Novena to St. Francis of Assisi: When God Asks You to Let Go, Will You Trust Him?

Sep 25, 2026: What would you do if following God's call meant giving up the life you had always known?

St Francis of Assisi faced that question when his growing love for God led him away from wealth, comfort and the expectations of his family. His father, Pietro Bernardone, was so opposed to his choices that he brought him before the Bishop of Assisi. There, Francis made a dramatic decision: he renounced his inheritance and returned even the clothes he was wearing to his father, declaring his complete trust in his Father in heaven.

But Francis's conversion did not begin with a dramatic gesture. It began with a struggle of the heart.

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The saint who learned to love what he once feared

As a young man, Francis found it difficult to approach people suffering from leprosy. Yet, during his conversion, he overcame his fear and embraced a leper. Francis later recalled that what had once seemed bitter to him became a source of spiritual sweetness.

This encounter changed the direction of his life. He began serving the poor and caring for those whom society often avoided.

His story speaks to struggles many of us recognise: letting go of resentment, overcoming fear, accepting God's will and finding the courage to love when it is difficult.

Bring your struggles to St Francis in prayer

The Novena to St Francis of Assisi is an opportunity to spend nine days bringing your personal intentions before God through the intercession of this beloved saint.

Perhaps you are facing a difficult decision, struggling to forgive someone, worried about your family's future or longing for peace in your heart. Perhaps you simply want to love God more deeply but do not know where to begin.

Francis's life reminds us that God's grace can transform even the most reluctant heart. The man who once feared lepers became a servant of the poor. The young man who sought worldly recognition discovered joy in simplicity and surrender.

As his feast day approaches on October 4, take nine days to pray, reflect and ask for the grace to follow Christ more faithfully.

Click Here to begin the Novena to St Francis of Assisi today. Bring your intentions, your fears and the things you find difficult to surrender. Ask God, through the intercession of St Francis, for a heart that trusts Him even when the way forward is unclear.

By Catholic Connect Reporter