St. Francis of Assisi

St. Francis of Assisi, born Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone in 1181 in Assisi, Italy, was the son of a wealthy cloth merchant. After a youth marked by privilege and military aspirations, he experienced a profound spiritual transformation following a period of illness and imprisonment during a local conflict. In 1205, while praying in the dilapidated church of San Damiano, Francis heard a divine call to rebuild my church, which he initially interpreted literally, repairing the structure. His commitment to a life of poverty and service deepened, leading him to renounce his family’s wealth in a dramatic public gesture. By 1209, Francis founded the Franciscan Order, or the Order of Friars Minor, with a mission to live in humility, preach the Gospel, and serve the poor. His radical embrace of poverty and simplicity attracted followers, and his rule of life received papal approval in 1210. Francis also co-founded the Order of Poor Clares with St. Clare of Assisi and established the Third Order for laypeople. Known for his deep love of nature, he composed the Canticle of the Sun, celebrating creation as a reflection of God’s glory. Francis died on October 3, 1226, in Assisi, and was canonized just two years later, in 1228, by Pope Gregory IX. His legacy endures through the Franciscan Orders and his enduring influence on Christian spirituality and environmental stewardship.