AUCKLAND The wider Church was privileged to attend a normally in-house Franciscan celebration on October 3. To mark the 800th anniversary of Pope Innocent IIIs approval of the rule of life written by St Francis of Assisi, the rite of the Transitus of St Francis was celebrated in an ecumenical gathering at St Patricks Cathedral in Auckland and around the world.

The rite commemorates the passing of St Francis from this life into the life of God on October 3, 1226.

In Auckland, about 400 people gathered, including Franciscan friars, Capuchin friars, members of the Franciscan secular order, Anglican Franciscans and members of the Anglican third order of St Francis.

Bishop Robin Leamy, SM, represented the Bishop of Auckland.

The colourful celebration featured a Samoan choir and dramatisations by young people associated with the Franciscans.

One dramatisation depicted St Francis meeting a leper and another represented an historical reconciliation between the bishop and mayor of Assisi brought about by St Franciss Canticle of the Sun.

By special permission of Pope Benedict XVI, in Franciscan churches or wherever Franciscans celebrated the Eucharist on Sunday, October 4, the liturgy for the feast of St Francis could replace the normal Sunday liturgy a very rare privilege.