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St. Francis - Our Seraphic Father & Founder
St.
Francis was born in the town of Assisi, Italy around the year 1182, the
son of Pietro Bernardone and Madonna Pica. He acquired the nickname "Francis"
at an early age, because of his father's business dealings in France.
Pietro Bernardone was a successful cloth merchant, and a member of the
rising business class in medieval Italy, providing his family a
quite comfortable life. He had dreams of Francis continuing the family
business and rising to prominence in the town. As such, he was only too
happy to outfit Francis with the equipment needed to serve in the army
and go off to war.
Francis'
military experience was short-lived as he was soon captured, spending
almost a year as a prisoner of war. He returned to Assisi a weak but changed man. His forced solitude led him to ask questions about
his future, and he continued to ponder these questions as he recuperated
at home. One day in 1205 he stopped to reflect and pray in the crumbling
chapel of St. Damian, down the hill from Assisi.  There, in a mystical
experience, he heard Christ speak from the cross and give the direction,
"Francis, repair my church, which as you see is falling into ruins." He
took this charge literally, and began to rebuild the very structure in
which he had prayed. Such behavior brought his father's disapproval and
then anger when Francis sold his father's cloth to raise funds
for the needed repairs. Dragged before the bishop by his father, Francis
declared that God alone was his Father, and he entrusted himself to the
bishop.
The strange behavior of this favored son of Assisi brought more than
a few laughs and much ridicule. But it also attracted others from the
town and the surrounding area who appreciated what this gallant young
man was trying to accomplish. They joined him in repairing churches, and
slowly came to realize that their service should extend to others who
had special needs, like the lepers who were abandoned to fend for themselves.
 As
the group grew in numbers, Francis was wise enough to know that many had fallen away from the Church and become heretical in their teachings.
So, in 1210, he and his followers set out for Rome, to seek the approval
of Pope Innocent III, for the simple way of life they proposed to live. The Pope also had misgivings, but tradition says a dream helped him to realize that this way of life was a literal following of the Gospel,
and that Francis would be a "support" for the whole Church.
Thus the way of life Francis proposed received verbal approval from the
Pope in the year 1210. In the immediate years that followed there was
phenomenal growth. Literally thousands of men and women joined this
movement while Francis was still alive.
Francis and his brothers would go out in small groups preaching penance,
wishing those they met, "Peace and all good," while proclaiming the Good
News of Jesus Christ. After a period of time they would return together at a designated
spot to pray, share their experiences, and renew themselves in their
way of life. A missionary effort was an early thrust and Francis himself
was able to preach before a Sultan of the East. This period also brought
the first martyrs to the Order, as St. Berard and his companions died
in Morocco, the inspiration that led Anthony of Padua to the Friars.
 Early
on, Clare, a rich young woman from Assisi, also sought to live this way
of life and was welcomed by Francis. Clare and her sisters were given
the restored Chapel of St. Damian, a place to pursue contemplative
life, becoming the Second Order of St. Francis, also known as the Poor
Clares.
Prayer
God of mercy,
You inspired St. Clare with the love of poverty.
By the help of her prayers may we follow Christ in poverty of spirit and come to the joyful vision
of Your glory in the kingdom of heaven.
We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen
Accepting that many women and men had responsibilities
to families but would like to live aspects of the Franciscan life, Francis
wrote another Rule of life for what is known as the Third Order or the
Secular Franciscan Order, ways of life that continue into the twenty-first
century.
Many aspects of Francis' life are well known. Francis wanted everyone to experience
God's love in sending His Son into the world, so in the town of Greccio in 1223, he created what is
said to be the first Christmas crib, allowing
that community to better picture the miracle of Bethlehem. In 1224, while
praying on Mount La Verna, Francis received the marks of our Lord's Passion
in his hands, feet and side, a miracle known as the Stigmata.
Capturing
his love for all of creation, in 1225 Francis completed the "Canticle
of the Creatures" wherein he recognized God's goodness in "Brother Sun"
and "Sister Moon" and all of nature:
The Canticle of the Creatures
Most High, all-powerful, all-good Lord,
All praise is Yours, all glory, all honour and all blessings.
To you alone, Most High, do they belong,
and no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce Your Name.
Praised be You my Lord with all Your creatures,
especially Sir Brother Sun,
Who is the day through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendour,
Of You Most High, he bears the likeness.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,
In the heavens you have made them bright, precious and fair.
Praised be You, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air,
And fair and stormy, all weather’s moods,
by which You cherish all that You have made.
Praised be You my Lord through Sister Water,
So useful, humble, precious and pure.
Praised be You my Lord through Brother Fire,
through whom You light the night
and he is beautiful and playful and robust and strong.
Praised be You my Lord through our Sister,
Mother Earth who sustains and governs us,
producing varied fruits with coloured flowers and herbs.
Praise be You my Lord through those who grant pardon
for love of You and bear sickness and trial.
Blessed are those who endure in peace,
By You Most High, they will be crowned.
Praised be You, my Lord through Sister Death,
from whom no-one living can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin!
Blessed are they She finds doing Your Will.
No second death can do them harm.
Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks,
And serve Him with great humility.
Francis' earthly life came to an end on the evening of October 3, 1226.
After much suffering, he asked to be laid on the bare earth outside the
Chapel of Our Lady of the Angels, below the hill of Assisi. There he would
commend his soul to his Heavenly Father.
Francis
was declared a saint only two years later, in 1228, and in that same year
work was begun on his permanent burial place in Assisi. In 1230, St. Francis'
mortal remains were moved to the church that the world knows today as
the Basilica of St. Francis. It remains one of the most popular places
of pilgrimages in the world, visited by many popes, including
John Paul II and Benedict XVI.
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