Franciscus, Assisii in Umbria natus, patris exemplum secutus, a prima ætate mercatúram fecit.  Qui, quodam die, páuperem, pro Christi amore flagitántem pecúniam, cum præter consuetúdinem répulísset, repénte eo facto commótus, large ei misericórdiam impertívit ; et ex eo die Deo promisit se némini umquam póscénti eleemosynam negatúrum.  Cum vero post in gravem morbum incidísset, ex eo aliquándo confírmatus, cœpit ardentius cólere offícia caritátis ; qua in exercitatióne tantum profecit, ut, evangelicæ perfectiónis cúpidus, quidquid haberet, paupéribus largirétur.  Quod ferens iniquius pater, eum ad Assisinátem episcopum duxit, ut coram illo bonis cederet paternis ; qui, rejectis etiam vestibus, patri concessit ómnia, illud subjungens, sibi in pósterum majórem facultátem fore dicéndi : Pater noster, qui es in cælis.

Francis was born at Assisi in Umbria.  From his early youth he followed the example of his father, and busied himself with merchandise.  It befell one day that, contrary to his usage, he had thrust from him a beggar, who cried for money for Christ's sake, when, being cut to the heart with regret, he gave him large alms, and promised to God from that day forth never to deny to any that asked of him.  He fell after this into a grievous sickness, and from the time that he was healed thereof, he gave himself more earnestly to works of love for his neighbour.  At length he became fain in this sort to be perfect, even as the Lord hath said in the Gospel, and gave to the poor whatsoever he had.  His father would not have it so, and brought him before the Bishop of Assisi, that he might renounce all right to his inheritance.  He cheerfully gave up all to his father, even to his clothes, telling them that now he should be able with more utter dependence to say : Our Father, who art in heaven.

Cum autem illud ex Evangelio audísset : Nolíte possidére aurum, neque argéntum, neque pecúniam in zónis vestris, non peram in via, neque duas túnicas, neque calceaménta ; sibi eam regulam servandam propósuit.  Itaque, detractis calceis et una contentus túnica, cum duódecim socios adhibuísset, ordinem Minórum instituit.  Quare Romam venit anno salútis millesimo ducentésimo nono, ut sui ordinis regula ab apostolica Sede confírmarétur.  Quem cum accedentem ad se summus Pontifex Innocentius tertius rejecísset ; quod in somnis póstea sibi ille, quem repúlerat, collabentem Lateranensem basilicam suis humeris sustinére visus esset, conquisítum accersi jussit, benignéque accípiens, omnem ejus institutórum ratiónem confirmávit.  Franciscus ígitur, dimissis in omnes orbis terræ partes frátribus ad prædicándum Christi Evangélium, ipse cupiens sibi aliquam dari martyrii occasiónem, navigávit in Syriam ; ubi, a rege soldano liberalíssime tractatus, cum nihil proficeret, rediit in Italiam.

He heard read the words of the Gospel : Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes.  Thereupon he determined that that should be his rule of living.  He took off his shoes, and contented himself with one coat.  When he had gathered twelve comrades, he founded the Order of Friars Minor.  He went to Rome in the same year, to get from the Apostolic See a confírmation of his Order.  When he came Pope Innocent III thrust him away.  Thereafter he dreamt that he saw the Church of the most Holy Saviour falling, and whom he had cast forth bearing it up with his shoulders.  He bade therefore that he should be sought for and brought again before him, welcomed him kindly, and approved all the Rule which he had established.  Francis therefore sent his Friars into all quarters of the world to preach the Gospel of Christ.  He himself was fain to find some occasion of martyrdom, and therefore made a voyage into Syria, but the Sultan treated him with the greatest kindness, offering him many gifts, and, since he could do no good, he returned again to Italy.

Multis ígitur exstructis suæ famíliæ domiciliis, se in solitúdinem montis Alverni cóntulit ; ubi quadragínta diérum, propter honórem sancti Michaélis Archangeli, jejúnio inchoato, festo die Exaltatiónis sanctæ Crucis, ei Séraphim crucifixi effigiem inter alas cóntinens appáruit ; qui ejus et mánibus, et pédibus, et lateri vestígia clavórum impressit.  Quæ sanctus Bonaventúra, cum Alexandri quarti summi Pontificis prædicatióni interesset, narrasse Pontificem a se visa esse, litteris commendávit.  His insígnibus summi in eum Christi amoris, maximam habebat ómnium admiratiónem.  Ac biennio post, gráviter ægrotans, deferri vóluit in ecclésiam sanctæ Maríæ Angelórum ; ut, ubi gratiæ spíritum a Deo acceperat, ibi spíritum vitæ redderet.  Eo in loco fratres ad paupertátem ac patiéntiam, et sanctæ Romanæ Ecclésiæ fidem servandam cohortatus, Psalmum illum pronuntians, Voce mea ad Dóminum clamávi ; in eo versiculo, Me exspéctant justi, donec retríbuas mihi, efflávit ánimam quarto Nonas Octobris.  Quem, miraculis clarum, Gregórius nonus Pontifex maximus in Sanctórum númerum adscripsit.

When there had already been built many houses of Friars of his Order, he withdrew himself into a most secret place upon Mount Alverno, and began to fast for forty days in honour of the holy Archangel Michael.  Upon the Feastday of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, he saw a vision of a crucified Seraph, which left in his hands and feet holes with nails therein, and in his side a great wound.  Holy Bonaventure hath left it in writing that he once heard Pope Alexander IV, when preaching, testify that he had himself seen these marks.  It was a sign of such love of Christ toward him as stirred up the great wonder of all men.  Two years thereafter he fell sick unto death, and was fain to be carried into the Church of St. Mary of the Angels, that he might give up the breath of life in the same place where God had breathed into him the breath of the life of grace.  Being there laid on the earth, sprinkled with ashes, and covered with an old habit, he exhorted the Friars to be poor and lowly, and to cleave to the faith of the Holy Church of Rome, after which he began to recite the 141st Psalm : I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and in uttering the words, the righteous wait for me, till thou deal bountifully with me, he gave up the ghost, on the 4th day of October.  He was famous for miracles, and Pope Gregory IX added his name to the list of the Saints.