Reformer Saint | Francis of Assisi

CatholicTV Webathon Novena: Day 1


One of the most well-known reformers in Church history, St. Francis was born into a wealthy Italian family in 1181 and lived a materialistic lifestyle before his conversion. One day while praying at San Damiano church, he heard Christ on the crucifix say to him, "Francis, repair my church." Eventually Francis gave up all his possessions and his birthright and went to live in the woods. He began to preach about returning to God and he begged for his food, which caused some to consider him a religious fanatic. But soon others began to follow Francis, and though he had no intention of founding a religious order, the Franciscans were born. Once the community began, Francis protected it and accepted all the legal structures needed to support it. His devotion and loyalty to the Church were absolute and highly exemplary at a time when various movements of reform tended to break the Church’s unity.



Today, fast from secular media. Check out our blog post on 7 books that are great for Lent, and pick one to start reading.


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Reformer Saint | Francis of Assisi