Saint Francis of Assisi

Saint Francis of Assisi was born in Italy in 1181. He grew up in a wealthy family and enjoyed a carefree life. But something changed in his heart. He began to feel that wealth and comfort were not enough.

Francis decided to leave behind his rich lifestyle. He wanted to follow Jesus in a very simple way. He gave up everything he owned and chose to live in poverty. He believed this was the best way to serve God and love others.

Many people were inspired by his example. Some even joined him in his mission. Together, they formed the Franciscan Order. They lived without money and helped the poor. They also preached about love and peace.

Francis loved nature and saw all creatures as God’s creation. He cared deeply for animals, the environment, and people. His love for creation is still remembered today. He was declared a saint just two years after he died.

Saint Francis of Assisi was born in 1181 in the town of Assisi, Italy. His father, Pietro, was a wealthy cloth merchant. His mother, Pica, came from a noble family. Francis grew up in comfort. He had fine clothes and plenty of money. His family hoped he would take over the family business one day.

As a young man, Francis loved fun and adventure. He enjoyed parties and dreamed of becoming a knight. He joined the army when Assisi went to war. But after being captured and spending time as a prisoner, his life started to change. He began to feel empty inside, even with all his wealth.

After returning home, Francis slowly lost interest in his old way of life. This was the start of his new life. He no longer cared for riches or status. Instead, he focused on living simply and helping others. This choice would inspire many people to follow his example.

Francis of Assisi’s life changed when he started listening to God’s voice in his heart. He no longer cared about wealth or becoming a famous knight. Instead, he wanted to follow Jesus closely. One day, while praying in a small, broken-down church, Francis heard Jesus telling him, “Rebuild my Church.” At first, Francis thought Jesus meant fixing the building itself. So, he began repairing old churches by hand, using stones and wood.

As time passed, Francis realized this call was about more than just buildings. It was about changing his whole life. He knew that to follow Christ fully, he had to leave behind his comfortable life. He gave up everything, including his family’s wealth. He even gave back the clothes on his back, choosing to wear simple, rough garments instead.

This was a big step for Francis, but he trusted in God. He began living as a beggar, relying on the kindness of others for food and shelter. Instead of seeking money or power, he focused on serving the poor and spreading the message of God’s love. Francis had found his true purpose. He would spend the rest of his life on this mission.

As Francis of Assisi lived out his simple life, others began to notice. Some were moved by his example and wanted to join him. These men left their wealth behind and embraced poverty, just like Francis. They became his followers, living together in community. They called themselves the “Friars Minor,” or “Lesser Brothers,” to show their desire to be humble and serve others.

The Friars Minor lived very simply. They wore plain robes, owned nothing, and begged for food. They spent their time helping the poor, caring for the sick, and preaching the Gospel. They traveled from town to town, spreading the message of God’s love and peace.

A young woman named Clare of Assisi, moved by Francis’ teachings, wanted to follow this path. With his guidance, she left her wealthy family and started a community for women, the Poor Clares. They embraced the same life of poverty and service as the friars. Together, Francis and Clare worked to spread their vision of humble devotion to God.

As more people joined Francis’ mission, he realized they needed guidance. In 1209, Francis wrote a simple rule for the friars, based on the teachings of Jesus. He and a small group traveled to Rome for the Pope’s approval, and the Franciscan Order was officially recognized by the Church. The Order grew quickly, inspiring many to live lives of poverty, service, and prayer.

In the later years of his life, Francis of Assisi experienced something very special. While he was praying on a mountain, he had a vision of Jesus on the cross. After this vision, Francis noticed something incredible—he had wounds in his hands, feet, and side, just like the wounds of Christ. These wounds, called the stigmata, were a sign of his deep connection to Jesus’ suffering.

Francis didn’t seek attention for this, and he tried to keep the stigmata hidden. He saw it as a gift, a way to share in Christ’s pain and love for the world. Even with these painful wounds, Francis continued his work of serving others, spreading peace, and caring for the poor.

Though his body grew weaker from the stigmata and illness, his spirit remained strong. He believed that suffering was a way to grow closer to Jesus. By accepting his own pain, Francis united himself more fully with the suffering of Christ on the cross.

The stigmata made Francis even more beloved by those who followed him. They saw him as someone who truly lived like Christ, both in joy and in suffering. This marked the final chapter of his life, showing his deep holiness and love for God.

Saint Francis of Assisi is well known for his love of nature and animals. He believed that all of God’s creation was a gift and that every creature was a brother or sister. He saw God’s beauty in everything around him, from birds and animals to the sun, moon, and stars.

Francis treated animals with great care and respect. There are stories of him preaching to birds and calming a fierce wolf. He believed that all creatures praised God in their own way, and he felt a deep connection to them. His kindness to animals was just one part of his love for creation.

One of Francis’ most famous prayers is the “Canticle of the Creatures.” In this poem, he praises God for the sun, moon, wind, water, and all living things. He called them his brothers and sisters because he saw them as part of the same family of creation. This canticle reflects his joy in the world God made.

Through his love for nature, Francis taught others to respect and care for the earth. His example reminds us that all creation is connected and that we are called to live in harmony with the world around us.

Saint Francis of Assisi believed that to follow Jesus fully, he had to give up everything. He chose to live in complete poverty, owning nothing and relying on God for all his needs. This was a big change from his early life, where he had wealth and comfort.

Francis felt that living in poverty made him free to love God and others more deeply. By giving up material things, he could focus on helping the poor, preaching the Gospel, and trusting God for everything. He saw poverty as a way to live like Jesus, who had no home and relied on others for food and shelter.

His embrace of poverty was not just for himself. He wanted his followers to live the same way. The Franciscan Order was built on this idea of simplicity and humility. They lived without possessions, traveled as beggars, and served those in need. For Francis, poverty wasn’t just about giving up wealth; it was about living the Gospel fully.

Through this radical choice, Francis showed that true riches come from loving and serving God, not from money or possessions. His life of poverty became an example for others who wanted to follow Christ in a simple and humble way.

Prayer was at the center of Saint Francis of Assisi’s life. He spent long hours in prayer, seeking to grow closer to God. Whether he was alone in the mountains or in a busy town, Francis would often stop to pray. He believed that prayer was the way to connect with God’s love and guidance.

Francis’ prayer life was simple, yet very deep. He prayed for God’s will to be done and asked for strength to serve others. He often prayed in nature, finding peace and connection with God in the beauty of creation. Francis believed that everything around him spoke of God’s presence.

He also had many mystical experiences, where he felt a special closeness to God. These experiences filled him with joy and helped him understand how to live out the Gospel more fully.

For Francis, prayer was not just talking to God but also listening. Through his life of prayer, he became a model of humility, service, and love for everyone who followed him. His devotion to prayer shaped everything he did.

Saint Francis of Assisi died in 1226 at the age of 44. Even in his final days, he lived simply and humbly, surrounded by his followers. Just two years after his death, in 1228, he was declared a saint by the Church. His life of poverty, love for creation, and deep faith had left a lasting impact on those around him and beyond.

Francis’ influence did not end with his death. His teachings and example spread far beyond Italy. The Franciscan Order continued to grow, with men and women following his path of simplicity, service, and care for the poor. His message of peace and love for all of God’s creation still inspires many people today.

Francis’ feast day is celebrated on October 4 each year. On this day, many people honor his love for animals by having their pets blessed at church services. Here is a typical pet blessing:

His deep care for nature and all creatures has made him the patron saint of animals and the environment. He is also the patron of merchants, stowaways, Cub Scouts, and makers of tapestries. His feast day is a special time to reflect on how we can better care for God’s creation.

In 2015, Pope Francis wrote an important document called Laudato Si’, named after Francis’ canticle. This document focuses on the need to care for the earth and protect God’s creation, reminding us that, like Saint Francis, we should live simply and treat the world with respect.

The legacy of Saint Francis continues in the Church and the world today. His life of humility, poverty, and love for God and creation speaks to people across time, calling them to follow Christ with open hearts and hands.

Saint Francis of Assisi reminds us that true happiness does not come from wealth or possessions. He gave up everything to follow Jesus and live a simple life. Francis trusted in God for all his needs and found joy in serving others. His life shows us that we do not need to chase after money or material things to find peace. Instead, we can find real joy in loving God and caring for others.

Francis also teaches us to see the beauty in the world around us. He saw all of creation—animals, plants, the sun, and the stars—as part of God’s family. He believed that everything praised God in its own way. This reminds us to take time to appreciate the beauty of nature and to care for the earth. We are called to protect creation, just as Francis did, and treat all creatures with kindness.

Another lesson from Saint Francis is the importance of humility. He never wanted to be seen as important or better than others. He called himself a “lesser brother” to show that his life was about serving others, not seeking praise. Francis encourages us to be humble, to put others before ourselves, and to live in a way that shows love and respect for everyone we meet.

Saint Francis’ life may seem different from our own, but his message is still important. He challenges us to live with less, care for creation, and treat others with kindness and humility. His example can inspire us to focus on what really matters—loving God and loving our neighbors.

Reflection Questions

• In what ways can I serve others with humility, like Saint Francis?
• What can I do to simplify my life and focus more on what matters?
• How can I show greater respect for creation and care for the environment?

USCCB Reflection: Emulating Saint Francis’s Devotion

Saint Francis was a deeply committed Christian disciple whose devotion to Jesus influenced his love for the poor, peace, and all creation. His life exemplified Jesus’s teachings, as he abandoned his wealth, career, and family to serve God and the poor, echoing Jesus’s message about commitment to God’s path. Despite the seemingly unattainable holiness of saints like Saint Francis, the word of God reminds us that every individual, in their ordinary life, is called to demonstrate God’s love and strive for holiness. Inspired by Saint Francis and other saints, we are prompted to consider how we can grow closer to God and emulate the virtues of the saints in our lives.