Francis of Assisi (c. 1181–1226)

BORN INTO A WEALTHY merchant family of Assisi, Italy, St. Francis was an inspirational leader of the movement of Evangelical poverty in the early 13th century. A direct outcome of Francis's emphasis on voluntary poverty was the foundation of the Franciscan orders of the Friars Minor (Ordo Fratrum Minorum), the woman's Order of St. Clare (or Poor Clares), and the lay Third Order.

Francis considered voluntary poverty the first step toward a regeneration that could lead to the salvation of wealthy Christians like himself. Through his charisma, Francis succeeded in gaining a large following and became one of the most important figures in medieval spirituality. His devotion to poverty earned him the nickname il Poverello (the poor little man) and, through his lasting influence, played a fundamental part in Catholic history. Yet recent scholarship has also pointed out the limitations and lacunae in Francis's thought and, in particular, in his conception of voluntary poverty.

Francis was the son of Pietro di Bernardone, a cloth merchant, and Lady Pica, who was probably a noblewoman of French origins. The infant was originally named Giovanni, but his father later changed his name to Francesco. In his youth, Francis received instruction in Latin and French, and particularly liked the literature of the troubadours. He was a lively and enthusiastic person who quickly became a well-known personality among the youth of Assisi. In 1202, Francis was taken prisoner while fighting in the war between Assisi and Perugia, and, after his release, he fell seriously ill. Upon his recovery, he tried to pursue his military career in the papal army led by Count Gentile against the emperor Frederick II. Yet, while en route to join the army, he had a vision that ordered his return to Assisi where a nobler knighthood awaited him.

After his return to Assisi, he devoted himself to solitary prayers and meditations. It was during this period of his life that Francis experienced several episodes that fundamentally contributed to his conversion: a vision of Christ while he was praying, a pilgrimage to Rome where he begged for alms in front of St. Peter's Basilica, a meeting with a leper, and, above all, hearing the crucifix in the ruined San Damiano Basilica in Assisi tell him: “Go, Francis, and repair my house which, as you see, is well-nigh in ruins.”

As a result of this last event, Francis sold several of his father's finest cloths and tried to give the money to the priest in San Damiano, who, however, refused. Disapproving of Francis's actions, his father summoned him in front of the bishop of Assisi. This was the turning point in Francis's life. Before his father could speak, Francis gave all his clothes back to his father and, taking a cloak offered by the bishop, went to the woods surrounding Assisi.

Francis gave up family ties to embrace a life of poverty and, after hearing mass on the feast of St. Matthias, February 24, 1208, he started preaching. He attracted many followers and, two years later, he led a group of 12 disciples to Rome to seek papal authorization for his Franciscan order. Pope Innocent III finally agreed to the establishment of the order on April 16, 1210. Members of the order did not have possessions, and their main occupation was preaching. Starting from the region of Umbria where Assisi is located, the preachers soon spread throughout Italy as their number rapidly grew.

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