The Church celebrates today, October 4th, the feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi. The founder of the Franciscan Order is one of the most popular saints in the world. He became known for his simple life and his dedication to the poor.

At the Sanctuary of Health and Peace, the Church of Blessed Father Eustace, there will be masses at 7:00 AM, 12:00 PM (with a blessing for Health and Peace), and 7:00 PM. The last mass will be broadcast live from our Sanctuary via the Father Eustace Channel on YouTube. Watch it! CLICK HERE.

Saint Francis of Assisi

The son of Pietro and Dona Pica Bernardone, Francis was born between 1181 and 1182 in the city of Assisi, Italy. His father was a wealthy and prosperous merchant. He was baptized in Santa Maria Maggiore with the name Giovanni. But when Pietro Bernardone returned from a trip to France, he changed his mind and decided to change his son's name to Francis, paying homage to that land.

According to most biographers of Saint Francis of Assisi, his best character and qualities came from his mother. Like every ambitious young man of his time, Francis desired to conquer not only fortune but also fame and a title of nobility. To achieve this, it was necessary to become a hero in one of those frequent battles. In the year 1201, encouraged by his father, he set out for a war that the feudal lords had declared against the Commune of Assisi.

Between 1202 and 1205, we find a restless Francis. This is not merely the consequence of a long and mysterious illness. It is the restlessness of someone uncertain about the meaning of his life. He decides to become a knight and, in the name of honor, goes to defend the Church and its interests, summoned by Pope Innocent III.

In the city of Spoleto, symptoms of fever prevented Francis from leaving. There he thought he heard the voice of the Lord, with whom he conversed: “Francis, what is more important, to serve the Lord or to serve the servant? To serve the Lord, of course,” replied the young man. “Then why do you enlist in the ranks of the servant? Lord, what do you want me to do? Return to Assisi and there you will be told,” said the Voice.

Seeking answers, he decided to travel to Rome in the year 1205. He visited the tomb of the Apostle Saint Peter and exclaimed: “It is a shame that men are so miserly with the Prince of the Apostles!” And he threw a large handful of gold coins, contrasting with the meager alms of other, less generous faithful. Then, he exchanged his rich clothes for those of a beggar and had his first experience of living in poverty. He returned to Assisi, to his father's house, devoting himself even more to prayer and silence.

In 1206, while riding his horse through the fields of Assisi, he saw a leper, repugnant to the sight and smell, causing him disgust. But then, moved by God, he placed his money in those bleeding hands and kissed him. Speaking later about that moment, he said: “What was once bitter to me, then turned into sweetness of soul and body. From that moment on, I was able to turn away from the world and surrender myself to God.” Shortly afterwards, he went to pray and meditate in the small chapel of San Damiano, half-destroyed by neglect. He was kneeling in prayer at the foot of a crucifix when a voice, coming from the crucifix, spoke to him: “Francis, go and rebuild my Church which is in ruins.”.

His father grew increasingly indignant and decided to demand that his son return everything he had received from him. He took him before the bishop for judgment. Francis, aware of Christ's sentence: "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me" (Mt 19:29), without hesitating for a moment stripped himself of everything until he was naked, threw his clothes and money at his father's feet, and exclaimed: "Until now I have called Peter Bernardone my father. From now on I will have no other father but the Heavenly Father." The Bishop then welcomed him. From that moment on, singing "I am the herald of the Great King, Jesus Christ," he distanced himself from his family and friends and devoted himself to the service of lepers and the reconstruction of the city's chapels.

As he was nearing completion of the reconstruction of the chapel of Santa Maria degli Angeli, he wondered what he would do, what God wanted of him. Then, one day, during Mass, Francis heard the Gospel reading: “without tunics, without staff, without sandals, without provisions, without money in your pocket…” (Luke 9:3). These words resonated in his heart and were like an intense light to him. And he exclaimed, full of joy: “That is precisely what I want! That is what I desire with all my heart!” And without delay, he began to live, as he would throughout his life, the pure letter of the Gospel. He always repeated to himself and, later, also to his companions: “Our rule of life is to live the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ!”

**with information from santo.cancaonova.com