Assisi

St. Francis of Assisi

Patronage: Animals
Feast Day: October 4th

Francis was born in 1181 in Assisi, Italy; he was the son of a wealthy silk merchant. Early in his life he embraced that wealth and lived a lavish lifestyle. One day he was selling fabrics in the local market on behalf of his father; a beggar approached him asking for help. He turned him away initially; however, at the end of the day he found the beggar and gave him all of the money he had made. Although his father was irate, this is likely the start of Francis’ love for the poor.

Later in life, while praying in a rundown chapel he had a vision where Jesus said to him, “Francis, Francis, go and repair My house which, as you can see, is falling into ruins.” He understood this to mean that God wanted him to repair the chapel, which is what he did.

As Francis continued to grow in his faith he renounced his father’s wealth and thus his own inheritance, and embrace poverty as a way of life. Later, Francis realized that when Jesus said, “…go and repair My house…” He was calling him to repair the Church as a whole. This work was accomplished through his founding of the Franciscans.

Throughout his life Francis embraced the poor and had a great respect for all of God’s creation. He was canonized on July, 16 1228 by Pope Gregory IX.

Assisi House Leadership

Anne Norviel