Andrew McDonald 2007 1

Imitating Christ
A Biography of Francis of Assisi (c. 1181-1226)

Francis, the founder of the Franciscan order,

was born in 1181 to a wealthy merchant family of
Assisi in the Umbrian region of Italy. He was baptised
Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone but renamed
Francesco by his father. Early biographers describe
his youth as one of vanity and promotion of evil 1 or of
a business mindset coupled with mild devotion and
charitable disposition.2 To appreciate these seemingly
opposed presentations it is necessary to understand
the social context. The period between the eleventh
and fourteenth century was a time of great economic
and religious ferment as towns grew from the influx of trade and renewed interest
in the New Testament took hold of the popular imagination. 3 Such interpretations
of Franciss early years reveal the perceived dichotomy between the increased
wealth of the urban merchant classes and literal readings the Gospels.

Francescos conversion was marked by several years of illness, inter-city

conflict, imprisonment and uncertain life direction. In 1202 war between Assisi
and Perugia resulted in Franciss captivity, a year passing before his father was
able to negotiate ransom. Robson suggests that imprisonment acquainted him
with the limitations of his own powers. 4 Prison also resulted in an illness from
which he did not recover until 1204. Franciss earliest biographer points to this
period as the time of deep depression. 5 After recovering Francis prepared to
journey to Apulia to win knighthood 6 but on his way was addressed by God in a

1
Celano. First Life. in St Francis of Assisi: Omnibus of Sources, Marion A. Habig (editor),
(London: SPCK), 1973. 230
2
Bonaventure. Major Life in St Francis of Assisi: Omnibus of Sources, Marion A. Habig
(editor), (London: SPCK), 1973. 635
3
Joseph H. Lynch. The Medieval Church: A Brief History. (Harlow: Longman), 1992. 187-188
4
Michael Robson. St Francis of Assisi: The Legend and the Life. (London: Geoffrey
Chapman), 1997. 13
5
Celano. First Life. 232
6
Celano. Second Life in St Francis of Assisi: Omnibus of Sources, Marion A. Habig (editor),
(London: SPCK), 1973. 365
Andrew McDonald 2007 2

dream, Why then are you seeking the servant in place of the Lord? 7 Having
given his knightly garments away Francis returned to Assisi where his
eccentricities soon led him into conflict with his father.

Franciss conversion to the apostolic life was marked by an increased sense

of solidarity with the poor, charity toward the church and an overcoming of his
aversion toward lepers. In late 1205 while praying at the cross in the derelict
church of San Damiano Francis heard a voice:

the painted image of Christ crucified moved its lips and

spoke...Francis, go, repair my house, which, as you
see, is falling completely to ruin.8

This story, while signalling Franciss conversion to apostolic poverty, also reflects
a social trend of religious devotion to Jesus as the suffering, human one. 9 Franciss
initial response was to sell quantities of his fathers merchandise to finance the
rebuilding of San Damiano. This led Peter Bernardone to demanded reparation
from the Bishop of Assisi with whom Francis had taken episcopal protection.
Bishop Guido rebuked Francis for the theft 10 and the money was returned to
Bernardone in a public display of patrimonial renunciation where Francis stripped
naked and was covered by the Bishops mantle. Given the interest in the literal
teaching of the New Testament Franciss renunciation was supported by Guido
and the relationship between the two provided essential ecclesial support in his
expression of the Gospel and in the formation of the fraternity. 11

Francis spent a brief period ministering to leper colony in Gubbio before

returning to live as a hermit and repairing several churches around Assisi. 12 A vital
shift occurred in 1208 when after hearing Matthew 10:7-12 read at the Portiuncula
Francis resolved to become a barefoot preacher. 13 By 1209 his radical Gospel life

7
Celano. Second Life. 366
8
Second Life, 370
9
Lynch, 188-189
10
Robson, 33
11
Robson, 31, 47
12
Omnibus of Sources, xii
13
First Life, 246
Andrew McDonald 2007 3

had attracted eleven followers at which point his small band journeyed to Rome to
seek Papal support for his rule and his fraternity of preachers. 14 Innocent the
Thirds decision to endorse Franciss rule has traditionally been attributed to one
of two dreams he experienced before meeting the saint. 15 Lynch suggests that the
negative lessons of previous dealings with Valdes may have contributed to
Innocents positive response to Francis. 16 With papal endorsement the infant
fraternity returned to an abandoned shed near Assisi. 17

Francis and his movement

need distinguishing from two other
seemingly related movements; the
Waldensians on the one hand and the
Monastic movement on the other. In
contrast to the Waldensians, Francis
was a reformer and defender rather
than critic of Roman Catholicism. 18
Such allegiance was not only marked
by Franciss dedication to Rome, but
also by the support he and his
fledgling fraternity received from
Guido, Innocent III, Cardinal Uglino
and Pope Gregory IX. In contrast to Above: Giotto di Bondone. Legend of St Francis:
Dream of Innocent III: Innocent III sees Francis
the poverty of Monastic orders, supporting the falling church in a dream.
Franciscan poverty was to be
communal as well as individual. The fraternity was not to own any property, even
minimum possession of Psalters and Bibles were encouraged. 19 While Monastic
orders were generally typified by retreat from the world, the Franciscans were
urban focused mendicant preachers, peacemakers and missionaries. 20

14
First Life, 246
15
Major Life, 651 and Minor Life in St Francis of Assisi: Omnibus of Sources, Marion A.
Habig (editor), (London: SPCK), 1973, 801.
16
Lynch, 230
17
Minor Life, 802
18
Regis J. Armstrong and Ignatius C. Brady (trans.) Francis and Clare: The Complete
Works. (New York: Paulist Press), 1982. 154
19
Mirror of Perfection in St Francis of Assisi: Omnibus of Sources, Marion A. Habig (editor),
(London: SPCK), 1973. 1129-1131
20
Lynch, 230-231
Andrew McDonald 2007 4

While Franciss example attracted vast numbers to join the friars minor,
Francis was unable to effectively manage the demands of the burgeoning
movement. In particular his initial rule proved unsatisfactory to many of the
educated men who joined the order. 21 The expansion of Franciscan activity
throughout Europe and the communication difficulties that entailed pressured
Francis to amend the Rule. Rejection of his amended Rule of 1221 led to increased
tension between the founder and his order, and was replaced by the final Rule of
1223. As early as 1217 Francis resigned to be replaced by Peter Catanii as Vicar.
Instead he dedicated himself to preaching tours, missionary activity and finally to
solitude. Franciss hope of preaching to Muslims and dying as a martyr led him to
make three attempts of travelling to the Middle East. The first in 1212 was
prevented by a storm at sea, while a second (1214-15?) was thwarted by illness.
His final attempt to reach the Holy Land in 1219 was successful, culminating in his
preaching before Saladin where he unsuccessfully pleaded for the Sultan to
accept Christianity.22 The popularity of his preaching in Europe led to the
formation of a third order of secular Franciscans, who Francis referred to as
brothers of penance23 and for whom he developed a rule.

The final years of Franciss life were marked by deteriorating health and
blindness and increased withdrawal into prayer, solitude and mystical experience.
Franciss illnesses were no doubt attributable to the severity of his lifestyle and
biographers record Vicar Elias prevailing upon him to finally accept medication. 24
Prior to Francis death in 1226, Guido, Elias and representatives of Assisi had met
together to determine what procedures would be followed after his death. These
immediate plans included canonisation and the building of a fortress like basilica
to house his body. Reverence for Francis as a saint in his lifetime ironically
determined that he had little influence over events as he succumbed to dropsy in
the days before his death. Armed soldiers were dispatched to return him to Assisi
as fears developed of his remains being claimed by another city. 25 Celano
recounts the final moments of the saints life:
21
This reference is to the short Rule that Francis initially drew up for his fraternity and had
orally approved by Innocent III April 16, 1209 see Omnibus of Sources, 28
22
Robson, 238-9
23
Robson, 231
24
First Life, 313
25
Robson, 257
Andrew McDonald 2007 5

He exhorted death itself, terrible and hateful to all, to give

praise, and going joyfully to meet it, he invited it to make its
lodging with him. Welcome, he said, my sister death. 26

Perhaps most controversial to the contemporary mind was the post-mortem

discovery of the bodily wounds of the stigmata that had supposedly been gifted to
the saint while fasting on Mount La Verna in September 1224. While Franciss
secrecy surrounding these wounds meant that few of his closest companions had
seen them, word of this miracle spread quickly following his death and was
considered by many as divine confirmation of the degree to which Franciss own
life had imitated the life and death of his Lord.

Bibliography

Armstrong, Regis J. and Ignatius C. Brady (trans.) Francis and Clare: The Complete
Works. (New York: Paulist Press) 1982.

Habig, Marion A. (editor). St Francis of Assisi: Omnibus of Sources. (London: SPCK)

1973.

Lynch, Joseph H. The Medieval Church: A Brief History. (London: Longman) 1992.

26
Second Life, 536
Andrew McDonald 2007 6

Robson, Michael. St Francis of Assisi: The Legend and the Life. (London: Geoffrey
Chapman), 1997.

Image Sources

Berlinghieri, Bonaventura. St Francis. 1235, Tempera on wood, Church of San

Francesco,Pescia.
http://www4.wittenberg.edu/academics/hist/crom/image/Medieval/stfrancis.jpg
Accessed 22 March 2007.

Giotto di Bondone. Legend of St Francis: 6. Dream of Innocent III, 1297-99 ,

Fresco, 270 x 230 cm, Upper Church, San Francesco, Assisi. Web Gallery of Art.
http://www.wga.hu/art/g/giotto/assisi/upper/legend/scenes_1/franc06.jpg
Accessed 22 March 2007.