SIENA, THE CELEBRATIONS FOR THE 800th ANNIVERSARY OF THE STIGMATA OF ST. FRANCIS

Feast of the Stigmata, 800 years of history

The Solemnity of the Stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi falls on 17 September. In Italy and in the world, in all the places where the Franciscan charism is found and where the Seraphic Father is venerated, numerous initiatives will be activated to celebrate the important anniversary.

The anniversary of the Stigmata, in particular, will be celebrated in Siena, the city that houses the Chapel of the Stigmata in the Basilica of San Francesco.

On 17 September 2022, the liturgical celebration will be presided over by Archbishop Augusto Paolo Lojudice, Archbishop of Siena-Colle di Val d'Elsa-Montalcino. The Holy Mass will be preceded, at 9.30 am, by a Conference in the Basilica of San Francesco on the theme "La carità e la fraternità: Francesco stigmatizzato sulla Croce di Cristo", given by Fr Alessio Geretti, Professor of Christology at the Pontifical Theological Faculty of St Bonaventure in Rome.

In the afternoon, from 18:15 to 21:15, the chapel of the Stigmata will be open and it will be possible to venerate the relic of the saint's habit bearing the traces of blood. From 18:30 to 19:30, the prayer of Vespers will be animated by the Laudesi of Siena and will be streamed on the social channels of the Basilica of San Francesco.