It is well known that St. Francis of Assisi is the poet saint who made the decision to cast off his wealth and rank in order to embrace poverty and find true peace in humble service of the Creator and His creatures.

St. Francis was born in Umbria, Italy, in the year 1181 or 1182 and died in 1226. Piero Bernardone, St. Francis' father, is known to have been a prosperous merchant, and it was thought that St. Francis would follow in his father's footsteps, but this was not to be. It is said that after taking part in an attack on Perugia in 1201, and having been taken hostage for a year, his captivity resulted in a severe illness. During this time he began to turn to religion.

After having a dream in which God called him to his service, St. Francis returned to Assisi, and once there began to care for sick people. In 1206 Francis interpreted a vision that Christ was calling him to repair His Church, that it was the church of San Damiano, near Assisi.

Many years after founding the Friars Minor, Francis gave up leadership of the Franciscans choosing to live in the mountains in secluded prayer. It was while there that Francis received the Stigmata, or the wounds of Christ.

The Tau Cross, also commonly attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, is shaped like the Greek letter Septuagint, or the letter "T" , and when the wearer of the Franciscan habit has their arms outstretched, it resembles the Tau Cross. Francis died at Porziuncula (a town and parish about three quarters of a mile away from Assisi) on 3rd October 1226.

The Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi is 4th October.

Please see the CHAPLET OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI PRAYERS article.