After returning his life changed, he became very ill, and swear to change his life style and live in prayer and devotion.
His father finally disowned him, and Francis began begging door to door, scrounging for food. He cared for lepers and preached the gospel. Evenually he formed a band of men who also were devoted to God, and poverty. They wore dark garments, no shoes, and no staff and walked preaching the Gospel.
Pope Inocent III formally recognized Francis and his followers in 1210, by authorizing the formation of the Franciscans. Offically known as the Order of the Friar Minor.
St. Francis was passionately devoted to God, and his every action was motivated by his love of God. He adopted a radically simple lifestyle because he placed his trust in God, and not in his possessions. He was compassionate to those who were poor or sick because he believed every man and woman was his brothers and sisters. His love of nature and for all of God's creatures was easy for him because he understood everything was created by God, and thus everything is good. Francis was a humble man because he believed every action of his was performed not to bring glory to himself, but to God.
Feast day: Oct. 4th - Patron of Animals, Merchants & Ecology
Francis would preach to animals as well, once to hundreds of birds about being thankful to God for their wonderful clothes, for their independence, and for God's care.
His final years were spent in pain and illness. Praying to share in Christ's passion he had a vision and received the stigmata, the marks of the nails and lance wound that Christ suffered. Francis now blind, and suffering died on Oct 4th in 1226 at the age of 45.
Lord make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is douby, faith,
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
O Holy Banquet
A Concluding Prayer
The Franciscan Crown (the seven
joys of Mary)
How to Pray the Franciscan Crown
The Canticle of the Creatures
Prayer before a Crucifix