I am honest, I often feel like our world today does not resemble theirs at all. Brooklyn in the present does not resemble Assisi in the 1200s. In fact, Brooklyn today does not even resemble Brooklyn a few decades ago. So, by extension, I struggle to see the map and the pattern of correlations that would let me recognize the wisdom of old teachings in my own life. It sometimes seems like the teachings and me are separated by too much time and space, too much difference.

On the Assisi Pilgrimage in October of 2019, I was struck by the below statue of St. Francis encircled by the symbols of various religions. Admittedly, the Christian tradition has not frequently embraced nor emphasized the goodness inherent in other religious traditions. However, within contemporary Franciscanism, particularly at St. Francis College, we are fully committed to the capacity of all spiritual traditions to inspire divine goodness in their adherents. In St. Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians, he writes that “the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Certainly, Christianity is not singular in its ability to produce these fruits in its observers. One of the benefits of life in New York City is that we frequently encounter a wide variety of religious observances, and I’m very pleased to say that the same is true at St. Francis College. At SFC, I have been encouraged and challenged by the movement of the spirit in students, staff, and faculty from religious traditions different than my own. The spirit of god does what it wants. It is not constrained by the boundaries of a particular tradition, but it works in and through every tradition. At SFC, we are committed to the proposition that god is love (1 John 4:8), all humans enter the divine life when they love, and all religions are true when they lead to love.

The Vision of the Office of Mission, Ministry and Interfaith Dialogue is  for every member  of the St. Francis College Community member to fearlessly live out the Franciscan way personally and professionally to transform the world! In 1219, Francis of Assisi and al-Malik al-Kāmil, the Muslim Sultan of Egypt, met in Damietta, Egypt – a 5,000 km journey from Assisi. Over several weeks, Francis and al-Kāmil exchanged beliefs that seemed to impact Francis, demonstrating the power of interfaith dialogue. St. Francis demonstrated a burning desire to form fellowships, learning from others.

St. Francis of Assisi is known for his affinity and tender care for God's creation. This love for nature and its inhabitants sprung forth because he saw the dignity in its members. His actions demonstrated that there is an inherent value in everything God made. This truth dictates how we ought to treat planet Earth.

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, “Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” JN 7:37-38 Spiritual thirst and longing – to be human is to be exalted and humbled by the body. We can be so weak. The more we focus on ourselves, the more vulnerable we become. We are hard on ourselves and let our self-perceptions be guided through constant comparisons, corporate advertising, and other societal pressures that make us want or “need” the next best THING. But what if you just stopped… Got off the roller coaster and looked at this life from a different perspective based on the spirit.

In the encyclicals Laudato Si and Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis encourages us to recognize the connection between human beings, God, and nature and to understand our responsibilities to each other and the environment. He calls for more human fraternity and solidarity.

Care for Creation The Franciscan tradition, founded by St. Francis of Assisi over 800 years ago, is deeply rooted in the value of "care for creation." This principle is not merely an environmental stance but a profound spiritual, ethical, and societal call that has influenced countless individuals and societies throughout history. In reflecting on this value, we see a legacy of reverence for nature, a call to stewardship, and a vision for harmonious living that resonates strongly in our contemporary world.