Saint Francis of Assisi
- Feast
- 4 October
- Patron of
- animals, ecology, merchants and Italy
Born in Assisi around 1181, the son of a prosperous cloth merchant, Francis renounced his inheritance, stripped off his fine clothes before the bishop, and chose to live in poverty. The brothers who gathered around him became the Franciscans. He died just outside Assisi in 1226 and was canonised two years later.
People remember his love of creation: preaching to the birds, the story of the wolf of Gubbio, and the Canticle of the Creatures, written near the end of his life. In 1224 he received the stigmata, the wounds of Christ, and painters show him in a rough habit tied with a cord, the wounds in his hands, often praying before a crucifix or a skull.
A natural choice for a young person who loves animals and the outdoors, and a bracing one for anyone tempted to measure life by what they own. Francis gave everything away and found that it was the beginning of joy.
9 prints of Saint Francis of Assisi
Saint Francis of Assisi
Catholic Art Studio
From $33.26
Ecstasy of St. Francis of Assisi
El Greco
From $32.98
Saint Francis Embracing the Crucified Christ
Bartolomé Esteban Murillo
From $44.13
Saint Francis in Ecstasy
Giovanni Bellini
From $37.49
Saint Francis in Prayer
Caravaggio
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Saint Francis in the Desert
Giovanni Bellini
From $96.36
Saint Francis Receiving the Stigmata
Jan van Eyck
From $41.66
St. Francis in Meditation
Francisco de Zurbarán
From $31.52
The Holy Family with Sts. Francis, Anthony, Magdalene, John the Baptist and Elizabeth
Bonifazio Veronese
From $32.98
Questions
When is the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi?
The feast of Saint Francis of Assisi is kept on 4 October.
What is Saint Francis of Assisi the patron saint of?
Saint Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals, ecology, merchants and Italy.
Is Saint Francis of Assisi a good confirmation saint?
A natural choice for a young person who loves animals and the outdoors, and a bracing one for anyone tempted to measure life by what they own. Francis gave everything away and found that it was the beginning of joy.
Is Saint Francis of Assisi the patron saint of people named Francis?
Yes. Saint Francis of Assisi is the traditional name saint for anyone called Francis, Frances, Francesca, Francesco, Francisco and François, and the feast on 4 October is their name day.
Choosing for a confirmation? See Confirmation gifts. Any two Charcoal Saints are 15% off.
Other patron saints
AgnesAnneAnthony of PaduaAugustine of HippoBenedict of NursiaBernadette SoubirousCarlo AcutisCatherine of SienaCeciliaChristopherClare of AssisiDominicDymphnaFaustina KowalskaFrancis XavierGeorgeGerard MajellaGianna Beretta MollaIgnatius of LoyolaJoan of ArcJohn of the CrossJohn Paul IIJohn the BaptistJosephJosephine BakhitaJuan DiegoJude ThaddeusKateri TekakwithaLucyMartin de PorresMary MagdaleneMaximilian KolbeMichael the ArchangelMonicaNicholasPadre PioPatrickPaulPeregrine LaziosiPeterPier Giorgio FrassatiRita of CasciaSebastianTeresa of ÁvilaTeresa of CalcuttaThérèse of LisieuxThomas AquinasJeromeCatherine of AlexandriaMartin of Tours