The Story of Saint Francis of Assisi The name Saint Francis of Assisi reminds most people of a cute lawn figure surrounded by birds or of a man who had a great love for animals, nature, and poetry; others may know that St Francis also founded three religious order, had a great love for the poor, especially for lepers, and that he was a man of peace. All these noble characteristics rightly describe St. Francis but they are in no way the cause of his great sanctity. They flow from his great holiness, his great love for Jesus Crucified, his loyalty to the Church, and his devotion to Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. St. Francis had an unswerving desire to imitate Our Crucified Saviour in all things by living the Gospel and teaching others to do the same. Hence, it is impossible to understand St. Francis apart from Christ. With this in mind, let us briefly examine the life of the Poverello, a giant among saints.
Francis
Bernadone was born in Assisi in 1182 to Pietro and Picca Bernadone. Pietro was
a cloth merchant and probably the richest man in Assisi. He anticipated even
more wealth as the young Francis had demonstrated keen business skills. Francis,
however, was unlike his greedy father. Rich in natural virtue, he was always
quick to share his good fortune with his friends and even with the poor. Known
as the king of youth, for his joyful nature and popularity, his primary aspiration
was to be a knight. In 1205, an opportunity arose to fight for Pope Innocent
III. Francis jumped at the opportunity, butthirty miles into the excursion he
fell ill. As he recuperated, he heard the voice of God asking him: Francis who
can do more for you the lord or the servant? Francis answered, the lord. God
replied: Then why do you leave the lord for the servant, a rich lord for a poor
man?And Francis asked, Lord, what would you have me do? God said, Return home
and you will be told what to do. From then on, Francis began to desire to serve
the King of kings and to be a holy knight in His court. 
Francis
was a changed man, but the interior battle every soul must face had just begun.
His love grew for the poor, and Francis himself began to embrace a life of poverty.
In 1206, while on a journey, Francis met a leper and was immediately repulsed;
but overcoming his lower nature, he reached out and embraced the man. Afterwards,
he exclaimed, what had formerly been bitter, had become sweet; and what was
formerly sweet, had become bitter. As he came to recognize Jesus in the poor
and His beauty and Providence in nature, his conversion deepened. One day while
Francis was praying before the now famous San Damiano crucifix, especially pondering
Our Lord's will, Jesus spoke to him from the cross: Francis, repair My house
which, as you can see, has fallen into ruin. Immediately, Francis began to rebuild
the church of San Damiano, which was in ill-repair, and other churches as well.
He begged supplies for the love of God. At first people mocked Francis thinking
he was crazy, but his Gospel witness soon inspired a band of followers which
included his former party friends, nobility, and clergy. He even won the support
of Bishop Guido of Assisi who recognized grace working in the Poverello. His
father, however, remained indignant. In 1209, a formal way of life was adopted
by Francis. After Mass, he was inspired to open the Scriptures three times.
The three verses were as follows: 1) If you would be perfect, go and sell all
you have and give to the poor, and follow me; 2) Take nothing with you for the
journey; and 3) If any man will follow me, let him deny himself, take up his
cross and follow me. Francis determined that he and his followers would observe these words of Our Lord without interpretation, and that they would be known as the Penitents of Assisi. In 1210, Francis and his early followers journeyed to Rome to seek the approval of Pope Innocent III. The Holy Father, moved profoundly by Francis' apparent sanctity, blessed him and his companions and verbally approved the early rule. (The formal rule of the Friars Minor, still observed by Franciscans today, was written much later and approved in 1223.) Having labored joyfully to rebuild three churches, and
ever sensitive to the Holy Spirit, Francis came to realize that God was using
the order not merely to restore dilapidated buildings, but to rebuild the Catholic
church weakened by the secularism that threatens her in every age. His charity,
humility, penance and preaching, Eucharistic and Marian devotions, inspired
many to return to the Gospel. His imitation of Jesus Crucified and countless
miracles sparked a great Catholic renewal. Through grace, Francis had become
so united to Jesus in his sufferings that in 1224, around the feast of the Holy
Cross, God blessed him with a gift previously unknown of in Christian history
- the stigmata. While Francis was praying and fasting on Mount La Verna, he
asked Jesus to allow him as much as possible to feel the sufferings He felt
in His body and soul during His Passion. The Crucified Jesus then appeared to
Francis as a fiery seraph angel and impressed His precious wounds, nails and
all, on the hands, feet, and side of Francis. He suffered tremendously the last
two years of his life with the stigmata, and he also patiently endured a series
of bitter sicknesses. Inevitable, tensions, another cause of great suffering,
had emerged in the Order. He saw the Order grow by leaps and bounds, but longed
for the simplicity of the early days which was no longer possible because the
Order had grown so large. Francis remained a constant witness to the Catholic
faith, always inspiring the faithful to a deeper observance of the Gospel, and
his spirit lives on today in those who strive to live the Rule of the Friars
Minor, of the Poor Clares, and of the Third Order. St. Francis died on the eve
of October 4,1226 lying on the bare floor, naked and poor in the eyes of men,
but rich in God's grace. He was canonized on July 16, 1228 by Pope Honorius
III, and his feast is observed on October 4. Among his last words was a call
to continue the work of renewal in the Catholic Church: Let us begin again,
for until now we have done nothing. May each of us do our share to spread the
Gospel, the true Catholic faith!