Saint Francis of Assisi Silk Screen Icon – Gold Engraved Wood

Description

Saint Francis of Assisi, also known as Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, is a popular Christian (Catholic, Lutheran, and Anglican) saint, credited with founding the Franciscans. Saint Francis lived in the Roman Empire in the late 12th, early 13th centuries and played a large role in creating Christian customs. Most notably, Saint Francis was the first to organize a Nativity scene with live animals, which is now commonplace across many Catholic, Lutheran, and Anglican churches.

Saint Francis further contributed to Christianity through his work with the Franciscan Order of friars. The Franciscan Order was a group of friars across modern day Europe, with members practicing in France, Spain, Hungary, Germany, and to the East. Saint Francis developed codes for the friars to live by, many of which are still in practice today. One such code includes the “First Rule”, which directed friars to live piously and in poverty.

According to tradition, Saint Francis was praying on Mount Verna while fasting and preparing for the Feast of the Archangels when he had a vision. In this vision, Saint Francis saw a crucified angel with six-wings. The angel gave Saint Francis a holy gift; the wounds that Christ suffered on the cross, also known as stigmata. During this time Saint Francis was ill with trachoma, which caused him great pain and suffering. On October 3, 1226, while singing a psalm, Saint Francis died.

Pope Gregory IX declared Saint Francis a saint on July 16, 1228 and soon after he instructed that stone be laid for a Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi. Today, Saint Francis is buried at the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi, Italy. Saint Francis is the patron saint of Italy, a patronage he shares with Catherine of Siena. He is also the patron saint of animals and ecology. The feast day for Saint Francis is commemorated by the Catholic Church on October 4.