The prayer of the Franciscan Crown, or the Rosary of the Seven Joys, remains a cherished devotion in many Franciscan communities today. 

By Lucy Rauer, Catholic Social Action Coordinator 

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In 1209, a small ancient chapel dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary stood just outside the town of Assisi. 

Abandoned, crumbling, and in need of a bit of love, the Chapel of Our Lady of the Angels at the Portiuncula would soon become a spiritual home to St Francis who, according to the writings of St Bonaventure, was so moved by ‘the warm devotion he had toward the Lady of the world’, that he took on the task of staying at and repairing this ruined building. 

The Chapel of Our Lady of the Angels is now recognised as one of the most significant places in Franciscan history. St Francis built himself a simple hut next to the chapel, where others would soon join him as the first Franciscan community began to take shape. In 1211, it also became a place of refuge for St Clare who, having only moments earlier left her family home to follow a religious call, arrived at the chapel to begin a new way of life, walking alongside St Francis and the first brothers. It was also at Portiuncula that St Francis returned as he sensed his life coming to an end, and on 3 October 1226 – 800 years ago this month – he died in his cell just a stone’s throw away from the chapel. 

That the chapel at Portiuncula became so central to St Francis’ life, and to the development of the early Franciscan Order, reveals something of the central place Marian devotion holds within the Franciscan tradition. Having restored this chapel dedicated to Mary at the beginning of his conversion, chosen it as the birthplace of his community, and returned there as his earthly life drew to an end, St Francis’ closeness to Our Lady is clear throughout his spiritual journey. St Francis understood that Mary’s life showed perfectly the human response to the overflowing love of God. Her willingness to accept God’s call so that Christ would become incarnate through her inspired Francis’ own embrace of poverty, so that Christ might live through him. 

St Francis’ devotion to Mary continued within the Franciscan tradition, giving rise to Marian devotions such as the Franciscan Crown also known as the Rosary of the Seven Joys. Traditionally traced back to the 15th century, the origin of the Franciscan Crown is linked to a young novice who had shown his love of Our Lady by weaving crowns of flowers for her statue. After entering the Franciscan Order, the rhythm of his new religious life left him without the time to gather the flowers for his personal devotion, and he even considered leaving the community. According to tradition, Mary appeared to him and encouraged him to persevere. Instead of weaving crowns of flowers, she invited him to weave a crown of prayers structured around meditation on the joyful moments of her life: the Rosary of the Seven Joys. The prayer of the Franciscan Crown, or the Rosary of the Seven Joys, remains a cherished devotion in many Franciscan communities today. 

This October, as we mark the Feast of St Francis in his Jubilee Year, we have the perfect time to take stock and consider how we can follow in the footsteps of this St Francis by considering the place of Mary in our own lives. Perhaps in this Month of the Holy Rosary, you might even consider praying the Franciscan Crown. 

The Franciscan Crown is prayed weekly at St Anthony of Padua on Saturdays after 9:30am Mass. If you would like to learn more about how to pray the Franciscan Crown, feel free to explore the Archdiocese of Liverpool’s resources for via our website: 
www.liverpoolcatholic.org.uk