October 14, 2007

The Transitus is the annual representation of the life and death of Saint Francis to commemorate his passing (Transitus) from this earthly life to eternal life. Each year on October 3, the brother postulants, novices, and sister candidates take their places on center stage to transport the people gathered at St. Adalbert Church in the Bronx back to Assisi in the early 13 th Century. Elaborate costumes, stage props, lighting and music combine with many first-time actors for a night of entertainment, song, prayer, and most importantly, divine grace.

As someone completely unaccustomed to the limelight and having no past acting experience, I was, as you can imagine, somewhat shocked when I received the news that I would be portraying Saint Francis in this year’s Transitus. “Lord, I can’t do this,” I first thought to myself. The definitive reply from above came almost immediately: “Exactly!” It was a moment of great consolation, assured that what seemed impossible for me would be made possible by God – His divine grace. The verse in Psalm 37 that says, “Trust in him, and he will act,” then took on a new and more literal meaning!

As I prepared for the Transitus I read in Saint Bonaventure’s Life of Saint Francis the Lord’s words to Saint Francis: “I have chosen you, a simple man, for this office, that whatsoever I shall work in you may be ascribed not to you, but to divine grace.” Francis’ life was filled with so many manifestations of God’s love, power, mercy and glory that it could not possibly be attributed to mere human strength, but only to divine grace. Saint Francis himself recognized this, and attributing nothing to himself, his life was one of continuous praise, thanksgiving, and loving sacrifice to the God who gave him that life.

In all things beautiful, he saw the One who is most beautiful. In all things good, he saw the One who is supremely good. In the poor, he saw Jesus, the One who became poor for love of us. Seeing God in all things and recognizing that all things came from God, he lived his life not for the creature, but for the Creator, not for the temporal things, but for the Eternal, not for earthly treasures, but for the treasures of heaven. In this simple man there was true wisdom.

From the first practice to the final performance, the Transitus was a work of divine grace. Having a reserved Australian play an exuberant Italian is evidence enough of that fact! So let us heed the words of Saint Francis and cast our cares upon the Lord, confident that He will sustain us; and let us give Him permission to work in us, in spite of our weaknesses, for His honor and glory. Amen.

Br. Francesco Mary Gavazzi, CFR

Most Blessed Sacrament Friary, Newark, NJ