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. Legendary accounts claim Abgar wrote to Christ asking Jesus to cure him of an intolerable and incurable illness. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Our current Holy Father Pope Francis took the name “Francis” after him. Image source: The Famous People. There, on the feast of St. Matthias, February 24, 1208, he listened at mass to the account of the mission of Christ to the Apostles from the Gospel 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 labourer deserves his food. 4. 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. St. Francis then led the life of a beggar and served God. His father, Piero Bernardone, was a wealthy cloth trader, and in the early days Francis wanted to join him in his business. St. Francis of Assisi (c. 1181–Oct. Francis learned to read and write Latin at the school near the church of San Giorgio, acquired some knowledge of French language and literature, and was especially fond of the Provenƈal culture of the troubadours. Saint Francis of Assisi, detail of a fresco by Cimabue, late 13th century; in the lower church of San Francesco, Assisi, Italy. 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. He was declared a saint by Pope Gregory IX on July 16, 1228, and the next day the Pope personally laid the foundation stone for the new Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. Saint Francis of Assisi by Jusepe de Ribera. But who much do most people know about his life? Shortly thereafter he had several experiences that shaped his conversion, and he renounced his worldly goods and family ties to embrace a life of poverty. 3, 1226) is the Roman Catholic Church's patron saint of animals, merchants, and ecology. 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. Saint Francis of Assisi also performed miracles for people. However, Peter died just five months later. Interesting Assisi, Italy Facts St. Francis of Assisi, Italy. At Francis’s birth, his father was away on a business trip to France, and his mother had him baptized Giovanni. October 4th is the feast day of the great St. Francis of Assisi! A Franciscan who was with him later recounted, “Suddenly he saw a vision of a seraph, a six-winged angel on a cross. When Francis refused to answer the summons, his father called him before the bishop of Assisi. For Catholics, Oct. 4 is widely recognized as the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Francis died on October 3, 1226. From The Little Flowers of St. Francis of Assisi, Chapter XXI:. His evangelical zeal, consecration to poverty, charity, and personal charisma drew thousands of followers. Then he had a dream in which he saw Francis holding up the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran. 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. [See also: 5 Saints Who Totally Had Superpowers], [See also: 5 Child Saints Who Totally Put All of Us Adults to Shame], Awaken the Sleeping Giant: The Powerful St. Joseph Devotion Catholics Need for Modern Times, Wow! The Franciscan order is one of the largest orders in the Roman Catholic Church. 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