Month of Miracles: Saint Francis University events to celebrate 800th anniversary of the stigmata

Saint Francis University will host public events centered on "The Month of Miracles" beginning September 4 to celebrate the 800th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi receiving the stigmata.

The idea came during a pilgrimage to Assisi in 2023. A group of students, faculty, and staff, guided by the Catholic Franciscan Friars, had spent several days there praying at and visiting sites important to the life of St. Francis of Assisi. Each evening, they would break into small groups to discuss the places, stories, and miracles they had learned about that day, and they started to think of ways to bring all that they had experienced back to Loretto.

"There was a discussion about maybe we could have an event that showcased a few of the things we had learned about. We said that we would definitely have to focus on La Verna, where St. Francis received the Stigmata; Greccio, where the first nativity scene took place; San Damiano, where the Crucified Christ challenged St. Francis to 'Go rebuild my church' and St. Clare warded off an army with the Holy Eucharist; and we would also need to tell the story of Blessed Carlo Acutis whose body was housed in Assisi's Sanctuary of the Renunciation, a part of the Church of St. Mary Major which was right across from out hotel," said Melissa Garrity, administrative assistant in the departments of social work and psychology, who had made the pilgrimage. "We were trying to figure out how we could put that all in one event. I joked it would take us a month to get through it, and I wrote in the top of my journal a 'Month of Miracles.'"

Last December, the group successfully organized a Living Nativity called "The Journey to Bethlehem," to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the very first nativity St. Francis held in Greccio. It was a guided walking tour that told the story of Jesus' birth with singing, prayer, and live animals. It was such a success that it will become an annual campus event to celebrate the Christmas season.

Despite the overwhelming joy brought by such an educational and faith-filled event, the pilgrimage group still wanted to do more to help others to renew or to grow their faith, just as they were able to do in Assisi. With the help of Campus Ministry and funding through the Excellence in Education grant, the group's small idea, thought up in a quaint café in Assisi, has grown into a month-long celebration, featuring events, displays, and workshops on and around campus.

Celebrating The Month of Miracles

The Month of Miracles will kick off on September 4 and will celebrate the 800th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi receiving the stigmata. Each day will highlight a different saint and a different miracle through various events such as praise and worship in the Immaculate Conception Chapel; SoulCore sessions in the Sunken Graden and spiritual nature walks along Loretto trails; lunch and learn sessions and movie discussions on campus; a blessing of athletes and a blessing of pets; a living rosary on the campus mall; a golf outing, a fishing derby, and other fun games; a SAMA exhibit showcasing blessed Carlo Acutis and the Eucharistic Miracles; and an exciting afternoon with Fr. David Michael Moses, a talented singer, inspirational speaker, and viral YouTuber. On September 14, a special Mass will be held in the Grotto on campus to celebrate the official anniversary of the stigmata. The Month of Miracles will wrap up on October 4, the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi.

The Month of Miracles will also be held in conjunction with "Marked with the Wounds of Christ: An Academic Conference on the Stigmatization of St. Francis," a joint educational event put on by both Saint Francis and Franciscan University in Steubenville September 12-14. While some sessions will be livestreamed on the University's campus throughout the three-day conference, the event's keynote address, presented by Dr. Bill Cook, will be held in Loretto on September 13.

The pilgrimage to Assisi was funded through the T.O.R. Endowment in Franciscan Studies and Roman Catholic Theologyestablished through the generous support of Lou DiCerbo, CLU, ChFC, of Manhasset, New York, a graduate of the Class of 1959. Now those who have been touched by this spiritual journey to Assisi in 2023 are extending that gift to the entire campus and surrounding communities through the many events throughout the month.

"The Month of Miracles will celebrate our heritage at Saint Francis University," Garrity said. "This idea came out of pilgrimage group talks, but it was inspired through the years by so many saints and the teachings of our faith, and it will be brought alive by our entire community."

Calendar of Events

All the events held during the Month of Miracles are open to the public.

View the full calendar here.