Saint Francis of Assisi was born in 1182-1226 in Assisi, Umbria in central Italy. He was the son of a wealthy cloth merchant and his original name was Giovanni Francesco Bernardone. Dispite their wealth Francis seems to have had little education.

He was imprisoned in his younger days of life and pleasure, and became very ill. When he recovered he resolved to change his life after which his father disinherited him. So Francis discarded his rich garments for a bishops cloak and devoted his life to outcasts.

Francis restored a ruin chapel in Santa Maria degli Angeli. While there he felt a call and returned to Assis to preach and gathered twelve disciples who later became the Franciscan's. In 1224 after a forty day fast Francis was praying and the stigmata of Christ's crucifixtion appeared on his body. The rest of his life he was in physical pain and became blind. His feast day is October 4th. He was canonised in 1228 and was attributed to animals, birds and flowers as he preached to them as well as people in his life, and cared for the country side.

 

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred let me sow love.

Where there is injury, pardon.

Where there is error, truth.

Where there is doubt, faith.

Where there is despair, hope.

Where there is darkness, light.

Where there is sadness, joy.