Our Patron
St. Francis of Assisi
Short Biography
Francis was born in Assisi, Italy in 1182. He grew up leading a privileged life as the son of a wealthy cloth merchant. Francis loved to learn and sing songs as a boy. His father wanted him to become a businessman and taught him about the French culture.
Francis gave all his money to the church. His father became very angry with him. Francis then left his father’s home and took a vow of poverty. As Francis lived his life of poverty and preached to people about the life of Jesus Christ, people began to follow him. By 1209, he had around 11 followers. He had one basic rule which was “To follow the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and to walk in his footsteps”.
Over the next few years Francis began to see visions from God that changed his life. The first vision was when he was sick with a high fever. At first he thought that God had called him to fight in the Crusades. However, he had another vision that told him to help the sick. Finally, when praying in a church, Francis heard God tell him to “repair my church, which is falling in ruins.”
Francis’ followers traveled to Rome to get the approval for their religious Order from the pope. At first the pope was reluctant, but eventually he understood their vow of poverty and blessed the Order. This was the beginning of the Franciscan Order of the Friars Minor.
About the age of nineteen Francis went to battle against the nearby town of Perugia. Francis was captured and taken prisoner. He was held prisoner in a dungeon for a year before his father paid the ransom and he was set free.
St. Francis died on October 4, 1226, at the age of 54. He was canonised on 16 July 1228. In 1979 Pope John Paul II recognized him as the patron saint of ecology. St. Francis’ feast day is October 4.
In the footsteps of St. Francis
