October 4th is widely known and celebrated in the Catholic Church as the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. A lesser known celebration happens on October 3rd, the Vigil of the Feast of St. Francis, known as the Transitus. Transitus comes from the Latin word "passage," as the death of Francis is commemorated. Our Province had two Transitus celebrations, one at Holy Family Parish in Albuquerque and one at St. John the Baptist in Roswell. There is not a specific ritual for
the Transitus, so each community has the freedom to express the liturgy as they feel called.

The Transitus at Holy Family was graciously put on and organized by the Order of Secular Franciscans. They described the Transitus as "a visual prayer, weaving sacred words and music with liturgical theater into a vespers of contemplation and celebration." During the Transitus "we are not simply recalling the life and death of Francis, we are in truth, gathering in the Italian forest." Hundreds of followers of St. Francis, including friars, secular Franciscans, and parishioners, gathered spiritually in the Italian forest to watch St. Francis welcome Sister Bodily Death with joyful song and God's praise. We remember the final words of St. Francis, "I have done what was mine to do; may Christ teach you what you are to do."

Photos for Transitus at St. John the Baptist in Rosewell 


Photos for Transitus at Holy Family in Albuquerque