St. Francis of Assisi

Saint Francis of Assisi

Confessor

Francis was born the son of a wealthy Italian merchant in the year of Our Lord 1181. After his conversion of heart while a prisoner of war, Francis rejected possessions and became a beggar, for which he was disowned. The simplicity and rigor of Francis’s mendicant life gained him followers, and in 1209 the Order of Friars Minor, or Franciscans, were formally approved. A few years later, Francis’s student St. Clare began a complementary order for women, known as the Poor Clares. The zealous Francis once sought out martyrdom by preaching Christianity to the Muslim sultan himself. The sultan did not convert, but he was impressed enough to become more tolerant of Catholics, and sent Francis back to Italy alive. After eventually resigning from leading the order and retiring to an even stricter life in the wilderness, Francis beheld a vision of a six-winged seraph crucified, and received the Wounds of Our Lord, becoming the first recorded stigmatist. He suffered greatly from the stigmata until his death in the year of Our Lord 1226. Less than two years later he was canonized by an old friend, now Pope Gregory IX. Francis is a patron of animals and the poor, and was responsible for the first Nativity display. He is also a great intercessor against demonic possession.

Traditional Roman Martyrology for October 4th

AT Assisi, in Umbria, the birthday [into heaven] of St. Francis, confessor, founder of the Order of Minorites, whose life, filled with holy deeds and miracles, was written by St. Bonaventure.

At Corinth, the birthday of the Saints Crispus and Caius, who are mentioned by the apostle St. Paul in his epistle to the Corinthians.

In Egypt, the holy martyrs Mark and Marcian, brothers, and an almost countless multitude of both sexes and of all ages, who merited the blessed crown of martyrdom, some after being scourged, and others when they had suffered horrible torment, after being delivered to the flames. Some were precipitated into the sea; some others were beheaded; many were starved to death; others were fastened to gibbets; while others were suspended by the feet with their heads downward.

At Damascus, St. Peter, bishop and martyr, who, being accused before the king of the Agarenians of teaching the faith of Christ, had his tongue, hands, and feet cut off, and being fastened to a cross, ended his martyrdom.

At Alexandria, the holy priests and deacons Caius, Faustus, Eusebius, Chaeremon, Lucius, and their companions. Some of them were martyred in the persecution of Valerian; others, for serving the martyrs, received the reward of martyrs.

At Athens, St. Hierotheus, disciple of the blessed apostle Paul.

At Bologna, St. Petronius, bishop and confessor, celebrated for learning, miracles and sanctity.

At Paris, St. Aurea, virgin.

℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.

℟. Thanks be to God.