St. Francis of Assisi
- Ken Kalis
- Oct 4
- 4 min read
Who doesn't like Francis of Assisi?
He loved the animals and gave us the Nativity display.
He renounced his wealth and became poor because Jesus was poor.
Humbly, he rebuked the proud Pope.
He wrote wonderful prayers and hymns, one of which concludes this blog article. Enjoy!
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Like Peter Waldo before him, Francis of Assisi* (1181-1226) was an itinerant preacher who renounced wealth and dedicated himself to ministering among the poor.
An asterisk after a name means the person is in my book SPIRITUAL LIVES
His father was a wealthy silk merchant, and young Francis grew up in privilege. For a time, he lived as a soldier and was captured in battle, imprisoned for a year at age 21. When released, he returned home to Assisi in the Duchy of Spoleto, northeast of Rome.
Francis' Turning Point
After a serious illness, Francis’s heart began to shift from worldly pursuits to spiritual ones. A pilgrimage to Rome brought a decisive moment. There, he joined beggars outside St. Peter’s and was moved to live in poverty himself. Tradition tells us he even gave away all he had — including his clothes — and went home to face his father’s angry rebuke for such “foolishness.”
Francis would not be persuaded otherwise. He sought the Lord in solitary places, cared for lepers — the most despised and untouchable of society — and embraced poverty as a way of life. In the chapel of San Damiano, he received a vision of Christ* (4 BC -30 AD) saying: “Francis, go and repair My house, which as you see is falling into ruins.”
Taking this literally, Francis sold cloth from his father’s shop to fund chapel repairs. When his father dragged him before the bishop, Francis renounced his inheritance, even stripping off his clothes to live entirely as a beggar.
A Call from Scripture
In 1209, while attending church, Francis heard the words of Jesus from Matthew 10:8 10:
“Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.”
Francis took these words to heart and immediately began obeying them. Others soon joined him, and a movement sprang up. Many within the church were drawn to his message of simplicity and gospel-centered living, especially in a time of increasing corruption and worldliness within church leadership.
A Prophetic Challenge
One story illustrates the heart of his challenge. When Francis visited Rome and saw the wealth and splendor of the papacy, the Pope said awkwardly: “We can no longer say, ‘Silver and gold have I none.’” To which Francis replied: “Yes, but neither can we say, ‘In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk’” (Acts 3:6). His point was piercing: riches had replaced spiritual power.
Legacy and Compromise
Sadly, as often happens, the institutional church co-opted Francis’s ministry, shaping it into a formal order. His original rule of poverty was softened, and his missionary zeal curtailed. By 1318, the church even condemned as heresy his teaching that Jesus and His disciples possessed nothing, and some who clung to that teaching were burned.
Yet Francis himself remained a humble and powerful witness for Christ. His life of radical obedience and simplicity still inspires believers today. His own words capture his heart:
“If God can work through me, He can work through anyone.” – Francis of Assisi
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for the example of Your servant Francis, who laid aside riches to follow You in humility. Teach us to be content with what we have, bold in caring for the poor, and faithful in proclaiming Your Word without compromise. May our lives reflect Your power, not our possessions. Amen.
Discussion Question
What is one way you can “repair God’s house” in your own time — in your church, your community, or your family? Post your thought in the Comments line.
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All creatures of our God and King,
Lift up your voice and with us sing
Alleluia, alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam,
Thou silver moon with softer gleam,
O praise Him, O praise Him,
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Thou rushing wind that art so strong,
Ye clouds that sail in heav’n along,
O praise Him, Alleluia!
Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice,
Ye lights of evening, find a voice,
O praise Him, O praise Him,
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Thou flowing water, pure and clear,
Make music for thy Lord to hear,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Thou fire so masterful and bright,
That gives man both warmth and light,
O praise Him, O praise Him,
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
And all ye men of tender heart,
Forgiving others, take your part,
O sing ye, Alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
Praise God and on Him cast your care,
O praise Him, O praise Him,
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Let all things their Creator bless,
And worship Him in humbleness,
O praise Him, Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, three in one,
O praise Him, O praise Him,
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
Text: St. Francis of Assisi, 1225
Translation: William H. Draper, 1910, translated and paraphrased the text for a children’s Pentecost festival.
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