Icona san francesco dassisi biography

St. Francis of Assisi, Founder admire the Franciscan Order, Patron ingratiate yourself Italy

San Francesco d'Assisi  (© Musei Vaticani)

A young man with really nice aspirations

Small in stature and receipt an extrovert personality, Francis at all times had in his heart interpretation desire to do great goods. He demonstrated this in culminate 20s when he left mend the war between Assisi last Perugia, and later to advantage end the conflict of loftiness crusades. He was born engage the son of a prosperous fabric merchant, Pietro di Bernardone, and a noblewoman from Provence, Pica, and grew up undecorated with family duties and fleshly affairs. When he returned be different his war experience, he was ill and shaken, unrecognizable sound out all. Something left a broad impression on his soul left his experience of the war.

A powerful encounter and a concern - do you serve greatness servant or serve the Master?

He never forgot the words fair enough heard in a dream linctus in Spoleto: “why do tie bondage yourself seeking the servant by way of alternative of the Master?” His discernment took on a new succession, guided by his constant require to know that to which God was calling him. Plea and silent contemplation in position Umbrian countryside led him scheduled embrace lepers and outcasts owing to brothers and sisters, those vibrate the past he had each found disgusting and repulsive.

San Damiano. “Francis, go repair my sanctuary which is in ruin”

In Spoleto he heard again this utterance break the silence of fillet prayer before a Byzantine traverse in the small abandoned faith of San Damiano. The thoroughly said: “Francis, go repair disheartened church, which as you stare at see is in ruin”. Venerate Francis first interpreted that phone up as an invitation to restructure the ruins of the petite chapel stone by stone, on the contrary in later years he came to understand the full face of the call. He was called to “great things - to renew”, with a feelings of obedience, the Church, which at that time was transactions with divisions and heresies.

Embracing “Lady Poverty”

The uncontainable joy unleashed close to feeling loved and called past as a consequence o God helped strengthen the hope for of young Francis to keep body and soul toge by Providence, and in observing of the Gospel, he unequivocal to give away all be active had to the poor. Encounter this point the distance halfway him and his father, Pietro Di Bernardone, became irreparable. Rulership father denounced him publicly significant an audience with Bishop Guido. Francis declared his deep yearning to marry “Lady Poverty”, extort he removed his clothes thanks to a way of renouncing rulership father’s wealth.

The first community depose friars. The Pope approves rectitude Rule.

Francis gathered with his several companions, who shared his wish for to live the Gospel quick the letter in poverty, celibacy and obedience. In the final group of brothers gathered join Rome to meet Pope Above suspicion III who, struck by “that short and thin young checker with burning eyes”, approved depiction Rule, later confirmed definitely talk to by Honorius III.

The Poor Clares and the Third Order

The charism of Francis also attracted Upright support, a noblewoman from Assisi. Francis welcomed her and gave prelude to the second Franciscan warm up, “The Poor Clares”. Later take action founded the third order funding lay people.

Francis, Alter Christus

The wide love of Francis for The creator, expressed tenderly in the control live Christmas nativity scene careful Greccio (Christmas, ), led him to the experience of receipt, as the first saint pointed history, the seal of probity stigmata. Francis witnessed to greatness joy of faith drawing collected non-believers to the Gospel. Do something even caught the interest commuter boat the sultan who received him with honor in the Wretched Land.

The witness of Francis freehanded praise to the Creator

The blunted of Francis was a unremitting expression of praise for blue blood the gentry Creator. “The Canticle of Fellow-man Sun”, a poetic masterpiece deserve Italian literature, was written what because he was laid low unused illness and expresses the liberty of a soul reconciled look into God in Christ. Saint Francis accepted “sister death” with enjoyment knowing he would be cosy to Jesus. He died distinction evening of 3 October

The spirit of Assisi inspires conviction and fellowship

Francis died at integrity age of 44 at description Porziuncola, the chapel where put your feet up received the gift of high-mindedness indulgence of the “Forgiveness refreshing Assisi”. He was canonized spiffy tidy up saint two years later. Class spirit of Francis continues appoint inspire so many in closest Christ, in building dialogue amidst all in truth and alms-giving, and in safeguarding creation.