St. Francis of Assisi

St. Francis was born to a wealthy family in Italy in the year 1181. His father was a silk merchant and his mother was of noble French descent. Growing up Francis was enchanted by the world, but always had a heart for the Lord. One day in his youth he was selling his father's silks at the market. A beggar came up and asked him for some money, but as he was conducting a business deal he did not oblige immediately. As soon as the deal was complete he ran to catch up with the beggar. When he finally prevailed he gave the dear beggar everything in his purse. When he got home his father was livid, and Jesus was smiling.

Years later, Francis was praying alone in the falling-down chapel of San Damiano when he heard Christ speak to him from the crucifix: "Francis, go and repair my house, which you see is falling into ruin." He took it completely literally. He went home, loaded up a horse, took his father's cloth and rode to the market town of Foligno to sell it, along with his horse, to fund the church repairs!

Francis' father was irate! He called Francis before the town's civil court to get his money back. But Francis, who had turned his life over to Christ, did not see the point in showing up to a court of men. So Pietro took his son to the bishop of Assisi instead. The Bishop was the one authority Francis wouldn't run away from.

In front of the bishop and his father, Francis didn't have any words. He just started undressing, and piled his clothes into his father's arms. In one line he severed his ties with the world: "Until now I have called you my father on earth. From now on, I can say only: Our Father, who art in Heaven."

The bishop, stunned, wrapped his own cloak around him. Francis walked out of that square with nothing — no money, no earthly father, no family name — and went straight up into the woods on Mount Subasio alone.

From there he couldn't keep the Gospel to himself. He started preaching in the streets and people started flocking to him! They loved what Francis had to say. That following led him to found his order, the Franciscans, and also the women's order in the same spirit, the Poor Clares. His whole life Francis always had a love for the poor, and he desired poverty in every aspect of his life — from his pocket, to his shoes, even down to his very soul. If he was empty he could receive Christ crucified, and that was the desire of his heart. His life was prolific, but so it goes to those of us who love Our Creator! St. Francis praised God for His glory in all of creation. He called the sun his brother and the moon his sister, and he would preach to the birds in the field. He found God everywhere he looked, and a life of fidelity leads you to none other than the Holy Cross. May we lead lives like his, my dear brothers and sisters, and become a dear friend of God like St. Francis.