St Francis was born in Assisi in about 1182. The son of a wealthy cloth merchant, it seemed that Francis had everything going for him. He was the popular ‘leader’ of the youth of Assisi and led a life of privilege, wealth, parties, dance and song. His dream was to become a ‘Knight’ – off to the crusades to win a war and perhaps a lady’s heart! However, while fighting against the neighbouring town of Perugia Francis was taken prisoner and a year in a horrific prison gave him time to reflect on his life. After trying again to become a knight, Francis had a profound spiritual experience. In the small church of San Damiano in Assisi, as he prayed for guidance in front of an image of the crucified Christ, Francis heard the Lord asking him to ‘Rebuild my Church.’ This was the beginning of an amazing journey for Francis

After much searching and praying Francis knew he was called to something radically different and he embraced with passion and joy the call of the Crucified Jesus to leave all and follow Him.

As a young man Francis had an abhorrence of lepers but after encountering, and embracing a leper on a road outside Assisi, Francis knew with a deep certainty he was to embrace the Gospel life and serve Christ in the most vulnerable and poor. Towards the end of his life he wrote;

“When I was in my sins, it seemed a thing too bitter to look on lepers, and the Lord himself led me among them and I showed them mercy. And when I left them, what had seemed bitter to me was changed into sweetness of mind and body.”

Eventually, others joined Francis, both men and women wanting to live his radical form of Gospel life, some as brothers and others within the context of their married or single lives. At the heart of Francis’ spirituality is right relationships – with God, with all our brothers and sisters, especially the most vulnerable and poor, and with all of creation. It was written of Francis that: “In beautiful things St Francis saw Beauty itself, and through God’s vestiges imprinted on creation, he followed his Beloved everywhere, making from all things a ladder by which he could climb up and embrace Him who is utterly desirable.” Francis is the patron saint of ecology and the environment.

In 1223, while praying on the mountain of La Verna, Francis prayed the following:

“My Lord Jesus Christ, I pray you grant me two graces before I die: the first is that during my life I may feel in my soul and in my body as much as is possible the pain which you, dear Jesus, sustained in the hour of your most bitter passion. The second is that I may feel in my heart, as much as possible, the excessive love with which you, O Son of God, were inflamed with for us.”

God’s response to this prayer was to physically mark Francis with the image of Christ crucified – his hands, feet and side were pierced and bled. We call this the Stigmata. These wounds remained with Francis for the rest of his life.

In his Letter to the Whole Order Francis had written:

“Hold back nothing of yourself for yourself, so that He who gives Himself totally to you, may receive you totally.”

On the mountain of La Verna Francis did indeed hold back nothing of himself, and he became totally one with Christ – his Beloved.