Important Dates
When and where was he born, and when did he die?
He was born in Assisi, Umbria, in 1181 and passed away in 1226
What miracle was he best known for on human and aminals?
Healing the sick or wounded.
What group of people helped shape his passion for service?
Through his many interactions with the poor and sick, his passion for helping his community grew and grew.
What was his first interaction with God?
When riding home, Francis came across a man with leprosy; normally, he would keep going. Though something prompted him to get off and talk to the man. So he dismounted from his horse and embraced the man and talked to him. It was only later that he realized that the man he had hugged was Jesus.
How did Francis preach to others during the start of his conversion?
He was not a reformer, and preached about returning to God. People slowly came to him after seeing his dedication, and he opened the Bible in 3 places to make his preaching more accessible.
When did he get canonized?
Two years after his death, on July 16, 1228. By his former protector Pope Gregory IX.
What was one miracle he performed on an animal?
After a group of men caught, roasted, and ate his pet Lamb, Francis looked into the fire and said, "Martinello, come out!" And the lamb jumped out, unharmed and calm.
After receiving a message from God, Francis began the mission of rebuilding what church, and where?
San Damiano church, which is near Assisi Italy
How long did it take him to fully answer to God's calling?
It was a long process that took around 3-4 years, due to God's patience and Francis' visions, meditations and long prayers.
What is Francis of Assisi's feast day, and what is he the patron saint of?
October 4
Animals, Italy, Merchants, and Ecology
When was his conversion?
Around 1205, when he began to embrace his interests in poverty and devotion.
What miracle did he perform for the city of Arezzo?
During a riot, he drove demons away and out of the whole city.
What individual helped Francis when it came to his influence and movement?
Elias of Cortona, his passion and organizational skills helped Francis with direction and ideals of the order.
What was something that St. Francis wished that he and his brothers could do?
St. Francis' most deeply held wish was that he and his brothers could travel Europe and preach the gospel in hopes of conversion sparks.
How did St. Francis grow up?
He was a poor man who inspired the Church by talking about the gospel literally, not in an overwhelming sense, but by actually following all that Jesus said and did.
When was the Rule of Friars Minor, a document that helped Francis in making the Franciscan order, get approved?
This document was approved by the Pope in 1223
When in prayer what is he said to be doing?
While in prayer, he was levitating and speaking of his "visions of Christ on the Cross"
What was one way he interacted with another saint to better help the community?
He collaborated with Saint Clare of Assisi and helped her with her project called the "Poor Clares." She was inspired by his Message and lifestyle, which is what moved her to make this group.
What was one interaction that changed his relationship with God and others?
When he was in prayer when he heard a voice from god telling him to "Rebuild his house which has fallen," and from that point on, his soul was changed.
What was one of his biggest aspirations growing up?
He desperately wanted to be a knight. During the time, battle was glorious. He got his first chance when Assisi declared war on their longtime enemy, the nearby town of Perugia.
When did he establish the Franciscan order?
He established his Franciscan order in 1209.
What mark did he receive, which made him the first person to ever bear the mark?
The stigmata, he bore the marks of the crucified Christ in his hands, his feet, and his side.
What was one way Francis made a religious impact on his community?
He became a preacher and spoke about returning to God and the importance of being obedient to the church.
What did St. Francis do for Christianity that ultimately led to his death?
He proposed to the Sultan the idea of converting to Christianity, which would end the Crusades. He tried to convince the Sultan that his own religion was false, and caused the order of execution to be put on him.
How was St. Francis of Assisi's name shaped and why?
His mother named him Giovanni after John the Baptist. His father, however, did not want him to be a man of God. Rather, he wanted a son of business, whom he could provide for. So he renamed him Francesco, calling him a Frenchman