Every age has its witnesses to Christ, and in the early 13th century, the Lord raised up one of the most beloved saints of all time: St. Francis of Assisi. Born Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone in 1181 or 1182, he grew up the son of a wealthy cloth merchant in Assisi, Italy. Known in his youth for his charm, love of parties, and adventurous spirit, Francis seemed destined for worldly glory. But God had another plan.
Conversion Through the Cross
The turning point in Francis’s life came after illness and imprisonment during his time as a soldier. Disillusioned with the emptiness of wealth and war, he began to seek God in solitude. In prayer before the crucifix in the dilapidated Church of San Damiano, Francis heard Christ speak to him: “Rebuild my Church, which you see is falling into ruin.” At first he took the command literally, repairing small chapels stone by stone. Yet soon he realized that Christ was calling him to renew the entire Church by living the Gospel radically.
Embracing Poverty and Simplicity
Francis renounced his inheritance, even stripping off his rich garments in the public square to symbolize his total break with worldly wealth. From then on, he lived as a poor man among the poor, joyfully depending on God’s providence. He embraced what he called “Lady Poverty” as a way of imitating Christ, who “though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor” (2 Cor 8:9).
His radical simplicity was not bitterness but freedom. He rejoiced in the beauty of God’s creation—calling the sun his brother, the moon his sister, and even praising God for “Sister Death” in his famous Canticle of the Creatures. For Francis, all creation pointed back to its Creator.
Founder and Brother
Others soon gathered around him, drawn by his humility and joy. In 1209, Francis received approval from Pope Innocent III for his community, which would become the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans). Unlike monks bound to a monastery, the friars went out into towns and villages preaching repentance, serving the poor, and proclaiming peace.
Francis also formed the Poor Clares, with St. Clare of Assisi, and later inspired the Third Order for laypeople who desired to live Gospel simplicity in their daily lives.
Stigmata and Final Witness
In 1224, while in prayer on Mount La Verna, Francis received the stigmata—the wounds of Christ’s Passion in his own flesh—making him the first known saint to bear them. Worn out by years of penance, service, and suffering, Francis died in 1226, lying on the bare ground in his beloved city of Assisi, singing psalms of joy.
Only two years later, Pope Gregory IX canonized him. His tomb in Assisi became a place of pilgrimage, and his example continues to inspire countless souls.
Legacy of Peace and Joy
St. Francis of Assisi is remembered as a patron of peace, creation, and humility. His famous prayer, “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,” reflects his entire way of life: turning from self toward God and others. He shows us that holiness is not found in clinging to possessions or status, but in living as Christ lived—with radical love, joy, and trust in the Father.
St. Francis’s feast day is celebrated on October 4. His life is a reminder that even in a world chasing wealth and power, the Gospel lived with simplicity and joy can set hearts free.
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