About St. Francis of Assisi

St. Francis (1182-1226), Assisi Italy's most revered citizen and one of the world's most famous saints, is the patron saint of animals and ecology. His respect for all of God’s creation was demonstrated in his love of nature and in his life-long pursuit to restore a spirit of reconciliation and tranquility in the world around him.

During his lifetime, he sought to literally follow the way of life demonstrated by Christ in the Gospels. Francis became a humble workman giving up every material possession. He lived a life of simplicity, brotherly love, joy, and peace caring for the poor and the sick, including those with leprosy. At the same time he acknowledged his failures, his personal suffering, and the suffering of others.

For most of his adult years Francis lived in poor health. The malaria he contracted in his early twenties plagued him with returning episodes of high fever, muscular pain, nausea, and chills for the rest of his life. By his early forties he was also nearly blind from what today would be diagnosed as trachoma, a bacterial infection of the eyes. While enduring such physical suffering, his example of living Christ's teachings drew fifteen thousand followers to this way of life before he died at the age of forty-four.

Although a proclamation of sainthood typically takes at least fifty or sixty years after an individual's death, the Catholic Church canonized Francis just two years after he died. Today there are hundreds of thousands of Franciscans worldwide committed to living a life of simplicity and service while following the example and teachings of Jesus.

*Holy card image-artist unknown; fresco detail-St. Francis Basilica, Assisi, Italy, artist Cimabue (1240-1302).

A Short List of Books About St. Francis

The Writings of St. Francis of Assisi - St. Francis

The Little Flowers Of Saint Francis of Assisi - Brother Ugolino

St. Francis of Assisi, Writings and Early Biographies - Marion Habig, editor

Saint Francis of Assisi - C. K. Chesterton

The Road to Assisi - Paul Sabatier

The Journey and the Dream - Murray Bodo, OFM

Reluctant Saint - Donald Spoto

Saint Francis of Assisi: A Life of Joy - Robert F. Kennedy

Francis Of Assisi, A Revolutionary Life - Adrian House

Simple Peace, The Spiritual Life Of St. Francis of Assisi - Bruce Davis

The Lessons Of St. Francis - John Michael Talbot

Prayer of St. Francis
This prayer is attributed to St. Francis even though its origin cannot be traced back further than 1912 when it was printed in a small spiritual magazine in France. In the Christian tradition it may be the second most widely known prayer after The Lord's Prayer. 

Canticle of the Creatures The Canticle of the Creatures, also known as Canticle of the Sun, was composed and sung by St. Francis about a year before he died in 1226 at the age of 44.

Brother Sun Sister Moon movie
Although this 1972 movie about the life of St. Francis is somewhat romanticized, it is still quite wonderful. Directed by Franco Ziffirelli.

Music This CD includes three Donovan songs from the movie, Brother Sun, Sister Moon, plus additional original relaxing and nurturing music all sung by Buddy Comfort.