What is st francis of assisi known for
St.Icona san francesco dassisi biography wikipedia Francis appears kneeling, on the barren land in the territory of La Verna , Casentino : behind him steep cliffs and sparse vegetation, a few tufts of grass and a tree near the crest of the mountain, offered to him as a hermitage by Count Orlando Cattani. Mary of the Angels , and in the upper right-hand corner a seraphim from which come the rays of light that strike Francis, leaving him imprinted with the stigmata, the wounds that the sufferings of the Crucifixion caused Christ to have on his body there are five: two on his hands, two on his feet, and one on his side. This is the way the episode of the Stigmata of St. Francis is depicted in a precious panel painting from , a work attributed after a long critical debate to the Master of the Cross and conserved at the Uffizi , which made it the protagonist of the first stage of the Uffizi project spread outside Tuscany, the exhibition inTORNO a Francesco Assisi, Sala ex Pinacoteca, from November 14, to January 6, , curated by Giulio Proietti Bocchini and Stefano Brufani. According to his hagiography, the saint, in September , while on the mountain of La Verna, finding himself in a state of perfect union with Christ, allegedly received the stigmata through a seraphim.
Francis of Assisi, Founder of the Franciscan Order, Patron of Italy
A young man with great aspirations
Small in stature and having an extrovert personality, Francis always had in his heart the desire to do great things. He demonstrated this in his 20s when he left for the war between Assisi and Perugia, and later to help end the conflict of the crusades.
He was born in the son of a rich fabric merchant, Pietro di Bernardone, and a noblewoman from Provence, Pica, and grew up occupied with family duties and worldly affairs. When he returned from his war experience, he was ill and shaken, unrecognizable to all.
Icona san francesco dassisi biography images
St Francis is considered one of the greatest saints in the Christian tradition and an example of a life lived in imitation of Jesus Christ. All praise is yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing. To you, alone, Most High, do they belong. No mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name. St Francis of Assisi is also known as the patron saint of animals, the environment and one of the two patrons of Italy with Catherine of Siena.Something left a deep impression on his soul beyond his experience of the war.
A powerful encounter and a question - do you serve the servant or serve the Master?
He never forgot the words he heard in a dream while in Spoleto: “why do burden yourself seeking the servant instead of the Master?” His life took on a new direction, guided by his constant wish to know that to which God was calling him.
Prayer and silent contemplation in the Umbrian countryside led him to embrace lepers and outcasts as brothers and sisters, those in the past he had always found disgusting and repulsive.
San Damiano. “Francis, go repair my church which is in ruin”
In Spoleto he heard again this voice break the silence of his prayer before a Byzantine crucifix in the small abandoned church of San Damiano.
The voice said: “Francis, go repair my church, which as you can see is in ruin”. Saint Francis first interpreted that call as an invitation to reconstruct the ruins of the small chapel stone by stone, but in later years he came to understand the full meaning of the call. He was called to “great things - to renew”, with a spirit of obedience, the Church, which at that time was dealing with divisions and heresies.
Embracing “Lady Poverty”
The uncontainable joy unleashed by feeling loved and called by God helped strengthen the wish of young Francis to live by Providence, and in observance of the Gospel, he decided to give away all he had to the poor.
Icona san francesco dassisi biography Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone c. Inspired to lead a Christian life of poverty, he became a beggar [ 7 ] and itinerant preacher. He is commonly portrayed wearing a brown habit with a rope tied around his waist, featuring three knots symbolizing the three Franciscan vows of poverty , chastity , and obedience. In , he went to Egypt in an attempt to convert the sultan al-Kamil and put an end to the conflict of the Fifth Crusade. Francis is associated with patronage of animals and the environment.At this point the distance between him and his father, Pietro Di Bernardone, became irreparable. His father denounced him publicly during an audience with Bishop Guido. Francis declared his deep desire to marry “Lady Poverty”, and he removed his clothes as a way of renouncing his father’s wealth.
The first community of friars. The Pope approves the Rule.
Francis gathered with his numerous companions, who shared his desire to live the Gospel to the letter in poverty, chastity and obedience.
In the first group of brothers gathered in Rome to meet Pope Innocent III who, struck by “that short and thin young man with burning eyes”, approved the Rule, later confirmed definitely in by Honorius III.
The Poor Clares and the Third Order
The charism of Francis also attracted Clare, a noblewoman from Assisi.
Basilica of san francesco dassisi In Assisi, Umbria, the natal day Not his birthday but the day he died and was "born again" into Heaven of St. Francis, Deacon and Confessor. Bonaventure wrote of his life of sanctity and many miracles. Giotto, See the description page. Berlinghierri, See the description page.Francis welcomed her and gave origin to the second Franciscan order, “The Poor Clares”. Later he founded the third order for lay people.
Francis, Alter Christus
The deep love of Francis for Christ, expressed tenderly in the first live Christmas nativity scene in Greccio (Christmas, ), led him to the experience of receiving, as the first saint in history, the seal of the stigmata.
Francis witnessed to the joy of faith drawing even non-believers to the Gospel. He even caught the interest of the sultan who received him with honor in the Holy Land.
The witness of Francis giving praise to the Creator
The life of Francis was a continuous expression of praise for the Creator.
“The Canticle of Brother Sun”, a poetic masterpiece of Italian literature, was written when he was laid low by illness and expresses the freedom of a soul reconciled with God in Christ. Saint Francis accepted “sister death” with joy knowing he would be going to Jesus.
He died the evening of 3 October
The spirit of Assisi inspires faith and fellowship
Francis died at the age of 44 at the Porziuncola, the chapel where he received the gift of the indulgence of the “Forgiveness of Assisi”. He was canonized a saint two years later. The spirit of Francis continues to inspire so many in following Christ, in building dialogue among all in truth and charity, and in safeguarding creation.