Lives to Inspire: Francis of Assisi

Born to a silk merchant, Pietro de Bernadone dei Moriconi and baptised John – Giovanni, but later called Francesco (Frenchman) by this father, maybe because of his French mother.

Francis loved fine clothes and lived a lavish lifestyle as a young man.
At the age of 21 he joined a military expedition against the city of Perugia and spent a year as a captive. At about the age of 24 he had a mystical vision which caused him to re-evaluate his life and abandon fighting. Francis was impulsive about giving away money to those in need. In frustration, his father decided to disinherit Francis officially in front of the local bishop. At which point Francis, in a symbolic act, returned to his father even the clothes he was wearing.

Over the next few years Francis lived a simple life and became ever more convinced he was being called to a religious life with poverty at its heart.

Francis drew others who were inspired by his radical living of the Gospel and by 1208 a small group had come together who lived under a simple rule of radical poverty, chastity and obedience and called themselves the Friars Minor. The Friars lived simply and frequently travelled the country in pairs preaching the gospel in the public squares and on church steps. The preaching was simple, joyful and in the local language.

In 1212 a young heiress of Assisi, Clare, came with some companions to Francis and were to form the second Franciscan Order of Poor Ladies, now known at Poor Clares after their founder.

In 1219 Francis was determined to bring the Crusades to an end by converting the Muslims to Christianity. He went with eleven companions to Damietta, where there was fighting. He managed to be captured and then to see the Sultan. Although he failed in his conversion attempt, he did manage to visit Palestine and gain for the friars the role they keep to this day of guardians of the Holy Places.

The preaching of the friars was having such a dramatic effect in places, that many wanted to join their ranks. A third group to follow the inspiration of Francis was formed in 1221. This third order was for those who, for whatever reason (such as being married), couldn’t follow in the first or second way, but who still felt that a life radical following of Christ was for them.

In 1223 he celebrated the nativity in a new way by introducing a crib (nativity scene) at Christmas.
A year later, whilst on a forty day fast he was found to have the marks of the five wounds of the crucified Christ – the stigmata. His health seems to have deteriorated after this, but not his spirit – he wrote the Canticle of the Sun the following year.

Finally he died in Assisi on 3^rd of October 1226 at the age of 44. By his death the Order of Friars Minor had grown to have members in many countries of Europe.

Books about Francis of Assisi