Today, October 4, is the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi (born around 1181, died October 3, 1226, at 44 or 45 years old). One of the most beloved and recognizable saints, Francis is remembered for his deep love of nature, his famous prayer (“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace…”), and for founding a new order in the Catholic Church. His followers became known as the Friars Minor (“Lesser Brothers”), a name he chose to reflect humility and service. Francis wanted his community to live simply, caring for the poor and embracing poverty as a way to imitate Christ. Over time, they came to be called Franciscans, honoring their founder’s vision of joy, compassion, and reverence for all creation. He may rightly be considered a reformer, calling the Church back to its roots.
Francis, whose birth name was Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, was born into a wealthy family whose business was cloth. He spent much of his youth enjoying a lavish lifestyle, then joined the army and was sent into war. Captured and held prisoner for a year, he became seriously ill and began to reevaluate his life. Upon returning home, he resumed his old ways for a time but soon experienced a vision that changed him forever. He lost interest in worldly pleasures and wealth. When asked if he was considering marriage, he replied, “Yes, a fairer bride than any you have ever seen.” That “bride” came to symbolize Lady Poverty, his lifelong companion.
While praying in the ruins of a dilapidated church, Francis had a vision of Christ speaking to him from an icon. The crucified Christ said, “Francis, Francis, go and repair my church, which, as you can see, is falling into ruins.” At first, Francis thought this meant rebuilding the physical structure, but he later understood it as a call to renew the spiritual and moral life of the Church itself.
From that moment, Francis devoted himself to serving the poor and living the Gospel in its purest form. His humility, joy, and love for all creation continue to inspire people across centuries and faiths. His legacy reminds us that peace, simplicity, and compassion are not just ideals — they are ways of life.
He took up a life of poverty, chastity, and obedience, which forms the Rule of the Franciscans today. To celebrate his day, I read the Rule and reflected on it. (Here’s a site with the Rule and some interpretation of it.) There are 12 sections. They are worth reading and reflecting upon today. Those of us who are or have been preachers should pay special attention to Rule IX.
Franco Zeffirelli made a beautiful movie about Francis and Clare in 1972 titled Brother Sun, Sister Moon. A song from the movie, Little Church, by Donovan, has these lyrics-
If you want your dream to be Take your time, go slowly
Do few things but do them well Heartfelt work grows purely
If you want to live life free Take your time, go slowly
Do few things but do them well Heartfelt work grows purely
Day by day, stone by stone Build your secret slowly
Day by day, you’ll grow too You’ll know heaven’s glory
Here’s a link to the song in the movie. It has one of the best altars I have seen anywhere.
Francis had 11 brothers join him in Assisi, and they worked there, focusing on calling the church to its mission. The movement began to grow organically. It was not planned to be a worldwide movement, but it became one. Francis simply wanted to start where he was.
And I think that’s his message to me today. Start where you are. Do good work. Go slowly. But go.
And remember, in the words of Francis himself, “All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.”
