MEMORIAL: OCTOBER 4
St. Francis of Assisi was born to a wealthy Italian merchant at the end of the 12th century. At a young age, Francis chased sinful pleasures and the desire for glory. He went off to war, but returned after God appeared to Him in a dream. He eventually made his way to a crumbling Church of San Damiano where he heard Jesus say to him “Repair my church.” Francis took this command literally and rebuilt the building around him. He rejected all of his father’s wealth in front of the whole town and begged for supplies to do so. The church was eventually built and a community formed around Francis that was concerned with loving God through radical poverty. The Franciscan Order soon came forth from his way of life. Even though he was not a priest, Francis became known for his love of preaching the truth. Francis died at the age of 45 to illness that left him blind. He is the patron saint of ecologists and merchants. He is known for his great love of God above all else and taking God at His Word.
