Feast Day: October 4
Patron Saint of: Animals, ecology, families, peace, merchants, and zoos
St. Francis of Assisi is one of the most loved and recognisable saints in the Catholic Church. Many people know him because of his love for animals and nature, but there is so much more to his story. Francis became one of the Church's greatest saints because he completely changed the direction of his life, giving up comfort, wealth and worldly ambition so that he could devote himself entirely to God.
Born around 1181 or 1182 in Assisi, Italy, Francis grew up in a wealthy merchant family. As a young man, he enjoyed parties, singing and spending time with his friends, and he dreamed of becoming a famous and respected knight. At this point in his life, Francis was much more interested in worldly success than in following God's will.
From Worldly Dreams to God's Calling
Francis eventually went to battle hoping to become a knight, but instead he was captured and spent around a year in prison. After his release, he became seriously ill, and these experiences began to make him question the life he had been living.
In 1205, Francis was preparing to leave for another battle when he had a vision that caused him to stop and turn back towards Assisi. He began to realise that the greatness he had been searching for wasn't found in wealth, status or becoming a powerful knight. Instead, God was calling him to something completely different.
Francis began spending more time in prayer and serving the poor, including caring for people with leprosy. One day, while praying in the run-down Church of San Damiano, he believed he heard Christ say, “Go, repair my house.” Francis initially understood this as a call to physically repair the church, but his life would eventually become about something much greater: helping to renew the Church through a life of prayer, poverty and service.
Choosing God Above Everything
Francis's decision to leave behind his family's wealth was not easy. In 1206, he publicly renounced his inheritance and chose to live a life of poverty and complete dependence on God.
At first, many people thought Francis had lost his mind and mocked him. But Francis continued to pray, serve the poor, care for those who were suffering and share the Gospel. Slowly, others were inspired by his example and began to follow him.
By 1209, Francis and his first followers travelled to Rome to seek approval for their way of life. Their small group eventually became the Order of Friars Minor, commonly known as the Franciscans. What began with just twelve men grew into thousands of friars across Europe, all seeking to live lives centred on prayer, simplicity, service and the Gospel.
A Life Completely Given to Christ
Francis spent the rest of his life preaching the Gospel and serving others. He had a deep love for God's creation, but his love for creation always pointed back towards its Creator. For Francis, everything in creation was a reason to praise God.
In 1224, during a retreat of prayer, Francis received the stigmata, the visible wounds of Christ on his hands, feet and side. His final years were marked by suffering, illness and the loss of his sight, yet he continued to place his trust in God.
Francis died on October 4, 1226, surrounded by his fellow friars at the Portiuncula in Assisi. Just two years later, Pope Gregory IX canonised him as a saint.
What Can We Learn from St. Francis of Assisi?
St. Francis reminds us that following God sometimes means letting go of the things we think will make us happy or successful. He had wealth, friends, ambition and dreams of becoming a great knight, but eventually realised that none of these things could compare with the joy of giving his life completely to God.
His story also reminds us that holiness doesn't mean having a perfect life. Francis had to change direction, learn to trust God and leave behind the person he had once wanted to become. His life shows us that God can take an ordinary person who is willing to say yes and use their life for something far greater than they imagined.
Perhaps one of the most beautiful things we can learn from St. Francis is to see God's presence in the ordinary things around us: in creation, in the people we meet, in serving those who need us and, most importantly, in loving God above everything else.
“Start by doing what is necessary; then do what is possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”
Prayer to St. Francis of Assisi
St. Francis of Assisi,
You gave up worldly wealth and ambition to follow Christ with your whole heart. Pray for us that we may learn to let go of anything that keeps us from God's love and that we may grow in humility, generosity and trust.
Help us to see God's goodness in the world around us, to care for His creation, to serve those in need and to love Christ above all things.
May we follow your example and seek to live our lives with a heart completely devoted to God.
Amen.
God Bless,
Beatriz.
Founder of By Bea Rosaries
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