|
St. Francis of Assisi was a man in love with God and with all of God’s creation. And out of that love he gave himself completely to God and all humanity, as God had completely given of Himself in Jesus Christ. This poverello (“little poor man”) gave away all that he had in order to know and to follow the Lord more closely. His life of Gospel joy soon attracted other men to follow him and live as he did—brothers who shared everything and supported each other on their spiritual journey. |
Francis had a profound impact on the Church and the world, and he did it simply by authentically living the Gospel life as God was calling him to do. He loved and cared for all of God’s creatures without exception. He saw himself as brother to every person, every creature, and, indeed, everything in the world. He had a special love for the poor and those who were on the margins of society. His countless followers have striven to love others as Francis did, each in their own way. As St. Francis said as he lay dying, “I have done my part; may Christ teach you to do yours.” |
Timeline
|
Detail of fresco depicting birth of St. Francis by Benozzo Gozzoli, 1452. |
Giovanni di Pietro Bernadone is born and baptized in Assisi, Italy; he is later named Francesco. His father is a wealthy merchant and desires that Francis follow him into this profession. |
| Francis participates in a battle between Assisi and Perugia; he is captured and imprisoned. |  |
|
"Dream of the Palace," from the Legend of St. Francis, a cycle of frescoes by Giotto in the upper church of the Basilica of St. Francis, Assisi, Italy, 1297-1300. |
Francis endures a long illness and begins to think about his life: it is the first stirrings of his conversion. |
| Francis' conversion to a life of faith begins in earnest: he gives away his possessions to the poor and works with the lepers. |  "St. Francis Giving His Mantle to a Poor Man," from the Legend of St. Francis, Giotto, Basilica of St. Francis, Assisi, Italy, 1297-1300. |
|
"Miracle of the Crucifix," from the Legend of St. Francis, Giotto, Basilica of St. Francis, Assisi, Italy, 1297-1300. |
In the chapel of San Damiano, Francis hears the cross say to him, “Go, repair my house, which as you see, is falling into ruins.” He then takes that injunction literally and begins to repair churches. |
| Francis renounces his father and his inheritance and pledges his allegiance to the bishop and thus to the Church. |
"Renunciation of Worldly Goods," from the Legend of St. Francis, Giotto, Basilica of St. Francis, Assisi, Italy, 1297-1300. |
|
"Dream of Innocent III," from the Legend of St. Francis, Giotto, Basilica of St. Francis, Assisi, Italy, 1297-1300. |
Francis begins to preach repentance and the love of God and of all people; many young men are attracted to what he was doing and join him in his mission; Francis writes a rule for these followers to articulate his way of Gospel life. |
| After several years of prayer, preaching around Italy, and working with the marginalized of his society, Francis gains thousands of followers. About 5,000 of these brothers convene to be taught by Francis and discuss how God is calling them to live out their vocation. |  |
|
"St. Francis Before the Sultan," from the Legend of St. Francis, Giotto, Basilica of St. Francis, Assisi, Italy, 1297-1300. |
During the Fifth Crusade, Francis sails to Egypt and gains a meeting with Sultan Malik el-Kamil in a peaceful attempt to bring a halt to the war between Christians and Muslims. |
|
Francis recreates the story of the Nativity of Christ at Greccio; miraculously, the Christ child appears there. |
"Institution of the Crib at Greccio," from the Legend of St. Francis, Giotto, Basilica of St. Francis, Assisi, Italy, 1297-1300. |
 "Stigmatization of St. Francis," from the Legend of St. Francis, Giotto, Basilica of St. Francis, Assisi, Italy, 1297-1300. |
At La Verna, Francis receives the stigmata (the wounds of Christ), a profound sign of his conformity to his beloved Christ. |
| Francis dies surrounded by his brothers; he is buried at the Church of St. Giorgio in Assisi and is canonized on July 16, 1228, by Pope Gregory IX. |
"Death and Ascension of St. Francis," from the Legend of St. Francis, Giotto, Basilica of St. Francis, Assisi, Italy, 1297-1300. |
