STORY: Saint Francis is one of the most well-known Catholic saints. He grew up in a wealthy family and was popular and a partier. Wanting to win glory, he became a knight but had a change of heart after a dream about God. He prayed more and eventually felt a call to leave everything and serve God. He heard God asking him to help “repair the Church” and started physically repairing a crumbling chapel before realizing that God wanted him to help reform the Church spiritually. He preached and prayed and lived a life of poverty and simplicity. Soon others joined him, and the Franciscan order was created; many groups inspired by St. Francis still exist today.

PATRON OF: Animals, Merchants & Ecology

FEAST DAY: October 4

DATES: 1181 – 1226

SOURCE: St. Francis of Assisi at Catholic.org

READ MORE: St. Francis of Assisi at Catholic Encyclopedia

Image attribution: Anonymous Russian icon painter (before 1917)Public domain image (according to PD-RusEmpire), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons