Grace Thompson
St. Francis of Assisi, born Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone in Assisi, Italy, in 1181, is one of the most venerated figures in Christianity. He is known for founding the Franciscan religious order and for his dedication to Christian charity and a life of ascetic poverty. He is considered a saint by the Catholic Church and is widely regarded as a true servant of God. He is also known for his love of animals and nature, and is the patron saint of animals, ecology, and merchants.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone |
| Alternate Name | Francesco |
| Birth Year | 1181 or 1182 |
| Birthplace | Assisi, Duchy of Spoleto, Italy |
| Father's Name | Pietro Bernardone |
| Father's Occupation | Cloth Merchant |
| Religious Order | Franciscan |
| Religious Title | Friar |
| Religious Movement | Evangelical Poverty |
| Religious Figure | One of the most venerated in Roman Catholic history |
| Patron Saint Of | Animals, Ecology, Merchants, Italy |
| Date Of Death | 3 or 4 October 1226 |
| Date Of Canonization | 16 July 1228 |
| Pope Who Canonized | Pope Gregory IX |
| Feast Day | 4 October |
| Legacy | Founder of Franciscan religious orders, including the Poor Clares and the lay Third Order |
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What You'll Learn
St Francis of Assisi's life of poverty
St. Francis of Assisi is known for his commitment to a life of poverty, which was driven by his deep faith and desire to imitate Jesus Christ. He believed that embracing poverty would bring him closer to God and lead to eternal glory. St. Francis renounced his wealth and social influence, choosing a life of simplicity and service to others. He saw poverty as a virtue and considered it a pathway to a good life, referring to it as "Lady Poverty".
St. Francis taught that true Friar Minors should rely on begging for alms and should not possess more than two rough tunics. He himself owned only a tunic, trousers, and a cord from the beginning of his religious life until his death. He had an aversion to money and would not use, touch, or allow his Friars Minor to be associated with it. He also discouraged storing up provisions or money for the future.
St. Francis's understanding of poverty was shaped by his encounters with lepers, whom he initially despised. However, he eventually overcame his aversion and began to serve them, seeing their suffering as a reflection of Jesus's sacrifice. This experience transformed his life and deepened his commitment to a life of poverty.
St. Francis's teachings on poverty and his own example have had a significant influence on Christian thought and practice. His willingness to embrace poverty and his belief in the dignity of manual labour challenged societal norms and offered a new perspective on wealth and possessions. St. Francis's life of poverty was not about deprivation but rather a positive choice, a "hunger for fullness". He found joy in his simple life, connectedness with nature, and service to those in need.
Despite his rejection of wealth, St. Francis did not criticise the use of precious materials or grand buildings within the Church. He understood the Eucharist as a sacred act, worthy of the utmost respect, and wanted his friars to have suitable vessels to hold it. St. Francis's concern for the poor and his desire to imitate Christ's humility always remained at the heart of his embrace of poverty.
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His founding of the Franciscan Order
St. Francis of Assisi, born Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, was an Italian mystic, poet, and Catholic friar who founded the Franciscan Order in the early 13th century. He is one of the most venerated figures in Christianity and is known for his dedication to Christian charity and a life of ascetic poverty.
Francis was born in 1181 or 1182 in Assisi, Italy, to a wealthy cloth merchant. In his twenties, he took part in a war and was held prisoner for nearly a year. Upon his release, he had several experiences that led to his religious conversion. He renounced his worldly goods and family ties, choosing instead to embrace a life of poverty and becoming a beggar and itinerant preacher.
The Franciscan Order, officially known as the Order of Friars Minor (Ordo Fratrum Minorum), was founded by St. Francis of Assisi in Italy. It is one of the four great mendicant orders of the Catholic Church, and its members strive to cultivate the ideals of poverty and charity. The Franciscans initially followed a rule of life that included no possessions, wandering, preaching, helping the poor and sick, and supporting themselves by working and begging for food without accepting money.
St. Francis of Assisi is also credited with founding the women's Order of St. Clare, also known as the Poor Clares, with St. Clare of Assisi. St. Clare founded this order for women based on St. Francis's example, and he provided lodging for her and her followers in the church of San Damiano. The Franciscan Order also includes the lay Third Order.
The impact of St. Francis and the Franciscan preachers was immense, and within 10 years of its founding, the order had grown to 5,000 members. The Franciscans worked in Umbria and then expanded to the rest of Italy and abroad, including England in 1224. The order faced some challenges, including conflicts over the strict observance of the vow of complete poverty as the order grew and required more settled monastic houses. However, under the leadership of Elias, the Order significantly developed its ministries and presence in towns, especially in Italy.
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St Francis as the patron saint of animals, ecology and merchants
St Francis of Assisi, born Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, is recognized by the Catholic Church as the patron saint of animals, ecology, and merchants. He is one of the most venerated figures in Christianity.
St Francis is best known for his love and care for animals and nature. He is said to have been able to communicate with animals and felt at one with all creation. He would preach to animals and ask them to praise and love their Creator. There are many stories of St Francis's interactions with animals, such as calming a flock of noisy birds interrupting a religious ceremony and taming a wolf that was terrorizing the town of Gubbio.
St Francis is also associated with the patronage of the environment and ecology. Pope John Paul II highlighted how St Francis's devotion to caring for creation challenged contemporary Catholics to take responsibility for the natural world. In 2015, Pope Francis published an encyclical letter, Laudato Si', addressing the ecological crisis and "care for our common home", inspired by St Francis's Canticle of the Sun poem.
In addition to his association with animals and ecology, St Francis is also considered the patron saint of merchants and trade. He is the namesake of the city of San Francisco, and many churches and locations worldwide bear his name, including in Italy, Germany, the Philippines, and the United States.
St Francis's feast day is celebrated on October 4, which has also become World Animal Day. It is customary for churches to hold ceremonies blessing animals on this day.
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His canonisation by Pope Gregory IX
St. Francis of Assisi, born Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, was an Italian mystic, poet, and Catholic friar who founded the Franciscan religious order. He is one of the most venerated figures in Christianity and is known for his dedication to Christian charity and a life of ascetic poverty.
Francis of Assisi was canonized by Pope Gregory IX on July 16, 1228, just two years after his death on October 4, 1226, at the age of 45. The canonization ceremony was followed by the foundation stone laying of the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, where he was eventually buried in 1230.
The Bull of Canonization of St. Francis of Assisi, also known as "Mira Circa Nos," was authored by Pope Gregory IX, who was a friend of Francis and the Cardinal Protector of the Franciscan Order. The bull expresses the confidence that Francis, who was well-known for his glorious life and miracles, would intercede for those on Earth, just as he enjoyed their friendship during his earthly life.
The canonization of St. Francis of Assisi by Pope Gregory IX is a significant event in the history of Christianity, and his feast day is celebrated on October 4, the day of his death and entrance into heaven. St. Francis of Assisi continues to be honoured and revered by Catholics and other Christian denominations worldwide.
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St Francis' early life and conversion
St. Francis of Assisi was born Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone in Assisi, a small town in central Italy, around 1181 or 1182. His father, Pietro di Bernardone, was a successful cloth merchant, and his mother, Pica de Bourlemont, was a French noblewoman. Francis grew up in a comfortable and privileged home and received an education befitting his social status. As a youth, he was known for his charm, good looks, and love of fine clothes and extravagant parties. He was also known to be generous with his wealth, often giving generously to beggars and the less fortunate.
In his late teens and early twenties, Francis became involved in military ventures and dreamed of becoming a knight. He was captured and imprisoned for a year during a battle between Assisi and the neighboring town of Perugia. This experience had a profound impact on him, leading to a spiritual crisis and a reevaluation of his life. After his release, he returned to Assisi and began to seek a new direction.
Around 1205, Francis experienced a series of profound religious experiences and visions that led to a dramatic conversion and a complete change in his lifestyle. One famous story tells of how he encountered a leper and, overcoming his initial revulsion, kissed the man's hand and gave him alms. This act marked a turning point in his life, as he began to embrace a life of poverty and service to the poor and marginalized.
Francis also began to have visions and hear the voice of God, calling him to repair and restore the Christian Church. He took these commands literally and started to rebuild dilapidated churches in the region, including the Church of San Damiano, where he heard a crucifix speak to him, saying, "Francis, go and repair my house, which, as you can see, is falling into ruins."
Francis's newfound devotion and unusual behavior concerned his family and friends, who believed he had lost his senses. His father, a prosperous merchant, was especially displeased with his son's rejection of his wealthy background and new embrace of poverty. However, Francis persisted in his devotion and soon gathered a group of followers who shared his ideals of poverty, simplicity, and service. He composed a simple rule for them to follow, emphasizing a life of poverty, preaching, and service to others.
In 1209, Francis renounced his father and his patrimony and officially dedicated himself and his followers to lives of poverty and preaching. This marked the founding of the Franciscan Order, which would go on to become one of the most influential religious orders in the Catholic Church. Francis's order, known as the Friars Minor or "Lesser Brothers," received papal approval from Pope Innocent III in 1210, ensuring their place within the Catholic Church.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, St. Francis of Assisi was Catholic. He was canonized as a saint of the Roman Catholic Church in 1228.
St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals, ecology, and merchants.
St. Francis of Assisi is known for founding the Franciscan religious orders, including the Poor Clares and the lay Third Order. He is also known for his love and care for nature and animals.
St. Francis of Assisi lived in the 13th century, from around 1181/1182 to 1226.
St. Francis of Assisi is one of the most venerated figures in Catholicism. He is known for his dedication to Christian charity and his embrace of a life of poverty. He is also remembered for his evangelical zeal and personal charisma, which drew thousands of followers.
