Celebrating the Feast of St. Francis

ashleytumlinwallac
Oct 1
5 min read

On October 4th, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, one of the most beloved saints in all of Christian history. His life continues to echo through the centuries, not only for his radical commitment to Christ, but also for his tender love of creation, his humility, and his deep care for the poor and forgotten. His feast invites us to consider what it means to live simply, love deeply, and follow Jesus with our whole hearts.

The Early Life of St. Francis

Francis was born in 1181 in Assisi, Italy, to a wealthy family. His father was a prosperous silk merchant, and his mother was a French noblewoman. Francis enjoyed the privileges of wealth and was known for his charm, wit, and love of pleasure. He was captivated by the ideals of knighthood and often dreamed of glory and adventure.

But beneath the surface, Francis began to feel an ache—an inner discontent with the riches and revelry that surrounded him. One day, while selling goods in the marketplace, he encountered a beggar. Moved by compassion, Francis gave him all the money he had. His friends laughed, and his father was furious—but something had shifted in Francis’s heart.

A few years later, during a military expedition against Perugia, Francis was captured and held in prison for nearly a year. It was during this time of illness and isolation that his soul began to turn more deeply toward God. When he was finally released, he returned to his old life for a time, but the emptiness remained. In 1205, while preparing for another military campaign, Francis had a vision that changed everything. He abandoned his plans and returned home, ready to follow a different path.

“Repair My Church”

The turning point came as Francis knelt in prayer before the crucifix in the crumbling chapel of San Damiano. There, he heard the voice of Christ: “Francis, go and repair my church, which, as you see, is falling into ruins.”

Taking the words literally, Francis sold some of his father’s goods to fund repairs, but the local priest refused the money. In response, Francis renounced his inheritance altogether. In a dramatic moment before the bishop and the townspeople, he stripped off his fine clothes and declared that he was no longer the son of Pietro di Bernardone, but a servant of God alone. From then on, Francis embraced a life of poverty, devoting himself to rebuilding broken chapels, serving lepers, and seeking God in solitude and simplicity.

The Founding of the Franciscans and the Poor Clares

As Francis lived out this new way of life, others began to follow. In 1209, he traveled with a small band of companions to Rome to seek approval for a new religious order. Pope Innocent III was hesitant, until he dreamed of a poor man holding up the Church itself. Moved by the vision, he gave Francis his blessing. Thus began the Order of Friars Minor, commonly known as the Franciscans.

The brothers preached, served, and traveled with nothing, relying on the generosity of others and living in joyful poverty. They sought not only to speak the Gospel but to embody it, echoing Christ in word and deed.

In 1212, Francis’s influence reached a young noblewoman named Clare of Assisi. Inspired by his example, she left behind her family’s wealth to follow Christ in poverty. With Francis’s support, she founded the Order of Poor Ladies, later known as the Poor Clares, a contemplative community of women committed to prayer, simplicity, and service. Together, the Franciscans and the Poor Clares lived out a radical dependence on God, marked by humility, peace, and joy.

Francis and Creation

One of the most enduring aspects of St. Francis’s legacy is his profound love for the natural world. He saw all creation as a mirror of God’s glory and addressed even the sun, moon, and animals as “brother” and “sister.” His famous prayer, the Canticle of the Sun, captures this spirit beautifully.

Written in the Umbrian dialect toward the end of his life, the Canticle of the Creatures is a hymn of praise to God for the sun, moon, wind, fire, water, and earth. It reflects Francis’s understanding that creation itself is sacred, an expression of the Creator’s goodness and care. This poetic prayer was later adapted into the hymn All Creatures of Our God and Kingby Anglican priest William Henry Draper.

Many stories and legends have grown around Francis’s love for animals, like the tale of the wolf of Gubbio, who stopped terrorizing a village after Francis spoke gently to him, or the time he preached to a flock of birds who seemed to listen in rapt attention. These stories, whether historical or symbolic, remind us of the harmony and peace we are called to cultivate in our relationship with the created world.

A Living Nativity

Francis’s devotion to the humanity and humility of Christ also led to one of the Church’s most beloved traditions: the nativity scene. In 1223, seeking to help people enter more fully into the mystery of Christ’s birth, Francis created the first live nativity in a cave near Greccio. With real animals and villagers gathered around, he invited the faithful to gaze upon the Christ Child not in grandeur, but in poverty and simplicity. That tradition has since traveled the world, reminding generations of the quiet miracle of Christmas.

Ways to Celebrate the Feast of St. Francis

If you’d like to mark the feast of St. Francis at home or in your parish, here are a few simple ways to honor his legacy:

Attend a Blessing of the Animals: Many churches offer this beautiful tradition on or near October 4th. Bring your pets to receive a blessing and give thanks for the creatures who share our lives.
Read the Canticle of the Sun: Let Francis’s words draw you into wonder and praise. Consider reading it aloud at dinner or during evening prayer.

Read wonderful children’s book on St. Francis - here are my favorites.
Spend Time in Nature: Take a walk, sit in the garden, or simply pause to notice the beauty around you. Let it lead you to worship.
Serve the Poor: In the spirit of Francis, offer your time or resources to those in need. Consider a local food pantry, shelter, or charitable organization.
Bake Almond Cookies: According to tradition, these were Francis’s favorite treat—requested on his deathbed from a dear friend. Sharing them is a sweet way to remember the joy he carried, even to the end. (Recipe at the end of the post.)

St. Francis’s life is a radical testimony to the Gospel—a call to humility, peace, joy, and total dependence on God.As we honor him today, may we be inspired to loosen our grip on what does not last and open our hearts more fully to the life that does.

the recipe -

St. Francis’ Almond Cookies

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups whole almonds
1 cup sugar
2 Tablespoons flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
4 large egg whites
1 teaspoon almond extract
1/4 cup sliced almonds

Directions

Toast whole almonds in a 300° oven for five minutes. Cool. Place in a food processor with sugar, flour, and salt. Process until finely ground. In a separate bowl, whisk egg whites to loosen them up. Add everything except the sliced almonds, and stir thoroughly until it forms a dough. Use a teaspoon to scoop the dough onto the baking sheet, leaving at least an inch between the cookies. Drop by teaspoonfuls on parchment-covered baking sheet 1″ apart. Sprinkle with sliced almonds. Bake at 300° for 20 to 25 minutes.