St. Francis of Assisi

St. Francis of Assisi (1182 –1226) is one of the most popular saints in the Catholic Church.

As a young man, Francis was a popular leader among his friends in the small town of Assisi, Italy. He dreamed of becoming a knight. However, the crucifix in the broken down San Damiano church said to him, “Francis, repair my house which is in ruins.”

At first, Francis thought that God wanted him to fix up the chapel itself, which he did. But later on, he realized that God wanted him to reform the entire Catholic Church.

St. Francis loved all of God’s creatures – that’s why his statue is sometimes seen on birdbaths. But the main idea in his life was to follow Jesus. He did this by helping those who had been forgotten by society, such as the poor and the lepers.

He followed Jesus so well that, at the end of this life, he was given the stigmata, the wounds of Christ imprinted on his own body.

Each year, the St. Lawrence Seminary community celebrates the feast of St. Francis with the “Transitus” Service on October 3rd. This service remembers the passing of St. Francis from this life to eternal life. On the Feast of St. Francis, October 4th , a special liturgy is held and a banquet follows with the entire student body, faculty and staff of the school.