St. Francis was born at Assisi, a city in the dukedom of Spoleto, Italy, in the year 1181. His father, a rich merchant, destined him for the same avocation, in which Francis skillfully engaged. Although fond of show he, at a very early age, manifested a great love for the poor. Agreeable and kind hearted, amiable and pleasant to all, he was beloved by all around him, and the world sought to secure him for its own, but the love of God conquered the love of the world; enlightened from on high, and by heavenly vision rendered attentive to the call he was about to receive, he followed the guidings of grace which drew him to follow Christ in humility and poverty. Hearing one day at Mass the words: Do not possess gold, nor silver, nor money in your purses; nor scrip for your journey, nor two coats, nor shoes, nor a staff, (Matt. x. 9. 10.) he regulated his whole life by them, commenced immediately to preach penance with such evangelical poverty and with so much power that all who heard him were moved to tears. Disinherited by his avaricious father, who was greatly displeased at his poverty and generosity to the poor, Francis threw himself entirely upon the providence of his Father in heaven, begging from door to door, and dividing the alms he thus obtained with the poor.

This extraordinary manner of life soon brought him disciples, for whom, as their number increased, he wrote a rule of life, and then journeyed to Rome to have it approved by the Pope. He returned, full of holy rejoicing, that all had succeeded at Rome as he wished, and settled beside a little church, belonging to the Benedictines, about a mile from the place of his birth, which he called Portiuncula (small portion). Here he lived in the performance of the severest penance; here he prayed day and night, and here he laid the foundation of that Order which was to fill the whole earth with the splendor of its virtues. In this church, which was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin and to the holy angels, he received from Christ Himself the celebrated indulgence known by the whole Christian world as the Portiuncula Indulgence.

In the year 1221, on the anniversary of the church's consecration, while the saint was praying there with fervent devotion, our Lord appeared to him, and said: "Francis, demand what thou wilt for the salvation of nations." "I ask," replied the saint, "the remission of the guilt and punishment, a plenary indulgence for all that shall visit this church with a contrite heart and confess their sins." "Go, then," said our Lord, "to my representative, the Pope, and demand this indulgence in my name." Francis went at once to the Pope, Honorius III., who first by word of mouth, and later by a proper Bull confirmed the indulgence, which was afterwards extended to all the churches of the Franciscan Order. Inflamed with the desire for the salvation of nations, Francis with his brethren whom he sent out two and two to preach penance and the peace of God, exerted himself to spread everywhere the kingdom of God. His love for sinners and his ardent zeal for the salvation of souls, urged him to visit distant parts of the world to preach the gospel to the infidels. For this also God rewarded him with marvellous graces, among which may be especially noticed those which he received on Mount Alverno. While he was here, removed from the world, fasting and praying for forty days, our Lord appeared to him in the form of a Seraph on a cross, and imprinted the five wounds of His own body upon the body of the saint. On this account and because of his ardent love for Christ crucified, St. Francis received the surname of Seraph.

After this the saint lived for two years in manifold bodily distresses and sicknesses, without murmur or complaint, and with perfect resignation to the will of God. Some time before his death he made his will, in which he left poverty as an inheritance to his brethren, wherein they would find heavenly treasures. As the hour of his dissolution drew near, he had the history of the passion of our Lord read to him, then said the one hundred and forty first psalm and expired at the words: "Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Thy name." This happened on the 4th of October in the year 1226, in the forty-fifth year of his age.

St. Francis founded three Orders: the first and proper Order of Franciscans; the Order of the Friars Minor; the Order of the Franciscan Nuns or Clares, so called from their first Prioress St. Clara; and lastly, that called the Third Order, for the people in the world, of both sexes, who aim at perfection, but do not desire to take the vows of the cloister. This last Order, which has been sanctioned by many Popes, especially by Gregory IX., Innocent IV., and Nicholas IV., has spread throughout the whole world, and is becoming even in our days more flourishing.

EPISTLE. (Gal. vi. 14 -18.) Brethren, God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And whosoever shall follow this rule, peace on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. From henceforth let no man be troublesome to me: for I bear the marks of the Lord Jesus in my body. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH. O God, who through the merits of blessed Francis dost enlarge Thy Church by the progeny of a new offspring: grant unto us that, by imitating him, we may despise earthly things, and ever rejoice in the participation of heavenly gifts. Thro. &c.

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