The Franciscan Way
A simpler way to walk through hard things.
More than 800 years ago, Francis of Assisi chose a life of simplicity, mercy, peace, service and radical human fraternity.
His world was different from ours. The things people carried were not.
This space explores what Franciscan wisdom might still teach us about grief, shame, loneliness, money, anger, forgiveness, purpose, faith, loss, service and beginning again.
Francis is an inspiration for how we treat people, not a requirement for what you believe. Whatever you believe — or don’t — you’re welcome here.
Today with Francis
Freedom can start with letting go.
Read today’s lesson →Today’s prayer
For starting over
Pray with this today →Francis for what you’re carrying
Reflections connecting Franciscan wisdom with what people carry today. Each one is written and reviewed by a person before it appears — so most are still being prepared.
- Grief
- Shame
- Loneliness
- Forgiveness
- Regret
- Starting over
- Divorce and separation
- Money and financial fear
- Job loss
- Aging
- Purpose
- Illness
- Caregiving
- Anger
- Family
- Faith
- Doubt
- Anger with God
- Death
- Anxiety and fear
- Peace
- Reconciliation
- Service
- Simplicity
- Possessions
- Success
- Failure
- Creation
- Gratitude
- Second chances
- Helping others
- Feeling unworthy
Questions people ask
How we handle Francis’s words
Many popular quotes attributed to Francis aren’t his — the well-known “Make me an instrument of your peace” prayer, for example, first appeared in 1912. We only write “Francis said” when there is a reliable source, and we label everything:
- Francis’s own words — His writings or documented words, with a source.
- Early Franciscan sources — Biographies and accounts from the first generations.
- Later Franciscan tradition — Stories and sayings that grew up over the centuries.
- Modern reflection — Written today, inspired by Franciscan spirituality.
Carrying something specific? Tell us what happened and we’ll help you find the next small step.