By Brandon Chin
Contributing Writer
Last Saturday, the Franciscan faculty, in cooperation with volunteer students, hosted a service that stretched beyond homily or prayer. Mixing the elements of drama and music to form a mix of play, concert and sermon, the “Transitus of Saint Francis” received admiration from a number of attendees.
The Transitus is a rite celebrated on the eve of Oct. 3 that commemorates Francis’ transition from earthly life to service to God. According to the event program, his passing has been celebrated as far back as the 18th century with four stages, beginning with the retelling of his death in the form of song from the Canticle of Creatures, followed by a reading from the Gospel of John, a reading of Psalm 142 and ending with a celebratory feast.
“Some people think it’s weird that people gather and celebrate Francis’ death,” said Julianne Wallace, the associate director of faith formation, worship and ministry. “It’s really a time to celebrate how Francis embraced death. Francis called death, ‘Sister Death’ and really welcomed it into his life.”
The performance began with narration by St. Bonaventure senior Mike Specht, a history major, and continued with the telling of the activities leading to Francis’s death by narrators Amelia Kibbe, junior journalism and mass communication and English double major; Mike Madonna, senior history major; and Vanessa Hulse , junior chemistry major.
Reid Okoniewski, a senior journalism and mass communication major, played Francis, appearing in a brown robe along with the university friars and friars from Mt. Irenaeus. Throughout the performance, the ministry choir and a string emsemble, complete with professors and provost Joesph Zimmer, played religious music and psalms.
Kevin Cooley, minister-in-residence, said he found value in the Transitus not merely for its spiritual benefit but for its ability to open new cultural perspectives.
“There’s a good knot of students that are committed to [the Franciscan heritage],” said Cooley. “For others, it’s difficult thing to grasp. That’s why events like these are important. Even just as a contemplative exercise, this story can benefit anyone with a cultural understanding.”
For others, the Transitus was a new, unique experience, they said.
“I’m not very religious,” said Samantha Becker, a graduate student studying differentiated instruction and performing musician at the event. “I came to help out a friend, but it was interesting to see the different ways that people reacted. Most people are like ‘Oh, it’s Francis Week’ but they don’t really care, but the people who come here are really emotional about it.”
Jack McCann, a freshman accounting major, said he felt moved by the performance.
“It was almost heart-wrenching.” McCann said. “I wasn’t going to go originally; my friend actually brought me here, but I’m glad I came. I was a little teary-eyed there just because of the beauty. There is no doubt in my mind that you can easily cry over this.”
Father Peter Schneible, a professor of biology said that the event will not have the same effect on any two people.
“Somebody who is a Fransican and knows this history is going to have one effect, and someone with a different religious faith will have another,” Schneible said. “If you go to anything, you never know how you are going to react. I would say in God’s providence, it could affect anyone. Though based on their background, it would affect them more.”
chinbl15@bonaventure.edu
