SANCTI

Francis of Assisi

1181/82–1226

Feast: October 4

You lead with your heart, and when you love something, you go all in, never halfway. That is Francis: a rich merchant's son who goes to war and is taken prisoner. Before the crucifix of San Damiano he hears, according to tradition, the call: "Rebuild my church", and takes it literally. In front of the bishop, the wealthy heir strips off his clothes and hands them back to his father; from that day on he lives in radical poverty. At the end, according to tradition, he bears the wounds of Christ and sings the Canticle of the Sun, praising God with every creature. His radicalism is born of love, not fixing the world, but following Christ, word for word. And you: what would you hand back if He called?

From his life

  • Merchant's son, prisoner of war
  • San Damiano: "Rebuild my church"
  • radical poverty
  • stigmata
  • Canticle of the Sun

The bridge to tradition

Radicalism born of love, not improving the world, but following Christ, taken literally.