Friar Thomas of Celano

Saint Francis of Assisi (1182–1226) was the founder of the Franciscans, the most famous of the medieval mendicant (begging) order of priests. He was born into a prosperous Italian family of merchants. Driven by a deep love of God, Francis abandoned the comforts of his merchant-class home to devote himself to caring for the poor and the sick. His example inspired others to join him in his life of poverty and charity and in time, the pope formally declared his ragtag band of devout followers a religious community. Much of Francis's fame and legend grew out of the unusual love he displayed for all living things. No creature—not even the lowly earthworm—was beneath his regard. His reputation reached as far as Egypt where the Sultan, whom Francis had once tried to convert, spoke of...