But who was he, and what did he do? October 4th is the feast day of the great St. Francis of Assisi! However, Peter died just five months later. He interpreted the dream as indicating that Francis and his group would help support the Church, and so gave official recognition to the group as a genuine Order in the Church. Francis was enamored with the Arthurian legends of France, and desired to be knight in the same vein. Early Life. Image source: The Famous People. A disciple of Christ sent by St. Thomas to the court of King Abgar the Black, the second century Osroene ruler. He was taken prisoner and held for a year, but was eventually released unharmed. Francis died on October 3, 1226. Just like Dr. Dolittle, San Francesco spoke the language of animals. Mike Schmitz’ New Podcast Hits #1 on iTunes, Toppling NPR, NBC, iHeart Radio & More, Satanists Buy Billboard Promoting Abortion as Religious Ritual, Citing “Abortions Save Lives”, Pres. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. In his twenties, he took part in a war and was held prisoner for nearly a year. ... St. Francis of Assisi School 3617 Harford Road Baltimore, MD 21218 410-467-1683; Get Directions; 410-467-9449 Their work embraced devoted service in the abodes of sickness and poverty, earnest preaching by both priests and lay brothers, and missions in an ever widening circle, which finally included heretics and Mohammedans. Francis offered to go first, but the Sultan turned down the challenge. Among such episodes, the most important, according to his disciple and first biographer, Thomas of Celano, occurred at the ruined chapel of San Damiano outside the gate of Assisi when Francis heard the crucifix 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 of Foligno, where he sold both cloth and horse. 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 a pilgrimage to Rome, where, in rags, he mingled with the beggars before St. Peter’s Basilica and begged alms; an incident in which he not only gave alms to a leper (he had always felt a deep repugnance for lepers) but also kissed his hand. Francis renounced worldly goods and family ties to embrace a life of poverty. In the second battle, he was captured and was a POW for over a year. In Matthew 10.9, Jesus tells his disciples, “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts,” when they travel around to preach the Gospel. For Catholics, Oct. 4 is widely recognized as the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. In this episode of The Catholic Talk Show, the guys explore some of the little known facts about Saint Francis of Assisi. He was among the seven children of Pietro di Bernardone, a wealthy silk merchant, and Pica de Bourlemont. Facts About St. Francis of Assisi: Francis was born at Assisi in 1181. 11) The foundation stone for the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi was laid by the pope the day after he was canonized – less than two years after his death Francis died on October 3, 1226. Updates? October 4th is his memorial day. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. He was the founder of the Order of Friars Minor, more popularly known as the Franciscans. Then he had a dream in which he saw Francis holding up the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran. He founded an order, or group, of monks called the Franciscans. Although he had a very rich family, he gave everything he owned to the poor. His body was moved to his basilica in 1230, but was soon hidden by the Franciscans to protect it from Saracen invaders. He founded the Franciscan orders, including the Poor Clares and the lay Third Order. He felt inspired to do the same, and started traveling around preaching repentance in poverty. 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. Approximately 90 miles north of Rome, in the rolling hills of Umbria, stands the exceptionally well-preserved medieval town of Assisi. St. Francis of Assisi, Italian San Francesco d’Assisi, baptized Giovanni, renamed Francesco, original name Francesco di Pietro di Bernardone, (born 1181/82, Assisi, duchy of Spoleto [Italy]—died October 3, 1226, Assisi; canonized July 16, 1228; feast day October 4), founder of the Franciscan orders of the Friars Minor (Ordo Fratrum Minorum), the women’s Order of St. Clare (the Poor Clares), and the lay Third Order. St Francis of Assisi Facts Saint Francis of Assisi was an Italian Catholic preacher, friar, and deacon, who became one of history's most venerated religious figures. There are stories about St. Francis being able to talk to the animals. He preached before the Sultan. St. Francis dedicated his entire life to the cause of helping poor and deprived people in the society and taught to have respect for all the living things. Here are 8 things you need to know about St. Francis of Assisi: Francis’s devotion to the human Jesus and his desire to follow Jesus’ example reflected and reinforced important developments in medieval spirituality. Saint Francis of Assisi also performed miracles for people. Trump Honors St. Thomas Becket as “Lion of Religious Liberty” in White House Proclamation, 5 Beautiful Ways I Learned How to “Live Jesus” After Visiting an Alabama Monastery, 8 Black Saints & Holy People of God Every Catholic Should Know, With Prayers for Intercession, Already Failed at Your Lenten Penance? Tuesday is the official Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment. He is one of the patron saints of Italy . The great crowds were causing problems in that area, so Francis prayed asking Peter to stop the miracles – the miracles stopped. Saint Francis of Assisi is considered to be the patron saint of animals and nature. Saint Francis of Assisi was born in late 1181 or early 1182 in Assisi, duchy of Spoleto, Umbria, Italy. “Francesco” means “Frenchman.”. San Francesco lived happily with no money. This Priest Encourages Catholics Not to Give Up, 6 Fun Ways to Celebrate Christmas Until The Baptism of Jesus, In One Infographic, A Little Girl’s 5 Ordinary (But Extraordinary) Ways to Grow in Holiness, The Haunting Stories of 5 Saints Who Battled Demons, 11 Fascinating Facts About the Life of St. Catherine of Siena, 5 Child Saints Who Totally Put All of Us Adults to Shame, The Incredible Christmas Eucharistic Miracle of 2013: “Cardiac Muscle…Typical of an Agony”. He and St. Catherine of Siena are the patron saints of Italy, and he is also the patron saint of ecology and of animals. Francis of Assisi Born: c. 1182Assisi, Umbria, ItalyDied: October 1226Assisi, Umbria, Italy Italian religious leader The Italian religious leader St. Francis of Assisi founded the religious order known as the Franciscans. Far from being excited or apologetic because he'd been gone, Pietro was furious because she'd had his new son baptized Giovanni after John the Baptist. But who much do most people know about his life? He then tried to give the money to the priest at San Damiano, whose refusal prompted Francis to throw the money out the window. On his journey, however, he had a vision or dream that bade him return to Assisi and await the call to a new kind of knighthood. Francis of Assisi is one of the most well-known saints of the Roman Catholic Church . The Real St. Francis: 14 Surprising Facts Francis of Assisi was, in his early life, a ladies' man, a carouser, a fierce warrior, and a P.O.W. Born sometime in early 1180s to a prosperous silk merchant in Assisi, he led a very high spirited life in his early youth; but on receiving a call, he gave up everything to lead a life in poverty. In 1220, Francis handed over governance of the greater Order to the Franciscan Peter Catani. This angel gave him the gift of the five wounds of Christ.”. Learn fun facts about St. Francis of Assisi:Great educational tool featuring comic art! St. Francis has many traits that describe him. To all our readers, Please don't scroll past this. St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis of Assisi is one of the Church’s best known and most beloved saints. Saint Francis of Assisi by Jusepe de Ribera. On his return, however, Pietro changed the infant’s name to Francesco because of either his interest in France or his wife’s background. He was also a leader of the movement of evangelical poverty in the early 13th century. Saint Francis of Assisi was a Catholic friar who gave up a life of wealth to live a life of poverty. Saints Fun Facts St. Addal. Angered, his father kept him at home and then brought him before the civil authorities. The Fourth Lateran Council was the 12th ecumenical council of the Catholic Church and affirmed transubstantiation and papal primacy, among other things. St. Francis in prayer. The Poverello (“Poor Little Man”) is one of the most venerated religious figures in Roman Catholic history, and he and St. Catherine of Siena are the patron saints of Italy. Francis even fought in two wars, one a civil war in Assisi, and the other as a mounted soldier against the city-state of Perugia. 98% of our readers don't give; they simply look the other way. Eventually he established an order of monks. The Archbasilica of St. John Lateran is the cathedral church of the diocese of Rome, and thus possibly representative of the Church in general, but especially the papacy. Francis regarded the beauty in nature and the animal world as something that should lead to worship and praise of God—but not things to be invested with god-like qualities. Facts about Assisi Italy 3: establishment of important sites in Assisi. He established the Franciscan Order of friars and the women's Order of the Poor Ladies. 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facts about st francis of assisi