St. Francis of Assisi (born 1181/82, Assisi, duchy of Spoleto [Italy]—died October 3, 1226, Assisi; canonized July 16, 1228; feast day October 4) was the founder of theFranciscanreligious orders of the Friars Minor (Ordo Fratrum Minorum), the women’s Order of St. Clare (thePoor Clares; withSt. Clare of Assisi), and the lay Third Order. He was also a leader of the movement of evangelicalpoverty in the early 13th century. His evangelical zeal, consecration to poverty,charity, and personalcharisma drew thousands of followers. Francis’s devotion to the humanJesus and his desire to follow Jesus’ example reflected and reinforced important developments inmedieval spirituality. The Poverello (“Poor Little Man”) is one of the most venerated religious figures inRoman Catholic history, and he andSt. Catherine of Siena are thepatron saints ofItaly. In 1979 PopeJohn Paul II recognized him as a patron saint ofecology. He is also revered as the patron saint of animals.

Early life and career

Francis was the son of Pietro di Bernardone, a cloth merchant, and the lady Pica, who may have come fromFrance. At Francis’s birth, his father was away on a business trip to France, and his mother had himbaptized Giovanni. On his return, however, Pietro changed the infant’s name to Francesco because of either his interest in France or his wife’s background. Francis learned to read and writeLatin at the school near the church of San Giorgio, acquired some knowledge ofFrench language andliterature, and was especially fond of theProvençalculture of thetroubadours. He liked to speak French (although he never did so perfectly) and even attempted to sing in the language. His youth was most likely without seriousmoral lapses, and his exuberantlove of life and a general spirit of worldliness made him a recognized leader of the young men of the town.

In 1202 he took part in a war betweenAssisi andPerugia, was held prisoner for almost a year, and on his release fell seriously ill. After his recovery, he attempted to join the papal forces under Count Gentile against the emperorFrederick II inApulia in late 1205. On his journey, however, he had a vision or dream that bade him return to Assisi and await the call to a new kind ofknighthood. On his return, he dedicated himself to solitude andprayer so that he might know God’s will for him.

Several other episodes contributed to his conversion to the apostolic life: a vision of Christ while Francis prayed in a grotto near Assisi; an experience of poverty during apilgrimage toRome, where, in rags, he mingled with the beggars beforeSt. Peter’s Basilica and begged alms; an incident in which he not only gave alms to a man withleprosy (he had always felt a deep repugnance for so-called lepers) but also kissed his hand. Among such episodes, the most important, according to hisdisciple and first biographer, Thomas of Celano, occurred at the ruined chapel of San Damiano outside the gate of Assisi when Francis heard thecrucifix above the altar command him: “Go, Francis, and repair my house which, as you see, is well-nigh in ruins.” Taking this literally, Francis hurried home, gathered some fine cloth from his father’s shop, and rode off to the nearby town ofFoligno, where he sold both cloth and horse. He then tried to give the money to thepriest at San Damiano, whose refusal prompted Francis to throw the money out the window. Angered, his father kept him at home and then brought him before the civil authorities. When Francis refused to answer thesummons, his father called him before thebishop of Assisi. Before any accusations were made, Francis “without a word peeled off his garments even removing his breeches and restored them to his father.” Completely naked, he said: “Until now I have called you my father on earth. But henceforth I can truly say:Our Father who art in heaven.” The astonished bishop gave him a cloak, and Francis went off to the woods of Mount Subasio above the city.

Francis renounced worldly goods and family ties to embrace a life ofpoverty. He repaired the church of San Damiano, refurbished a chapel dedicated toSt. Peter the Apostle, and then restored the now-famous little chapel ofSt. Mary of the Angels (Santa Maria degli Angeli), the Porziuncola, on the plain below Assisi. There, on thefeast ofSt. Matthias, February 24, 1208, he listened atmass to the account of themission of Christ to theApostles from theGospel According to Matthew (10:7, 9–11): “And as you go, preach the message, ‘The kingdom is at hand!’…Take no gold, nor silver, nor money in your belts, no bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor a staff; for the laborer deserves his food. And whatever town or villa you enter, find out who isworthy in it, and stay with him until you depart.” According to Thomas of Celano, this was the decisive moment for Francis, who declared, “This is what I wish; this is what I am seeking. This is what I want to do from the bottom of my heart.” He then removed his shoes, discarded his staff, put on a rough tunic, and began to preach repentance.