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Pietro Bernadone

Francis’ father, Pietro Bernadone, is not well-thought of by Francis’ biographers. A rich cloth merchant, Pietro apparently enjoyed seeing the youthful Francis engaged in a lavish lifestyle which highlighted the family’s wealth and status. When Francis was moving through his conversion, his father was embarrassed and enraged at his son’s new austerity—even to the point of confining him to a cell at the family home. When Francis sold some of his father’s goods to obtain money for his building projects, Pietro went to the bishop to demand restitution. In the bishop’s court, Francis removed all his clothing, placed it at the feet of his father, and declared that he would—from then on—say only “Our Father who art in heaven.”

Francis and Clare

Clare was the daughter of Favorini dei Scifi, who belonged to one of the noblest families in the territories of Assisi. Though considerably younger than Francis, she was drawn to his ideal of living the Gospel as literarily as possible. On Palm Sunday of 1212, she and her maid snuck out of the family home and made their way to the Portiuncola where Francis received her into the Order that would come to be known as the Poor Clares.

Francis and Creation

Francis is revered as a lover of creation and the patron saint of ecology. He claimed all created things as his brothers and sisters, since all found their origin in God the Creator. His biographers include a number of stories dealing with nature including Francis preaching to birds and taming the savage wolf of Gubbio. His “Canticle of the Son” is regarded as the first poem ever written in the Italian language.

Junipero Serra

The only window in the nave that does not feature Francis is a depiction of Blessed Junipero Serra baptizing his first Native American convert, Gabriel Gualamo, chief of the Gualamo tribe. Junipero Serra founded nine missions along the coast of California. The window references a record claiming that Gabriel Gualamo died in 1890 at the age of 151.

Francis and the Sultan

During the fifth Crusade, Francis and his companion, Br. Illuminato, crossed the battle lines to seek an audience with the Sultan Melek-el-Kamil. It appears that Francis’ primary goal was to convert the Sultan and so end the war. Failing that, he would be content with dying as a martyr. Neither happened. The two men listened to each other and parted with mutual respect. In the sacristy of the Convento Sagro in Assisi, there is a Turkish horn which is said to have been given

to Francis by the Sultan and which Francis afterwards used to call the people together when he was about to preach.

Portiuncola Indulgence

The Portiuncola Indulgence he Indulgence may now be gained in any church open to the public beginning from noon August 1 until midnight on August 2 The person wishing to gain the Indulgence must fulfill the following requirements:

a.  Intend to gain the Indulgenceb. Be detached from all sinc. While in the church pray one Our Father, one Apostle's Creed, and one other prayer of the individual's choiced. Pray for the intentions of the Pope e. Receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist within one week either before or after August 2. 

Greccio

Francis had a deep reverence for the humility of Christ, especially as it was revealed through the birth of Jesus at Nazareth. Working with his friend Giovanni at Greccio, Francis reconstructed the manger scene, complete with animals. In this representation, Francis is dressed in the dalmatic of a deacon, and he was called upon to preach at the Mass. It is believed that this scene in Greccio gave rise to the popularity of the Christmas crèche.

Third Order

Pictured are the first two members of the Third Order, Lucius and Bona Donna. Lay people asked for a way that they could participate in his dedication to the life of the Gospel, and Francis obliged by offering the laity a rule of life. Some biographers believe that, by forbidding his lay followers to carry arms, Francis helped speed the end of the feudal era.