Feast of St. Francis of Assisi 2023: Date, History, Facts about Saint Francis of Assisi

Saint Francis of Assisi, the renowned Catholic friar, philosopher, contemplative, and educator, is honored on October 4 with the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi. Among many others, he founded the Order of Friars Minor and the Order of Saint Clare. Before devoting his life to God and becoming one of the most famous Christians of all time, this saint lead a colorful and eventful existence. For two days, the municipality of Assisi lights oil lamps in his honor and to commemorate his journey to the afterlife. On this day, religious services are conducted, and some children bring their pets to be blessed.

The background of Feast of St. Francis of Assisi

It is unknown whether Francis was born in 1181 or 1182, but historians concur that he was born in Italy to a wealthy cloth merchant, surrounded by opulence. When his father returned from France with a fondness for all things French, he began to be called Francesco, which means ‘Frenchman,’ despite having been christened Giovanni. Francis led a carefree, wealthy lifestyle filled with parties and friends as an adolescent and young adult, but he knew something was missing.

After participating in a military expedition, spending a year as a prisoner, and enduring a life-altering illness, Francis began to have visions directing him toward God and away from the frivolity and joy of mortal life. He joined the beggars at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, and while in Italy, God spoke to him, requesting that he rebuild his destroyed church in Assisi. He stole some of his father’s fabric, sold it, and offered to pay for the church’s restorations with the proceeds. Francis’s father was furious when the cleric refused stolen money.

Francis hid from his father in a cave in San Damiano before abandoning his family and becoming a vagrant. In Assisi, he progressively began to care for the poor and sick. Then, he established the Order of Friars Minor. The noblewoman Clare of Assisi heard him speak and was inspired by his message and, with Francis’s assistance, formed the order of the Poor Ladies, or the Poor Clares.

Francis would go on to propagate the gospel throughout the world, including in Egypt and other Middle Eastern countries. When he returned to Italy, he reorganized the Franciscan orders, which had outgrown their developed system. Franciscan missionaries were dispatched around the world to propagate the gospel.

He was praying and fasting on a mountain near the end of his life when an apparition appeared and gave him the stigmata, or the wounds of Christ’s cross. He was hospitalized and suffering from trachoma at the time. His final days were spent dictating his spiritual testament, and on October 3, 1226, he passed away. After two years, he was declared a saint. The following day, the foundation was set for the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi, and on May 25, 1230, he was buried in a hidden tomb in the Lower Basilica.

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5 fascinating facts about Saint Francis of Assisi

It is said that he once spoke to birds, who then flew into the heavens forming a cross.

Two years prior to his death, the stigmata, the lesions of Christ, appeared on the hands, feet, and side of Saint Francis of Assisi.

St. Francis was one of seven children in his family.

St. Francis is widely credited with constructing the first Christmas nativity scene in 1223.

St. Francis of Assisi instructed his disciples to “Preach the Gospel at all times and, when necessary, use words”; however, he believed that actions spoke much loudly than words.

FEAST OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI DATES