Francis of Assisi

Francis of Assisi (c. 1181/1182 – 1226) was a medieval Italian mystic, founder of the Franciscan Order, and one of Christianity’s most beloved saints. His radical embrace of poverty, devotion to creation, and peacemaking continue to inspire faith communities and environmental movements.

Introduction

Francis of Assisi, born Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, is among the most venerated religious figures in Christianity. He transformed from a wealthy young man into a wandering mendicant, preaching poverty, simplicity, and a radically incarnational faith. He founded the Franciscan order, promoted care for creation, and left a legacy of humility and compassion that transcends centuries.

Though his life took place in the 13th century, his message—especially his regard for nature, peace, and solidarity with the poor—resonates strongly today.

Early Life & Family

Francis was born around 1181 or 1182 in Assisi (then part of the Duchy of Spoleto, in what is now Umbria, Italy).

At baptism his mother named him Giovanni (John), but his father later called him Francesco (meaning “Frenchman” or “the little French one”) possibly in honor of French trade ties or as a nickname.

In his youth, Francis enjoyed the trappings of wealth—fine clothes, parties, and the aspiring lifestyle of the nobility. He was known for being sociable, energetic, and somewhat indulgent in his younger years.

He also harbored dreams of knighthood and military glory, and he intermittently participated in local conflicts and military ventures for Assisi.

Conversion & Radical Change

Illness, Imprisonment, and Turning Point

Francis’s life changed dramatically after a combination of illness, disillusionment, and time as a prisoner during a minor war between Assisi and neighboring Perugia. These experiences led him to reflect deeply on his life and priorities.

He gradually renounced his worldly wealth and privileges. A famous moment in this transformation: in front of his father, Francis stripped off his clothes and returned them, declaring that his true Father was God, not his human father.

Embracing Poverty & Preaching

Guided by a desire to live in imitation of Christ, Francis resolved to live a life of radical poverty, humility, and itinerancy. He began preaching in the countryside, caring for lepers, and living among the marginalized.

In 1208, after attending Mass in a chapel of San Damiano, Francis heard a Gospel passage in which Jesus sends out the disciples. He felt called to “repair my house which is falling into ruin” — a phrase he initially interpreted literally (rebuilding the chapel) but later more broadly as reforming Christian life.

He adopted a simple woolen tunic tied with rope (the garb of the poor) and began preaching, without formal ecclesiastical license, that others should live simply, trust in God’s providence, and love one another.

Founding the Franciscan Family

As Francis’s example attracted companions, a new religious movement emerged.

• By 1209, he had about a dozen followers. They lived simply, begged for sustenance, and traveled to preach repentance, urging people to turn toward God.

• In 1210 he traveled to Rome with two friars to seek papal approval. Pope Innocent III gave verbal sanction to the group’s way of life (though initially with caution).

• This group became the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans). As the movement grew, Francis also supported the formation of a women’s branch, the Poor Clares, under his friend Clare of Assisi, and later a Third Order for laypeople seeking to live Franciscan spirituality in the world.

Francis’s leadership was often informal and visionary rather than bureaucratic. He emphasized example, humility, and the power of presence rather than institutional force.

Later Life, Mysticism, & Stigmata

Crusade, Nativity & Pilgrimage

In 1219, during the Fifth Crusade, Francis risked entering Muslim territory in Egypt to attempt to convert the Sultan Al-Kamil through humble dialogue rather than confrontation. While not converting the Sultan, he is said to have earned respect for his peaceable approach.

He also is credited with creating the first live nativity scene in 1223 at Greccio, using real animals and people to re-present the birth of Jesus to help people connect more intimately with the Incarnation.

Receiving the Stigmata & Final Years

In 1224, while spending forty days of preparation on Mount La Verna (Alverna), Francis is said to have received the stigmata—the wounds of Christ—in a mystical vision of a seraph. He became the first recorded person in Christian history to bear these marks.

In his last years, Francis suffered from illness, blindness, and weakness. Nonetheless, he continued to guide his community spiritually, composing prayers (including the Canticle of the Creatures) and his Testament, which expressed his commitment to poverty and love.

He died on October 3, 1226, in Assisi, reportedly singing Psalm 141. He was canonized a saint on July 16, 1228 by Pope Gregory IX.

Spiritual Teachings & Legacy

Emphasis on Poverty, Humility, and Imitation

Francis believed that to follow Christ authentically, one must embrace simplicity, poverty, humility, and trust in God rather than wealth or power. His life was a continual act of renunciation.

He taught that all of creation is a mirror of God and worthy of respect; he called animals and elements “brother” and “sister,” seeing in nature a reflection of divine truth.

His Canticle of the Creatures (Canticle of the Sun) is among his most famous spiritual-poetic works, praising God through elements of nature—Sun, Moon, Wind, Water, Fire, Earth.

Francis’s preaching was less theological discourse and more imaginative, humble presence—with gestures, stories, music, and compassion.

Broad Legacy & Influence

• The Franciscan movement spread rapidly across Europe, and today includes multiple branches (Friars Minor, Capuchins, Conventuals) and lay associations.

• Francis is regarded as a patron saint of animals, ecology, merchants, peace, and Italy.

• His life has inspired interfaith dialogue, ecological movements (e.g. Pope Francis’s Laudato Si’ takes its title from his Canticle), and Christian spirituality focused on simplicity and compassion.

• In art, literature, music, and popular devotion, Francis appears as a timeless symbol of harmony, humility, and peace.

Attributed Prayers & Quotations

Some of the most famous lines associated with Francis (or popularly credited) include:

• “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.” (Though this Peace Prayer is not verifiably by Francis, it reflects his spirit.)

• “Start by doing what is necessary; then do what is possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”

• “Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.”

• “All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.”

• “We are called to heal wounds, to unite what has fallen apart, and to bring home those who have lost their way.”

• “While you are proclaiming peace with your lips, be careful to have it even more fully in your heart.”

These lines—whether historically traceable or not—resonate because they echo the heart of Francis’s life.

Lessons from Francis of Assisi

1. Radical simplicity can open spiritual depth. Francis showed that renouncing material excess can sharpen one’s vision for what truly matters.

2. Creation is sacred. Seeing nature as a spiritual companion reframes our responsibility to ecological care.

3. Presence often speaks louder than doctrine. His humility, gestures, and embodiment of compassion became profound preaching.

4. Dialogue and encounter over confrontation. His journey to speak with the Sultan in Egypt exemplifies courageous engagement rather than aggression.

5. Joy, even in suffering. Francis embraced joy in poverty and in pain—seeing suffering as part of redemption.

6. Legacy through imitation, not command. His life encourages discipleship by example rather than institutional coercion.

Conclusion

Francis of Assisi remains a luminous figure whose witness crosses religious boundaries. From privileged youth to itinerant mendicant, his journey invites reflection on what it means to live with compassion, humility, and wonder. His embrace of creation, his peacemaking efforts, and his radical trust in God continue to speak powerfully in an age of ecological crisis, inequality, and spiritual longing.