A few pictures from the Transitus Service

Tomorrow (the 4th of October) is the feast of St Francis, so finally the madness will be over.  On the night before his feast day, that is tonight, Franciscans celebrate Francis' death in a service called the 'transitus' or 'journey across.'

The service uses chunks of the biographers to recreate Francis' last days and here at Hilfield centres around a habit on the floor with five candles, representing the stigmata, the wounds of Christ which Francis bore.

Here are some pictures taken after the service.  It is pretty rare to see this sort of thing, so I thought I had better share it.

 

Br Vincent's habit used to represent St Francis

(The candles represent the wounds in Francis' feet, hands and side)

 The altar with a candle in front of a renaissance painting of St Francis

The complete effect

Five candles for the Stigmata and one at the altar, reflecting on the floor tiles

Br Hugh getting slowly more narked as people keep taking photos

May God bless you all this St Francistide.