Saint Francis University

Francis of Assisi was not born a saint. Born in 1182, the son of a wealthy cloth merchant, Francis had time and money to host lavish banquets for young nobles. Parties and selling cloth left Francis little time for God.

A handsome, charming and educated young man, he spent his early life leading young nobles in parties. He dreamed of knighthood and longed for the adventurous life of chivalry. In pursuit of that dream, he joined in the war between Assisi and Perugia at the age of 20.

In the war between Assisi and Perugia, Francis fought with youthful enthusiasm. He was wounded and taken prisoner. Spending the next year in a dungeon, he contracted malaria. Sickness overtook him, and in that languishing experience, he heard the first stirrings of a vocation to peace and justice.

Francis began to give things away, following the gospel's injunction to give all your goods to the poor. Because of this, his father sought to force his son to forego his inheritance. Francis was only too eager to do so and even stripped himself of the very clothes he wore and gave them to his father. Francis then began a life of following the Christ of the gospel as closely as he could. He knew that his call to live this gospel life came from God.

Followers of Saint Francis soon came, and eventually he founded the First Order for men and later with Saint Clare of Assisi, the Second Order for women. The Poor Clares are a contemplative Order of sisters, still existing in the Church. Finally, he gathered together those who "do penance" into a Third Order, which today is divided into two parts with Secular members and members who live in religious communities. The friars you see on campus are members of the Third Order Regular of Saint Francis.

The life of Saint Francis has many interesting aspects. Perhaps he is best known for his love of creation. This is altogether fitting, as he saw the Creator mirrored in all of creation. His Canticle of the Creatures (also known as the Canticle of the Sun) is a very well-known poem, is considered a classic of world literature and is the basis for several popular hymns, such as "All Creatures of Our God and King." Saint Francis has also been named the Patron Saint of Ecology. The statue in the center of the mall on campus would be a good example of Saint Francis' enthusiasm for his love of all creatures and God's creation.

Saint Francis should be noted for his many other accomplishments, such as constructing the first nativity scene for the celebration of Christmas, traveling to the Holy Land and trying to end the Crusades by talking with the Muslim leader and from this experience of visiting the Holy Land, starting a devotion known as the Stations of the Cross. The Peace Prayer, which is attributed to him and captures his spirit, is also popularized in the very well known hymn, which starts with the words, "Make me a channel of your peace."

Saint Francis died early in the evening of October 3, 1226 at the age of 44, and his feast is celebrated in the universal Church on October 4.

References

Franciscan Friars, Third Order Regular of Saint Francis, Province of the Immaculate Conception; Saint Francis of Assisi - Charismatic Penitent, http://www.franciscanfriarstor.com/stfrancis/index.htm

Fr. Kevin M. Queally, TOR; A Short Reflection on the Life and Legacy of Saint Francis of Assisi.

For more infomation on Saint Francis and Franciscanism

Saint Francis, Short Biography and Chronology of his life

"Who was Saint Francis?"

Saint Francis of Assisi Chronological Biography

Virtual Tour of Assisi

Rule of Life of the Brothers and Sisters of the Third Order Regular

Third Order Regular, international

Short History of the Third Order Regular

Secular Franciscan Order (International and USA National Fraternity)

Biographies

Bodo, Murray, OFM; The Journey and the Dream, Cincinnati, OH, Saint Anthony Messenger Press, 1988.

Engelbert, Omer; Saint Francis of Assisi, A Biography, Ann Arbor, MI, Servant Books, 1965.

Jorgensen, Johannes, Saint Francis of Assisi, Garden City, NY, Image Books, 1955.