| | | | October 4 – A St. Francis Feast Day Message from Fr. Dan.
St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226), one of the best-loved Catholic saints, was the founder of the Order of Friars Minor and the Secular Franciscan Order. He inspired his contemporary, St. Clare, to found the women's Order of Poor Clares. He was born into a wealthy merchant family, trained as a knight, and groomed to take over his family's silk-trading business. Though born into great wealth, over time he began to reject his worldly possessions.
Once, during a pilgrimage to Rome, he joined with beggars to ask for alms outside the Vatican, an experience that changed him profoundly. He returned to Assisi to preach an ascetic lifestyle in imitation of Christ. The numbers of his followers grew and, ultimately, his order received the Rule or official approval orally from Pope Innocent III in 1208.
Francis was infused with a zeal for the Gospel. He took that message onto the battlefields of the Fifth Crusade. In 1219, he sailed across the Mediterranean to Egypt, crossed the battle lines and met Sultan Malik-al-Kamil, the Saracen commander, in an attempt to end the fighting. The battle continued, but his faith, courage and message of peace impressed the Muslims. Francis' teachings on simplicity, living the Gospel and the wonders of Creation have always resounded with both Christians and non-Christians.
To learn more about the life of St. Francis of Assisi, read St. Francis of Assisi: A Biography by Fr. Omer Englebert, T.O.R., The Gospels According to St. Francis by Fr. Hilarion Kistner, O.F.M. and Francis and Jesus by Fr. Murray Bodo, O.F.M.
The ideals of St. Francis inspire us daily. Do you want to inspire someone? Send a St. Francis e-card. These and other cards are available at Catholic Greetings.org.
Our digital ministry includes not only e-greetings, but AmericanCatholic.org, our award-winning website. We also proclaim the Gospel message on our social networking communities at Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Please help us continue our work. Would you consider donating $50, $75, $100 or more so that we may continue to evangelize in the spirit of St. Francis? Your tax-deductible donation in any amount helps us pay the costs of our web ministry, which touches thousands with the Good News every day.
Use our secure online donation form or mail a donation payable to the Franciscans at Franciscan Media, 28 W. Liberty St., Cincinnati, OH 45202. If you prefer, you may phone in a credit-card donation for our evangelization ministries at (513) 241-5615, ext. 169 or in the U.S., 800-488-0488, ext. 169.
Peace and every blessing, 
Fr. Dan Kroger, O.F.M.   
Publisher, Franciscan Media
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