St. Francis of Assisi

St. Francis of Assisi a Saint for the Ages

“Love is no woman and no man

Love has no body and soul

Love is unlike us humans then 

And yet it is the human goal.”1

St. Francis of Assisi was born at Assisi in Umbria around the year 1181 or 1182. He was born to a wealthy cloth merchant Pietro and his mother, Pica. He was soon baptized by the name of Giovanni.

Francis lived a worldly life benefiting from his father's riches and enjoying the perks that came with the status. He was known to enjoy drinking and going out with his friends on expensive and wild nights. 

His father Pietro had hoped that he would follow in his footsteps, but instead, he continued his life of worldly pleasures. Francis then decided to join the military and when he did his father was extremely proud of him that he bought him the best armor available. Shadowing that of the most experienced soldiers. The day of his departure the whole town came out wish him goodbye, he would not make it to battle because of being overcome with fear. Returning home embarrassed and brought shame once again to his father.  

After returning to his hometown, he continued the same life that he had left behind. Drinking and going out with friends, but something was different this time. Giovanni was not the same he felt a void in his heart that the world life was no longer filling. Going out with friends and living this type was not enough for him anymore, yet he could not figure out what was missing. 

One day while praying before a crucifix he had a vision, which changed his life forever.  He heard the voice of God saying, "Go, Francis, and repair my house, which as you see is falling into ruin.”2 He then decided to change his life forever and rid himself of all worldly possessions including his clothing. Giovanni then went to his father and letting him know of his new decision. His father was embarrassed and felt humiliated, and thought that Francis was up to no good and simply wanted attention. 

From this moment on St. Francis lived a life of simplicity and poverty, he began to be known as the beggar which brought even more shame to his father. His father urged him to become a monk in hopes of Francis being sheltered away from where everyone would be able to see him, thus taking away the possibility of embarrassment.

St. Francis would go on to meet with the local priest who would petition for him to become a deacon, which he did and would now live and minister with the little old priest. During his time with the priest, he helped to rebuild the small church which St. Francis thought that this was what God wanted him to do. He felt that God still wanted more, which is how he came to the realization that God was calling him to rebuild the whole Church, not a particular one. 

From that moment on he went out preaching the gospel and when necessary using words, he began once again to cause commissions, and people began to talk once again to him. He began to inspire others to follow in his footsteps because of his love of poverty and devotion to Christ. Although all things seem to be going well for St. Francis many of the clergy in the area were not very happy with him because of the type of life he was living, they felt that it reflected badly on them. This had to do with the fact that many of the clergy were living luxurious lives at the time. 

After much struggle with the clergy, Francis decided to speak to the Pope so that he would allow him to create officially the order of the Friar Minors, which Pope Innocence III denied by saying “Leave me alone with your rule, go find pigs instead!”3 Francis defeated left with his hopes shattered. The following day the Pope called for Francis, he told him  that he had a dream that Francis was holding the walls of Lateran up; he interpreted this as God giving him the message to allow Francis to establish his order. Francis was thrilled and continued on his mission inspiring much more to follow, and eventually St. Claire of Assisi as well. 

The life of St. Francis is a great example of the time period that he lived in, he struggled to fight material gain and titles. Which was the opposite of  the mentality of the time, that is why he caused such a great commotion. The same can be said for today, in this world of instant gratification and the pursuit of money and goods, we continue to have his example, an example that has transcended time, and we now see it once more with Pope Francis

“No man can taste the fruit of this glorious nihil.

If not led by the hand of God; of himself he can do nothing.” 4

1. Wohl, Louis De. The Joyful Beggar; a Novel of St. Francis of Assisi. Philadephia: Lippincott, 1958. Print. Pg. 41

2. Englebert, Omer. St. Francis of Assisi: A Biography. Ann Arbor, MI: Servant, 1979. Print. Pg. 33

3. Englebert, Omer. St. Francis of Assisi: A Biography. Ann Arbor, MI: Servant, 1979. Print. Pg. 63

4. Cowan, James. Francis: A Saint's Way. Liguori, MO: Liguori/Triumph, 2001. Print. Pg. 132