Relic of St. Francis of Assisi coming to Ellicott City

A relic of St. Francis of Assisi – a fragment of the very cord he wore around his waist – will travel from Assisi, Italy, to the Shrine of St. Anthony in Ellicott City for an outdoor live Nativity prayer service Dec. 13 at 7 p.m.

St. Francis inaugurated the live Nativity tradition in 1223 in Greccio, Italy, while wearing the same cord, newly blessed by Pope Honorius III. Its three knots symbolized the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience that define Franciscan life.

Worn around his simple tunic as a sign of humility, the cord was an important part of St. Francis’ religious habit and remains part of the Franciscan habit today. A piece of that original cord will be displayed at the shrine’s annual Nativity reenactment.

“We welcome all guests interested in venerating this amazing artifact of our Franciscan history,” said Conventual Franciscan Father Gary Johnson, director of the Shrine of St. Anthony. “This relic reminds us of St. Francis’ commitment to a radically simple way of living the Gospel and our call to emulate his example.”

The shrine’s Greccio celebration honors the saint’s desire for people to witness the humility of the Incarnation. The outdoor service includes animals, readings, music, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and a reflection from a Franciscan friar.

The relic will arrive with Conventual Franciscan Father Michael Lasky, the Franciscans’ global Delegate General for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation. It will be available for veneration Dec. 12 (1-4 p.m.), Dec. 13 (11 a.m.-noon), and after the noon Mass Dec. 14. Father Lasky will celebrate that Mass.

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