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Also known as: Francis
Bernardone; Poverello
Profile
Son of a rich cloth merchant. Misspent youth. Street brawler and some-time
soldier. During an imprisonment in Perugia, he had a conversion
experience, including a reported message from Christ calling him to leave
this worldly life. Upon release, Francis began taking his religion
seriously.
He took the Gospels as the rule of his life, Jesus Christ as his literal
example. He dressed in rough clothes, begged for his sustenance, and
preached purity and peace. He visited hospitals, served the sick, preached
in the streets, and took all men and women as siblings. He began to
attract followers in 1209, and with papal blessing, founded the
Franciscans. In 1212 Clare of Assisi became his spiritual student, which
led to the founding of the Poor Clares. Visited and preached to the
Saracens. Composed songs and hymns to God and nature. Lived with animals,
worked with his hands, cared for lepers, cleaned churches, and sent food
to thieves. In 1221 he resigned direction of the Franciscans.
While in meditation on Mount Alvernia in the Apennines in September 1224,
Francis received the stigmata, which periodically bled during the
remaining two years of his life. This miracle has a separate memorial on
17 September.
Born
1181 at Assisi, Umbria, Italy as Francis Bernardone
Died
4 October 1226 at Portiuncula, Italy
Canonized
1228 by Pope Gregory IX
Patronage
against dying alone, against fire, animal welfare societies, animals,
Assisi, Italy, birds, Catholic Action, Colorado, Archdiocese of Denver
Colorado, dying alone, ecologists, ecology, environment, environmentalism,
environmentalists, families, fire, Italy, lacemakers, laceworkers,
merchants, needle workers, peace, Diocese of Salina, Kansas, Archdiocese
of San Francisco California, Santa Fe New Mexico, Archdiocese of Santa Fe,
New Mexico, tapestry workers, zoos.
Representation
birds; deer; fish; skull; stigmata; wolf
Readings
Alms are an inheritance and a justice which is due to the poor and which
Jesus has levied upon us.
- Saint Francis of Assisi
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Sanctify yourself and you will sanctify society.
- Saint Francis of Assisi
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It was through his archangel, Saint Gabriel, that the Father above made
known to the the holy and glorious Virgin Mary that the worthy, holy and
glorious Word of the Father would come from heaven and take from her womb
the real flesh of our human frailty. Though he was wealthy beyond
reckoning, he still willingly chose to be poor with his blessed mother.
And shortly before his passion he celebrated the Passover with his
disciples. Then he prayed to his Father saying: "Father, if it be
possible, let this cup be taken from me."
Nevertheless, he reposed his will in the will of his Father. The Father
willed that his blessed and glorious Son, whom he gave to us and who was
born for us, should through his own blood offer himself as a sacrificial
victim on the altar of the cross. This was to be done not for himself
through whom all things were made, but for our sins. It was intended to
leave us an example of how to follow in his footsteps. And he desires all
of us to be saved through him, and to receive him with pure heart and
chaste body.
Let us also love our neighbors as ourselves. Let us have charity and
humility. Let us give alms because these cleanse our souls from the stains
of sin. Men lose all the material things they leave behind them in this
world, but they carry with them the reward of their charity and the alms
they give. For these they will receive from the Lord the reward and
recompense they deserve. We must not be wise according to the flesh.
Rather we must be simple, humble and pure. We should never desire to be
over others. Instead, we ought to be servants who are submissive to every
human being for God's sake. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on all who
live in this way and persevere in it to the end. He will permanently dwell
in them. They will be the Father's children who do his work.
- from a letter written to all the faithful by Saint Francis of Assisi
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"Jesus is happy to come with us, as truth is happy to be spoken, as life
to be lived, as light to be lit, as love is to be loved, as joy to be
given, as peace to be spread."
- Saint Francis of Assisi
source:
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintf01.htm
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