The Fransiscan Order was founded on the 16 April in 1209 by St. Francis of Assisi (Francesco Di Pietro Di Bernardone, born 1181 or 1182 at Assisi, Italy).

Outstanding leadership, devotion to a life of poverty and fraternal charity were the key factors that attracted a large following. Such was the esteem in which he was held that he was canonised on 15 July 1228 less than two years after his death. Little is known of his family background and his early youth. His father was a cloth merchant away on business at the time of his birth. His mother Lady Pica christened him Giovanni but the name was changed on the return of his father to Francesco. Little in his early life hinted at what he was to become. Francis was a "normal teenager" popular with his young friends and became recognised as one of the leaders of the young men of the town. At the age of about 20 years (in 1202) he fought in a war between Assisi and Perugia. He was captured and held captive for almost a year following which he became seriously ill. His intent upon recovering was to join the papal forces under Count Gentile however he had a vision that compelled him to return to Assisi to await a new calling. He gave himself to solitude and prayer in order to seek guidance and understanding. He experienced a vision of Christ whilst praying in a grotto near Assisi and one day at the derelict chapel of S. Damiano he heard the crucifix command him to "repair my house which as you see is well-nigh in ruins". Following this Francis renounced material goods and family ties in order to embrace a life of poverty. Although not a cleric he began to preach to the people of the town. He developed a simple rule of life for those who wished to follow his example. In 1209 12 friars, disciples of Francis, sought approval from Pope Innocent III for the "rule of life". The Pope though hesitant at first gave his approval on 16 April and by tradition this event marked the official founding of the Franciscan Order The purpose of Francis was to imitate as closely as possible the life of Christ to "walk in his footsteps" and to carry out the work of Christ in Christ's own way. Few others have attempted to do so quite as literally. Devotion to poverty was fundamental and was celebrated by his contemporaries as his "lady" and "bride". It was not just worldly riches that he sought to eschew but the total denial of self. Francis considered all nature as the mirror of God and regarded all creatures as his brothers and sisters but above all he had a deep sense of brotherhood for his fellow men for "he considered himself no friend of Christ if he did not cherish those for whom Chris died". In 1212 he founded a second order for women that later came to be known as the Poor Clares (after St Clare (Clara) of Assisi). Eight or nine years later the Third Order of Brothers and Sisters of Penance was formed for those who could not leave their homes and families. Gradually the order extended outside Italy. Francis was shipwrecked in 1212 on a visit to the Holy Land and was forced to return. Sickness a few years later forced him to abandon a journey to the Moors of Spain. He did however go to Egypt in 1219 where crusaders were besieging Damietta. Francis went to the camp of the Saracens and preached to the Sultan who was sufficiently impressed to grant him leave to visit the holy places in Palestine. He was called back to Italy to renew his direct leadership of more than 5000 members. Francis amplified and revised the rule of life which was approved by Pope Honorius III on 29 November 1223. He appointed Elias of Cortona of handle the order's practical affairs and then withdrew increasingly from external affairs. In mid 1224 Francis visited the mountain retreat of La Verna near Assisi to celebrate the feast of the Assumption and to prepare by a 40 day fast for St Michael's Day (29 September). Around the 14 September whilst praying he beheld a figure coming toward him from the heights of heaven. The following account was written by St Bonaventure general of the Franciscans from 1257 to 1274: "As it stood above him, he saw that it was a man and yet a Seraph with six wings; his arms were extended and his feet conjoined, and his body was fixed to a cross. Two wings were raised above his head, two were extended as in flight, and two covered the whole body. The face was beautiful beyond all earthly beauty, and it smiled gently upon Francis. Conflicting emotions filled his heart, for though the vision brought great joy, the sight of the suffering and crucified figure stirred him to deepest sorrow. Pondering what this vision might mean, he finally understood that by God's providence he would be made like to the crucified Christ not by a bodily martyrdom but by conformity in mind and heart. Then as the vision disappeared, it left not only a greater ardour of love in the inner man but no less marvelously marked him outwardly with the stigmata of the Crucified". Throughout the remainder of his life Francis hid the stigmata and it was not announced to the Order until after his death. He lived his last two years in constant pain and almost total blindness (from an eye disease contracted in the Middle East). After a stay at Siena he was brought back to Assisi where he died at the Porziuncola on 3 October 1226. Brother Elias his confessor and close companion left a written testimony of the death of Francis and said that in death he seemed like one just taken down from the cross. (Return to top) (Return to Gardens) [Primary information source: Britannica Online]