SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI

FEAST DAY:  OCTOBER 4TH

ST. FRANCIS, the son of a merchant of Assisi, was born  in that city A.D. 1182.  Chosen by God to be a living  manifestation to the world of Christ's poor and suffering life on earth, he was early inspired with a high esteem and burning love of poverty and humiliation. The thought of the Man of Sorrows, Who had no where to lay His head,  led him with holy envy of the poor, and constrained him to renounce the wealth and worldly station which he abhorred. The scorn and hard usage which he met with from his father and townsmen when he appeared among them in the garb of poverty were delightful to him. "Now,"   he exclaimed, "I can say truly,  'Our Father Who art in heaven.' " But divine love burned in him too mightily not to kindle like desires in other hearts. Many joined themselves to him, and were constituted by Pope Innocent III  into a religious Order, which spread rapidly throughout Christendom.  St. Francis, after visiting the East in the vain quest of martyrdom, spent his life like his Divine Master---now in preaching to the multitudes, now amid desert solitudes in fasting and contemplation.  During one of these retreats he received on his hands, feet, and side the print of the five bleeding wounds of Jesus.  With the cry, "Welcome, sister Death,"  he passed to the glory of his God  October 4, 1226.

REFLECTION.—" My God, and my all," St. Francis's constant prayer, explains both his poverty and his wealth.

INTERCESSORY PRAYER:  Ask Saint Francis to intercede for your needs today.

SEE: THE LITTLE FLOWERS OF SAINT FRANCIS,  a book about the life of Saint Francis.

LIFE OF SAINT FRANCIS, BUTLER'S LIVES OF THE SAINTS

SOME FRANCISCAN WEB SITES:  http://www.franciscan-archive.org/

                                                        http://www.shrinesf.org/francis_menu.htm

                                                        http://www.christusrex.org/www1/ofm/fra/FRAmain.html