Francis of Assisi (1181/82–1226)

Francis, an Italian preacher and founder of the Order of Friars Minor, became known for wholehearted repentance, poverty of spirit, and bold love for the marginalized. After a youth marked by ambition, he turned to Christ with uncommon seriousness, embracing a life of prayer, Scripture, and service—especially among the poor and the sick. His courage was not the loudness of conquest, but the steady heroism of self-denial, forgiveness, and joyful obedience to God.

Mount La Verna and the Forty Days (1224)

Mount La Verna, a rugged mountain retreat in Tuscany, provided Francis and his companions a place of solitude and worship. According to tradition, the site had been given to Francis by Count Orlando di Chiusi as a refuge for prayer. In late summer of 1224, Francis undertook a forty-day fast there, seeking to know Christ more deeply. The setting—crags, forests, and simple shelters—matched his aim: to strip away distractions and plead for a heart conformed to Jesus.

The Vision on September 14 and the Stigmata

On September 14, 1224—the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross—early accounts report that Francis saw a seraphic figure bearing the Crucified. When the vision ended, he found wounds in his hands, feet, and side, later called the stigmata. Those closest to him treated the marks with reverence and caution, emphasizing not spectacle but the cross-centered message: true glory is found in the suffering love of Jesus. Scripture captures this posture: “But as for me, may I never boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…” (Galatians 6:14).

Meaning and Legacy

Francis reportedly sought to hide the wounds, reflecting humility rather than self-display. His lasting witness is the call to take Christ seriously: “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23). Whether remembered for preaching, compassion, or endurance in affliction, Francis’s life urges believers toward wholehearted repentance, costly mercy, and a joy that springs from communion with the crucified and risen Lord.