Francis was born in Assisi, Italy in 1182. He grew up leading a privileged and luxurious life as a son of a wealthy cloth merchant. His father wanted him to become a businessman and made him learn about French culture. At the age of 19, Francis went to battle against the nearby town of Perugia. He was captured by the army and imprisoned for a year. After that his father had surrendered a ransom money to get him back. Later he had a conversion experience to renounce his ancestral wealth and devote his life to God.
His dedication to poverty, humility, obedience, patience and compassion could get him many followers. In 1209, he was granted permission by Pope Innocent III to form a new religious order known as Friars Minor, commonly called the Franciscans. 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” (Luke 9:1-3).
Francis 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.
Francis became the first saint in history to receive the stigmata. It was happened in in the year of 1224. During the last years of his relatively short life, he died at 44, Francis was half blind and seriously ill in 1226.
On his deathbed, Francis 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’s permission to have his clothes removed when the last hour came in order that he could expire lying naked on the earth, in imitation of his Lord.
He is the patron saint of animals and environment. Francis’s devotion to God was expressed through his love for all of God’s creation. He was canonized by Pope Gregory IX. Pope Paul II paid tribute to Francis’ love for creation by declaring him the patron saint of ecologists.