Francis of Assisi was born in either 1181 or 1182 in Assisi, Italy. His name was Giovanni di Pietro di Bernadone, but he was later called Francesco. He sought solitude as a follower of Christ, and he was canonized two years after his death.
Saint Francis Grows Up and Goes to War
Francis was the product of a renowned family. Not much is recorded about his youth. Thomas of Celano, cited in Christian History, wrote of Francis and his misspent youth. Apparently, Francis created as much havoc as he could, even into early adulthood.
In 1202, the young Francis joined what amounted to a militia in Assisi and engaged in battle against Perugian soldiers. He was captured and held prisoner of war for a year. He spent another year recovering from his ordeal. This period was a turning point for Francis.
Francis Lives in Solitude and Engages the Poor
In time, Francis began to wear a tunic and adopted the appearance of a hermit. He took up residence near an abandoned church, San Damiano. During his time there, he gave his possessions to those in need, much to the fury of his father.
In February 1208, he was at Mass when the Gospel reading from Matthew spoke to him in a powerful way: "Take no gold or silver or copper in your wallet, no bag for your journey, nor two tunics or sandals or a staff." He moved from solitude toward a more involved life with those in his community, particularly the poor. His new mission was to preach the good news of God to them.
Francis Preaches the Gospel, Sometimes Using Words
Unlike early church fathers such as Augustine, Francis seemed more interested in servanthood than the academic side of things. In addition, a group of young men gave up their possessions to follow him, creating the first order of Francis. He was not just a servant to people, he ministered to the animals as well. There are notable accounts of Francis preaching to the birds and referring to them as "my brothers."
A local wolf was terrorizing the people in Gubbio. They appealed to Francis for assistance. According to The Little Flowers of St. Francis, Francis confronted the wolf in front of witnesses and ordered to wolf not to hurt anyone. He then asked for a pledge from the wolf. As the fable goes, "Then in the presence of all the people the wolf raised its right paw and put it in St. Francis' hand as a pledge."
Clare, the Stigmata, and Canonization
In 1212, Clare, a devoted friend and follower of Francis, began the second order of Francis, known as the Poor Clares. During Francis' later life, Clare and her sisters cared for him until his death. In 1224, Francis received the stigmata, the marks of Christ's wounds. Francis died on October 3, 1226. The following year, his friend and advocate, Cardinal Ugolino, became Pope Gregory IX. Francis was canonized as a saint in 1228.
The impact of Saint Francis of Assisi has been great, not only among Catholics, but Protestants as well. The churches that perform the blessing of the animals can trace their practice to the wandering servant whose ambition was to imitate Jesus Christ.
Sources:
- Francis of Assisi, Christian History. Issue 42 (Vol XIII, No. 2). Carol Stream, IL: Christianity Today, Inc., 1994.
- The Little Flowers of St. Francis. (Translated by Raphael Brown) New York, NY: Doubleday, 1958.
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