St. Francis of Assisi
Saint Francis of Assisi (1182-10/4/1226) is the co-founder of the Franciscan Order. The son of a rich merchant named Pietro di Bernardone, he was very worldly in his early years. He was held prisoner for several months in 1202 during a dispute between Assisi and Perugia. This was followed by a period of illness. Dissatisfied with his life, he turned to prayer and service to the poor, and in 1206 he publicly renounced his father's wealth.

Francis began to live as a hermit and soon attracted followers. He preached the necessity of a poor, simple life-style based on the ideals of the Gospels. Pope Innocent III approved his way of life, gave him and his disciples permission to preach on moral topics, and had Francis ordained a deacon. The followers increased and were called Friars Minor by Francis, that is, the lesser brethren.

With the collaboration of Saint Clare of Assisi (1194-8/11/1253), Francis founded (1212) a branch of his order for women, called the Poor Clares. Later, he established (1221) another branch for lay men and women, called the Third Order.

In 1219, during the Fifth Crusade, Francis made his famous but fruitless attempt to convert the sultan al-Kamil while the crusaders laid seige to Damietta in Egypt. Upon returning from the Crusades, Francis retired from the government of the order to a life of contemplation, during which he received the Stigmata (the imprint of the wounds of Christ in his own body) and composed his famous poem, the Canticle of Brother Sun.

He died on October 3, 1226 and was canonized in 1228.

Francis's feast day is October 4.

The Prayer of St. Francis
The prayer below is often attributed to St. Francis of Assisi because it expresses the core of his beliefs and sums up the spirit of his love and obedience to Christ. The actual author is unknown but it is believed to have been written around the year 1900.

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow charity;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is error, the truth;
Where there is doubt, the faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light; and
Where there is sadness, joy.

O, Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying to ourselves that we are born to eternal life. Amen.