FRANCIS OF ASSISI

ST., founder of the Order of the Francis cans, was born at A isi, in Umbria, in 1182, where he died in 1226. In youth Francis did not refrain from the pleasures of the world; but after a serious illne he became enthusiastically devout, left the paternal roof, and in 1208 gave himself to a life of the most rigorous poverty. His followers were at first few, but when they reached the number of eleven he formed them into a new order, made a rule for them, and got it sanctioned, though at first only verbally, in 1210, by Pope Innocent III. In 1212 he received from the Benedictines a church in the vicinity of A isi, which now became the home of the order of the Francis cans or Minorites. Francis afterwards obtained a bull in confirmation of his order, from Pope Honor i us ITI. After an unsucce ful attempt to convert the Sultan Meledin, he returned to A isi, when the order of St. Clara was founded under his direction, and a third order, called the Tertiaries, designed for penitents of both sexes. He was canonized by Pope Gregory IX in 1228. His festival is on the 4th of Oct. See FRANCIS CANS.—BIBLIOGRAPHY: Paul Sabatier, Vie de St. Franco is. (English translation by L. S. Houghton); A. Barine, Sé. Franco is d’ A ise et la légende de ses trois compagnons; Canon Knox-Little, St. Francis of A isi; Stoddart, Francis of A isi; Duff Gordon, The Story of A isi; Father Cuthbert, Life of St. Francis of A isi; J. Jorgensen, St. Francis of A isi: a Biography.