Son of a wealthy cloth merchant in Assisi
Was an ordained Deacon who bore the stigmata
Petitioned Pope Honorius and was granted the first plenary indulgence in the Church!
"Preach the Gospel at all times and if necessary use words"
Founder of the Order of the Friars Minor
Co-founder of the Poor Clares
Founder of the Third Order the Brothers and Sisters of Penance
Created the first living Nativity (Christmas creche) 1223 in the town of Greccio
Died while singing Psalm 141
Feast Day: October 4
Webcam of the Tomb of St. Francis
(six hours ahead of EST)
In preparation for the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel, Brother Francis and Brother Leo went to Mt. La Verna and fasted for forty days. Francis then had a vision of a six-winged seraph angel on September 14, 1224, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, and as a result he received the gift of the five wounds of Christ or the stigmata.
Saint Anthony Chapel has sacred relics of St. Francis
-click pictures for more information-