Feast of St. Francis of Assisi

His Life In Brief
St Francis of Assisi was an Italian Catholic friar and deacon who founded the men’s Order of Friars Minor (the Franciscans), the women’s Order of St. Clare (The Poor Clares), and the Third Order of St Francis. He was born, and given the name Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, in 1181 or 1182 AD in Assisi, Perugia, Umbria, Italy and died on October 3 1226 in Assisi, Umbria, Italy at the age of 44. We celebrate his feast day on October 4 every year in the Catholic Church.

Early Years
St Francis of Assisi’s father was called Pietro di Bernardone de Moriconi, a successful fine clothes, and silk merchant. St Francis’s family was well-to-do and they lived just like the typical wealthy families did at that time.

Military Service
In 1202, when he was around twenty years, Francis joined the military. In 1205, during a military expedition, he prematurely left the war and returned to Assisi when, in a vision, he heard a voice telling him, “Follow the master rather than the man”.

Spiritual Growth
St Francis lost interest in worldly life and started becoming disillusioned by the spoils of this world when he was still young. While praying, Francis had a vision of Jesus Christ in the chapel of San Damiano, in Assisi, saying to him, “Francis, go and repair My house which, as you can see, is falling into ruins.”

Following Christ
He renounced his father and his patrimony and was left destitute and disinherited. One morning in February 1208, during Mass in the chapel of St. Mary of the Angels, Francis was greatly inspired by the day’s gospel about the “Commissioning of the Twelve”. He was carried away by the message, “go and proclaim that the Kingdom of God is at hand”. He went around the countryside preaching to the people about penance, peace, and brotherly love.

The Franciscans
Within one year, Francis had eleven followers. They lived a very simple and austere life and continued to preach to the people through their words, actions and lifestyle. Together with his first eleven followers, Francis went to Rome to seek permission to found a new religious order from Pope Innocent III. On April 16 1210, the Order of Friars Minor also known as the Franciscan Order or the Seraphic Order was officially founded. They began preaching in Umbria then to the rest of Italy.

Missionary Work
In 1219, Francis and another friar hoped to convert the Sultan of Egypt. They went to Egypt at a time when there was a ceasefire of war between the Muslims and Christians. The sultan received them graciously and Francis preached to the Muslims. They returned to Assisi unharmed.

Love of Animals
St Francis had a great love for animals and the environment. He preached that God created the world good and beautiful but human sins make it suffer and therefore it needs redemption. Francis thanked God for Brother Sun, Sister Moon, Brother Wind, Water, Fire, and Earth.

The Stigmata
On September 13 1224, St Francis had a vision before the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross and he received the stigmata. Brother Leo, who was accompanying Francis said that “Suddenly he saw a vision of a seraph, a six-winged angel on a cross. This angel gave him the gift of the five wounds of Christ.”

Legacy
Francis died on October 3 1226, Saturday evening singing Voce mea ad Dominum (My Voice to the Lord) in Psalm 141, “Prayer for Deliverance from the Wicked”. Pope Gregory IX canonized Saint Francis of Assisi on July 16 1228. The feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi is celebrated on October 4 every year in the Catholic Church. During the feast, it is popular for people to bring their pets and other animals to church for blessing.


All Souls Blessing of The Pets
Every year, All Souls invites you to have your beloved pets blessed,  in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. Check the parish online news and parish bulletin, in October, for details.