WHO WAS
SAINT FRANCIS
St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the ecology,
was a Roman Catholic saint who took the gospel literally
by following all Jesus said and did.
Francis of Assisi was a poor little man who astounded and inspired the Church by
taking the gospel literally—not in a narrow fundamentalist sense, but by actually
following all that Jesus said and did, joyfully, without limit and without a
mite of self-importance.
Serious illness brought the young Francis to see the emptiness of his frolicking life
as leader of Assisi's youth. Prayer—lengthy and difficult—led him to a self-emptying
like that of Christ, climaxed by embracing a leper he met on the road. It symbolized
his complete obedience to what he had heard in prayer: "Francis! Everything you have
loved and desired in the flesh it is your duty to despise and hate, if you wish to
know my will. And when you have begun this, all that now seems sweet and lovely
to you will become intolerable and bitter, but all that you used to avoid will turn
itself to great sweetness and exceeding joy."
From the cross in the neglected field-chapel of San Damiano, Christ told him,
"Francis, go out and build up my house, for it is nearly falling down."
Francis became the totally poor and humble workman.
He must have suspected a deeper meaning to "build up my house." But he would have
been content to be for the rest of his life the poor "nothing" man actually putting
brick on brick in abandoned chapels. He gave up every material thing he had, piling even
his clothes before his earthly father (who was demanding restitution for Francis'
"gifts" to the poor) so that he would be totally free to say, "Our Father in heaven."
He was, for a time, considered to be a religious "nut," begging from door to door
when he could not get money for his work, bringing sadness or disgust to the hearts
of his former friends, ridicule from the unthinking.
But genuineness will tell. A few people began to realize that this man was
actually trying to be Christian. He really believed what Jesus said: "Announce the
kingdom! Possess no gold or silver or copper in your purses, no traveling bag,
no sandals, no staff" (see Luke 9:1-3).
Francis' first rule for his followers was a collection of texts from the Gospels. He had
no idea of founding an order, but once it began he protected it and accepted all the
legal structures needed to support it. His devotion and loyalty to the Church were
absolute and highly exemplary at a time when various movements of reform tended to
break the Church's unity.
He was torn between a life devoted entirely to prayer and a life of active preaching
of the Good News. He decided in favor of the latter, but always returned to solitude
when he could. He wanted to be a missionary in Syria or in Africa, but was prevented
by shipwreck and illness in both cases. He did try to convert the sultan of Egypt
during the Fifth Crusade.
During the last years of his relatively short life (he died at 44) he was half blind and
seriously ill. Two years before his death, he received the stigmata, the real and painful
wounds of Christ in his hands, feet and side.
On his deathbed, he said over and over again the last addition to his Canticle of the Sun,
"Be praised, O Lord, for our Sister Death." He sang Psalm 141, and at the end asked
his superior to have his clothes removed when the last hour came and for permission to
expire lying naked on the earth, in imitation of his Lord.
The Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi rises up today
in the place where the Saint had chosen to be buried.
In the area of Assisi which was famous in the Middle Ages as the "hill of hell", or better
the place that, at that time, was used for public executions. The building site of the basilica
of St. Francis of Assisi was opened in 1228 upon the desire of Pope Gregorio IX
(Gregory IXth) and thanks to the activity of friar Elia, vicar of the Order chosen by
St. Francis himself. Only two years were needed to complete the architectonic
structure of the inferior Basilica of Assisi and only other six to inaugurate the
superior Basilica of St. Francis.
The actual aspect is however the result of various interventions among which it is
good to remember the realization of the belfry with rises (1239), the building of a portico
in front of the inferior Basilica ('400) and a vestibule in stone still for the portal of the
inferior Basilica (1445), the elimination of the rises of the belfry (1518).
The building is composed of two churches, one above the other. The upper church is
of Gothic aspect, luminous and slender; the lower one, however, which one enters
passing through a Gothic portal of the 13th century, is low and austere. Here, the interior
composed of one nave with transept, contains the extraordinary "allegorical frecsoes"
by Giotto, the "Madonna with Angels and St. Francis" and the "Five Saints" by
Simone Martini, the "Episodes of the Life and the Passion of Christ", the
"Madonna and Saints" and the "Stigmata of St. Francis" by Lorenzetti.
 
Basilica Lower Basilica Upper
Other works by Simone Martini and Giotto are to be found respectively in the first
chapel to the right with the "Life of Saint Martin" and in the third with "Saints and
Stories of the Madonna". In 1818, after the excavations under the altar, were brought
back to light and after careful examination officially recognized, the remains of the Saint;
only two years later, by order of Pope Pio IX, the building of the crypt was launched
in neoclassical stile in the inferior Basilica. The actual aspect is however the
result of a work of simplification that took place around 1920.
The upper church composed of only one nave with apsis and fine windows of the
13th century contains the frescoes of the cycle "The life of Saint" by Giotto, with the
"Stories of the Old and the New Testaments" by the school of Cimabue, and in the
transept, in the cross vault and in the apsis frescoes by the same Cimabue dating back
to 1277 in addition to works of other maestro such as Cavallini and Torriti.
The first was constructed in the Gothic style between 1257 and 1265, the second
is a little older and decorated with an elegant middle portal with three rose-windows.
The Cathedral, dedicated to the Patron Saint St. Rufino, vaunts a splendid and
unaltered facade with sculptures and reliefs; the interior, however, has undergone
much reconstruction during the centuries which have distorted the original project
dating back to the 13th century. On the Town Square situated on the ancient Forum,
you will find the Priors' Palace (1337), the Palace of the People's Captain (12th century)
and the temple of Minerva, built during the augustean period with pronaos, columns
and corinthian capitals which are still intact. Nearby, places which are connected
with the life of St. Francis can be visited, sich as the Eremitage of the Prisons,
immersed in a thick wood of oaks and ilex on the slopes of the Subasio Mountain,
and the convent of St. Damian, which was built up around the oratory were,
according to tradition, the Cross spoke to the Saint. Finally, in the plain, the
impressive basilica of St. Mary of the Angels was built according to the plans of
Alessi between 1569 and 1679 to protect the Porziuncola Chapel, which was the first
simple meeting-place of the Francescan brotherhood. All those who have the good
luck of visiting this splendid town have to agree with who says that the beauty of
town goes beyond a short, and necessarily incomplete list of works of art more or
less extraordinary, but is however to be found in the atmosphere of places which the story
and the faith of the Saint have rendered unique all over the world.
Both churches were consecrated by Pope Innocent IV in 1253, before work was started
on the large cycle of fresco decorations. The square outside the main facade did not exist
at the time. A large flight of steps led upwards to the gothic entrance, pierced by a large
rose window surrounded by the symbols of the four evangelists. This in turn was sealed
off by a central drum. The lateral towers served as supports for the structure, while those
near the choir contained stairs.
The benediction loggia on the left side of the facade, above the supporting curtain wall,
was added in 1754 when the church was raised to the status of basilica. Another entrance
was added in 1487, in front of the gothic entrance that stood above that of the Lower Basilica.
This new work was by Francesco da Pietrasanta. The colonnade in the lower square is
also from the 15th century, as well as the oratory of San Bernardino opposite the entrance
to the Lower Basilica, built for the Third Order and with 17th century alterations in
the interior. Given that there was little space for building on the hillside chosen for
the entire complex, the massive supporting structure for the convent buildings and
the papal apartments built in the 13th century and enlarged by the Franciscan Pope Sixtus IV
between 1472 and 1474 had to stretch outwards in the opposite direction.
In the Lower Basilica the visitor arrives first at a transept that was built after the
building of the church between 1280 and 1300. The lateral chapels opposite the entrance
were added between 1350 and 1400. The ceiling of the single nave that runs the entire length
of the Lower Basilica is supported by cross vaulting all the way to a semicircular apse
at its farthest extremity, which is preceded by a transept with barrel vaulting in its lateral arms.
Between 1300 and 1350 a series of chapels were opened up in the lateral wall of the
transept and nave, wrecking the frescoes that once decorated the side wall.
Half way along the nave a stairway leads downwards to the crypt containing the
remains of St Francis, discovered only in 1818.
The lower church at Assisi - site of the tomb of St. Francis
The remains of St. Francis were solemnly transported to the new church on 25 May 1230.
Pope Innocent IV consecrated the basilica on 25 May 1253. Pope Benedict XIV declared
the church a Patriarchal Basilica and Papal Chapel on 25 March 1754 with the Constitution
"Fidelis Dominus". Pius VII, on 12 September 1818, gave permission to the Minister General
of the Friars Minor Conventuals to proceed with the excavations underneath the main altar
of the lower basilica in order to find the tomb of St. Francis, which had been concealed by
Brother Elias and then by Pope Eugene IV in 1476.
Tomb of St. Francis of Assisi
The tomb came to light on 8 December 1818, and on 12 December the remains of St. Francis
were exhumed. In order to facilitate the visits of the growing number of pilgrims to the tomb,
a new neo-romantic crypt was opened underneath the lower basilica. On 18 June 1939
Pope Pius XII declared St. Francis patron saint of Italy. A votive lamp with oil donated
by the various regions of the Italian peninsula burns on the tomb. On 18 January 1978
Pope Paul VI authorized the Minister General of the Friars Minor Conventuals to
proceed with the reopening of the tomb and scientific study of the remains
of St. Francis. This took place between 24 January and 4 March 1978.
Stories of St. Francis of Assisi
St. Francis Preaches to the Birds
Father Francis and his companions were making a trip through the Spoleto Valley
near the town of Bevagna. Suddenly, Francis spotted a great number of birds of all varieties.
There were doves, crows and all sorts of birds. Swept up in the moment, Francis left his
friends in the road and ran after the birds, who patiently waited for him. He greeted
them in his usual way, expecting them to scurry off into the air as he spoke.
But they moved not.
Filled with awe, he asked them if they would stay awhile and listen to the Word of God.
He said to them: “My brother and sister birds, you should praise your Creator and always
love him: He gave you feathers for clothes, wings to fly and all other things that you need.
It is God who made you noble among all creatures, making your home in thin, pure air.
Without sowing or reaping, you receive God’s guidance and protection.”
At this the birds began to spread their wings, stretch their necks and gaze at Francis,
rejoicing and praising God in a wonderful way according to their nature. Francis then
walked right through the middle of them, turned around and came back, touching their heads
and bodies with his tunic.
Then he gave them his blessing, making the sign of the cross over them. At that they flew off
and Francis, rejoicing and giving thanks to God, went on his way.
Later, Francis wondered aloud to his companions why he had never preached to birds before.
And from that day on, Francis made it his habit to solicitously invoke all birds, all animals
and reptiles to praise and love their Creator. And many times during Francis’ life there
were remarkable events of Francis speaking to the animals. There was even a time when
St. Francis quieted a flock of noisy birds that were interrupting a religious ceremony!
Much to the wonder of all present, the birds remained quiet until Francis’
sermon was complete.
St. Francis, Rabbits and Fish
One day a brother brought a rabbit who had been caught in a trap to St. Francis. Francis
advised the rabbit to be more alert in the future, then released the rabbit from the trap and
set it on the ground to go its way. But the rabbit hopped back up onto Francis’ lap, desiring
to be close to the saint.
Francis took the rabbit a few steps into the woods and set it down. But it followed Francis
back to his seat and hopped on his lap again! Finally Francis asked one of his fellow friars
to take the rabbit far into the woods and let it go. That worked. This type of thing happened
repeatedly to Francis—which he saw as an opportunity to praise the glory of God.
If the simplest creatures could be so endowed with God’s wonder, how much the
more so we humans!
Fish were also known to obey Francis. Whenever a fish was caught and Francis
was nearby, he would return the fish to the water, warning it not to be caught again.
On several occasions the fish would linger awhile near the boat, listening to Francis preach,
until he gave them permission to leave. Then they would swim off. In every work of art,
as St. Francis called all creation, he would praise the artist, our loving Creator.
St. Francis and the Wolf
Perhaps the most famous story of St. Francis is when he tamed the wolf that was
terrorizing the people of Gubbio. While Francis was staying in that town he learned of a
wolf so ravenous that it was not only killing and eating animals, but people, too. The people
took up arms and went after it, but those who encountered the wolf perished at its sharp teeth.
Villagers became afraid to leave the city walls.
Francis had pity on the people and decided to go out and meet the wolf. He was desperately
warned by the people, but he insisted that God would take care of him. A brave friar and
several peasants accompanied Francis outside the city gate. But soon the peasants lost
heart and said they would go no farther.
Francis and his companion began to walk on. Suddenly the wolf, jaws agape, charged out
of the woods at the couple. Francis made the Sign of the Cross toward it. The power of God
caused the wolf to slow down and to close its mouth.
Then Francis called out to the creature: “Come to me, Brother Wolf. In the name of Christ,
I order you not to hurt anyone.” At that moment the wolf lowered its head and lay down
at St. Francis’ feet, meek as a lamb.
St. Francis explained to the wolf that he had been terrorizing the people, killing not only
animals, but humans who are made in the image of God. “Brother Wolf,” said Francis,
“I want to make peace between you and the people of Gubbio. They will harm you no more
and you must no longer harm them. All past crimes are to be forgiven.”
The wolf showed its assent by moving its body and nodding its head. Then to the absolute
surprise of the gathering crowd, Francis asked the wolf to make a pledge. As St. Francis
extended his hand to receive the pledge, so the wolf extended its front paw and placed it
into the saint’s hand. Then Francis commanded the wolf to follow him into town to make
a peace pact with the townspeople. The wolf meekly followed St. Francis.
By the time they got to the town square, everyone was there to witness the miracle. With
the wolf at his side, Francis gave the town a sermon on the wondrous and fearful love of
God, calling them to repent from all their sins. Then he offered the townspeople peace, on
behalf of the wolf. The townspeople promised in a loud voice to feed the wolf. Then Francis
asked the wolf if he would live in peace under those terms. He bowed his head and twisted
his body in a way that convinced everyone he accepted the pact. Then once again the wolf
placed its paw in Francis’ hand as a sign of the pact.
From that day on the people kept the pact they had made. The wolf lived for two years
among the townspeople, going from door to door for food. It hurt no one and no one hurt it.
Even the dogs did not bark at it. When the wolf finally died of old age, the people of
Gubbio were sad. The wolf’s peaceful ways had been a living reminder to them of the wonders,
patience, virtues and holiness of St. Francis. It had been a living symbol of the power
and providence of the living God.
THE PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS
A PRAYER FOR PEACE
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.
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