What is the transitus?
“Transitus” is from the Latin word for “transition” or “journey”, referring to the soul of a saint and the day that it went to heaven. For St. Francis, his transitus is celebrated on October 3rd every year.
How do the Franciscan Friars of the Holy Spirit (FHS) celebrate the transitus?
We read famous stories from his life, especially the eight frescos that depict his life that are in the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi that we also have in our chapel. We bring in the body of Francis, which is represented as one of our gray habits. It's pretty cool that it's one of our habits because we are his sons and we seek to emulate him today as missionaries especially on the Gila River Indian Reservation. We venerate his stigmata with five candles on the five wounds on his habit. It's a powerful night where we give our own reflections on Francis’ life in a beautiful setting, with a lot of candles in a dimly lit church. We also have music in order to enter into the messages that Francis' life conveys.
What was the transitus like this year with it being the 800th anniversary, and how has this Year of St. Francis impacted FHS as a whole? 
This transitus was a lot more powerful since we got to take a pilgrimage earlier this year and see the bones of St. Francis. Going to La Verna and seeing the place where he received the stigmata was a powerful connection for me this year during the transitus. We've grown closer together in confidence, that we are continuing the mission of St. Francis today on the reservations and through our life of prayer and fraternity. We've all appreciated inviting people into the grace of a plenary indulgence through the church during every Mass this year, in celebration of our Holy Father Francis.
What can people learn from Francis and his relationship with death?
St. Francis knew that being in the will of God and giving yourself to God in obedience is the greatest gift a human can give. St. Francis wanted to be as generous as possible, even all the way up to his death. Francis wanted the will of God for his life, and that meant he wanted to die when God wanted that for him. We're also all encouraged to pray for a holy death throughout our lives.
What is a tangible way that readers can grow in their relationship with St. Francis?
Ask St. Francis for the grace to live poverty in your life as God is calling you to, the grace to not fear suffering, and the grace to truly see the cross as the way to resurrection in your life. If we pray to St. Francis and receive those graces, then we will no longer fear the crosses that God gives to us, because they will always lead to a resurrection and to greater holiness, joy, and peace in our life. The next cross for you will not be the stigma, but it'll be offering up a cold or a disappointment in a relationship, or some other little way that'll actually set you free to enjoy life and give of yourself.
If you'd like to watch our transitus service from this past October, click here!