Saint of the day October 4: Saint Francis of Assisi. Catholic Saints

Every October 4, the universal Church celebrates Saint Francis of Assisi (c.1182-1226), the saint who united with Christ in his most intimate pains, the man who sanctified himself by embracing poverty and renewed the Church, the saint who recognized God in nature.

Without a doubt, the Saint of Assisi has always been a figure of immense importance for the Church, and continues to be so today. A significant example of this is that the See of Peter is occupied by someone who chose his name upon assuming the pontificate, with the desire to honor his memory and as a way of asking for his guidance and intercession. Pope Francis called him “a man of harmony and peace.”

Some years ago, Pope Benedict XVI had reflected on the permanent relevance of Saint Francis, also trying to confront those who want to distort his figure: “… a true ‘giant’ of holiness, who continues to fascinate very many. people of all ages and religions… The true historical Francis is the Francis of the Church and precisely in this way he also speaks to non-believers, to believers of other confessions and religions… He is a model (of) a dialogue in truth , in reciprocal respect and mutual understanding.”

Only those who love are free

Saint Francis was born in Assisi (Italy) in 1182, into a wealthy family. His father was a rich merchant and, as custom dictated, he was the one destined to take over the family business. For years, Francisco, self-satisfied, dedicated himself to enjoying his assets, amidst ostentation and frivolity.

There were no major setbacks in his life until circumstances forced him to go to war. He failed as a warrior and was taken prisoner. It was certainly not long that he remained in that condition, but his health began to fail. Surrounded by restlessness, in the midst of the horror of war and afflicted by illness, Francisco began to hear a voice crying from within: “Serve the master and not the servant.”

His poor state of health precipitated his return home, shrouded in disgrace. There, after a long time of recovery, he began a process of personal transformation. In contact with nature and the rediscovery of prayer, little by little he began to understand why his life was empty. God had been knocking on the door of his heart for a long time without him realizing it.

Free to love more

Francisco, then, began to do “disconcerting” things in the eyes of his family and his usual friends, all inappropriate to his social status, so more than one believed him crazy. Francis had begun to visit the abandoned sick of Assisi, including the lepers – a great scandal for his relatives, who wanted to dissuade him. However, he seemed not to care at all what others thought of this and increased the frequency of visits. Suddenly, there was no turning back: those “disgusting” people had become his new circle of friends, his new family.

The saint brought food and shelter to the homeless, until one day his resources were exhausted. That’s how she stripped herself of the last thing she had left: she decided to give away her own clothes and her money.

If any doubts assailed him at that moment, it is clear that they had no major impact. Something new was growing in his heart and it was very different from anything he had tried before: his spirit was finally beginning to have peace, even surrounded by the misery that previously terrified him. Now he lived stripped of his “securities”, with his heart open for the pain of those who suffer, although freer and happier than ever.

San Damiano: God speaks to you

One day, while he was praying in the Church of San Damiano, in Assisi, it seemed to him that the crucifix that was in front of him was looking at him while saying: “Francis, repair my house, because you see that it is in ruins.” So, believing that Christ was asking him to repair the physical temple, he went and sold the clothes from his father’s store. Then he took the money to the priest who looked after the temple, asking him to let him live there – the physical temple had to be rebuilt, yes, but Christ also wanted the entire Church, mired in a deep crisis, to be renewed from within.

The priest agreed to let him stay, but he did not receive the money. Then, his father, finding out what he had done, searched for him and beat him furiously. Then, seeing that his son did not want to return home, he demanded that he hand over the money.

On the advice of the bishop, Francisco decided to honor his father by returning everything to him, and in spades: he even stripped off the clothes he was wearing at that moment, which no longer belonged to him.

Distanced from the way he had lived, Francis dedicated himself to rebuilding the Church of San Damiano and San Pedro. Later he moved to a little chapel called Porziúncola, which he repaired and turned into his home. With his heart softened by prayer – his dialogue with Christ – Francis began to ask for alms for the poor and to serve them with more affection. While he was on his way, whoever saw him received his characteristic greeting: “The peace of the Lord be with you.”

Sister poverty

His lifestyle began to attract many, who also wanted to accompany him and help him in his work. Then, the idea of ​​forming a religious brotherhood took shape until, in 1209, Francis with a group of friends traveled to Rome, seeking Pope Innocent III (p.1198-1216) to approve the brotherhood project.

The Pope, assisted by grace, gave his approval. The spirit of the future Order of Friars Minor revolved around poverty, the experience of which would be the evangelical foundation.

The detachment of material goods had to be assumed with love and expressed in the way of dressing, the utensils used and, mainly, in the actions. That was sailing against the wind that at that time was blowing in the direction of fortune and ostentation, so often confused with happiness. To the surprise of the disbelievers, Francisco’s brothers never looked sad, quite the opposite: they reflected joy and contentment.

“I know Christ poor and crucified, and that is enough for me” (Saint Francis of Assisi)

Considering himself unworthy of the full priesthood, he only received the diaconate and that is why Francis wanted to give his Order the name of “Minor Friars”, so that its members would be aware of their call to be true servants of all, lovers of the things of God, who only find themselves in the simple. Later, his spiritual children would become called “Franciscans.”

The humility and detachment that Francis lived were essentially the expression of an inner conviction: “In the eyes of God, man is worth what he is and no more.” Hence he said things like these: “There are many who have the habit of multiplying prayers and devout practices, afflicting their bodies with numerous fasts and abstinences; but with a single little word that sounds insulting to their person or for anything that is taken away from them , they immediately become offended and irritated. These are not poor in spirit, because he who is truly poor in spirit hates himself and loves those who strike him on the cheek.”

Poverty starts from within. He has a name and is called “Jesus.”

Mysteriously chosen to share the pains of the Lord

Christ granted Francis the gift of being able to accompany him “closely” in the pains of his Passion: he received the stigmata from Our Lord in his own flesh.

The saint, in his maturity, had already experienced continuous ecstasies and carried out prodigious events, but receiving the stigmata was something that surpassed everything. His closest brothers attested to this, as well as Francis’ desire to keep the miracle in reserve.

In his union with the Lord, it was as if, in some way, Francis was increasingly “less than himself” and increasingly similar to Jesus Christ, in everything.

Sister death

Saint Francis of Assisi died on October 3, 1226, at only 44 years of age. His figure and influence in the history of the Church and culture is invaluable. Even those who do not have faith or are not part of the Catholic Church recognize in him an extraordinary person.

Thank God, that influence today remains intact in the Church, for example, in the love of nature – God’s creation – and in the desire to protect it; in particular, in the affection for animals.

Other echoes

On the other hand, Francisco is still present in many details and customs that evoke simplicity and, at the same time, greatness: he is credited with having started the tradition of setting up the “nativity scene”, “the manger” or “nativity” in the home. , during Christmas days.

A decade ago, on October 4, 2013, Pope Francis celebrated a mass in the city of Assisi, as part of a special tribute to the saint, shortly after beginning his pontificate. On that beautiful occasion, he said during the homily: “Saint Francis is a witness to respect for everything, that man is called to guard man, that man is at the center of creation, in the position in which God –the Creator– has wanted it, without being an instrument of the idols that we create…Francisco was a man of harmony, a man of peace.”

Patronages

Saint Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals and the environment. He is also the patron saint of “nativity scenes”, merchants (especially cloth manufacturers, tailors and weavers).

He is the patron saint of numerous cities around the world, for example, in Italy, Peru, the Philippines, Ecuador, Mexico, the United States and Chile, just to mention a few famous ones found in those countries. Of course, thousands of institutions, schools, universities, hospitals, etc. They have also been placed under his spiritual patronage.

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If you want to know more about Saint Francis of Assisi, we recommend this article from the Catholic Encyclopedia: https://ec.aciprensa.com/wiki/San_Francisco_de_As%C3%ADs.

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