The History of Saint Francis
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Saint Paul's Episcopal Church of Lewiston
Francis, the son of a prosperous merchant of Assisi, was
born in 1182. His early youth was spent in harmless revelry
and fruitless attempts to win military glory.
Various encounters with beggars and lepers pricked the
young man's conscience, and he decided to embrace a life
devoted to Lady Poverty. Despite his father's intense
opposition, Francis totally renounced all material values,
devoted himself to serve the poor. In 1210 Poe Innocent the
Third confirmed the simple Rule for the Order of Friars
Minor, a name Francis chose to emphasize his desire to be
numbered amount the "least" of God's servants.
The order grew rapidly all over Europe. But by 1221 Frances
had lost control of it, since his ideal of strict and absolute
poverty, both for the individual friars and for the order as a
whole, was found to be too difficult to maintain. His last
years were spent in much suffering of body and spirit, but
his unconquerable joy never failed.
born in 1182. His early youth was spent in harmless revelry
and fruitless attempts to win military glory.
Various encounters with beggars and lepers pricked the
young man's conscience, and he decided to embrace a life
devoted to Lady Poverty. Despite his father's intense
opposition, Francis totally renounced all material values,
devoted himself to serve the poor. In 1210 Poe Innocent the
Third confirmed the simple Rule for the Order of Friars
Minor, a name Francis chose to emphasize his desire to be
numbered amount the "least" of God's servants.
The order grew rapidly all over Europe. But by 1221 Frances
had lost control of it, since his ideal of strict and absolute
poverty, both for the individual friars and for the order as a
whole, was found to be too difficult to maintain. His last
years were spent in much suffering of body and spirit, but
his unconquerable joy never failed.
Not long before his death, during a retreat on Mount La Verna, Francis received, on September 14, Holy
Cross Day, the marks of the Lord's wounds, the stigmata, in his own hands and feet and side. Pope
Gregory the Ninth, a former patron of the Franciscans, canonized Frances in 1228, and began the
erection of the great basilica in Assisi where Francis is buried.
Of all the saints, Frances is the most popular and admired, but probably the least imitated; few have
attained to his total identification with he poverty and suffering of Christ. Francis left few writings; but, of
these, his spirit of joyous faith comes through most truly in the "Canticle of the Sun," which he composed
at Clare's convent of St. Damien's. The Hymnal version:
Friar, 1226
Cross Day, the marks of the Lord's wounds, the stigmata, in his own hands and feet and side. Pope
Gregory the Ninth, a former patron of the Franciscans, canonized Frances in 1228, and began the
erection of the great basilica in Assisi where Francis is buried.
Of all the saints, Frances is the most popular and admired, but probably the least imitated; few have
attained to his total identification with he poverty and suffering of Christ. Francis left few writings; but, of
these, his spirit of joyous faith comes through most truly in the "Canticle of the Sun," which he composed
at Clare's convent of St. Damien's. The Hymnal version:
Friar, 1226
1.Most high, omnipotent, good Lord, grant unto thy people grace to renounce gladly the vanities of this
world; that,following the way of blessed Francis, we may for love of thee delight in thy whole creation with
perfectness of joy;through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigned with thee and the Holy Spirit, one
God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2.Most high, omnipotent, good Lord, grant your people grace to renounce gladly the vanities of this world;
that, following the way of blessed Francis, we may for love of you delight in your whole creation with
perfectness of joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, for ever and ever. Amen.
world; that,following the way of blessed Francis, we may for love of thee delight in thy whole creation with
perfectness of joy;through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigned with thee and the Holy Spirit, one
God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2.Most high, omnipotent, good Lord, grant your people grace to renounce gladly the vanities of this world;
that, following the way of blessed Francis, we may for love of you delight in your whole creation with
perfectness of joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, for ever and ever. Amen.
| Psalm Lessons 148:7-14 Galatians 6:14-18 or 121 Matthew 11:25-30 |