Saint Francis of Assisi Saint Francis is the patron saint of animals, merchants and ecology. Photo courtesy of Lisa Jacobs (@flickr.com) - granted under creative commons licence – attribution

Early Life Francis was born in Assisi, Italy in 1181. He had rich parents which meant he had a very privileged upbringing. Although he was baptised with the name Giovanni, his father, who was a silk merchant, gave his son the nickname Francis. During his youth, Francis was popular and went to lots of parties. Photo courtesy of fourthandfifteen (@flickr.com) - granted under creative commons licence – attribution

Growing Up He became a soldier but his search for glory was short lived when he was captured and taken prisoner. After a year, Francis was released from prison. He immediately returned to his indulgent lifestyle.

A Changed Man Francis became ill, which made him question his life. He later went on a pilgrimage to Rome and saw a great deal of poverty. His experiences meant that he returned home a changed man, taking on the life of a beggar by dressing more simply. One day, he went to work for his father, selling silk. Francis gave the silk away to the poor, leaving his father very angry. Francis told his father that he would follow God from now on. He gave back all of his beautiful clothes.

A Changed Man Following orders from God, Francis believed that he must repair a ruined church, which he did. For the next few months, he lived as a beggar in Assisi and repaired more ruined chapels.

Saint Francis of Assisi Other men and women joined Francis by living a simple life, and going out to tell others about Jesus. Francis is also known for his love of nature, calling creatures his ‘brothers’ and ‘sisters’. He believed that every living thing had been created by God. Legend has it that he once saved a village from a wolf which was attacking the locals. He is believed to have communicated with the wolf, explaining that the locals would feed it if the wolf stopped attacking the people.

Saint Francis of Assisi Saint Francis was a dedicated follower of the Catholic Church. He died in 1226 and was declared a saint two years later. Many believe that nobody has ever imitated the work of Christ as well as Francis did. Once elected, the Pope chooses a new name known as the ‘papal name’. This name gives people an idea about how he will lead the church. Pope Francis, the current Pope, is the first to choose this name in honour of Saint Francis of Assisi.

The Feast of Saint Francis The Feast of Saint Francis takes place on 4th October every year. It is a time when church services remember the life of Saint Francis and pets can be blessed.