The figure of St. Francis is a remarkable one, standing in net contrast to the prevailing climate of moral lassitude in the Church of his time. St. Francis' greatness is due to his sincere attempt to return to the simple life of poverty of Christianity's earliest centuries, to the relevance of his message to the life of the faithful, and to his deep, unshakable piety and humility. The Church of the 1200's was rife with corruption, pomp and simony. Yet, Francis did not take a position critical of the Church, nor did he aspire to the role of its reformer. Rather, he remained ever the devoted and obedient son of the Church. and made himself the interpreter of the yearnings of many for the simple Christianity of past ages. He preached peace, equality among men, detachment from riches, the dignity and pre-eminence of poverty, love for all God's creatures, and the coming of God's kingdom.

Born in Assisi in 1181, in a rich merchant family, he spent part of his youth in the lap of luxury and freedom typical of his social class. He became a soldier and was taken prisoner. . After this turbulence begins his period of meditation and prayer. While praying in the Church of S. Damiano, Christ appears to Francis, urging him, "Go and save my collapsing house." This begins his mission. He renounces his paternal worldly inheritance and clothed only in beggar's garb, he collects his followers and arrives in Rome, gaining approval from Pope Innocent III for their Rule of poverty, chastity and obedience. Extremely active in preaching and charity, Francis converts many to his life of simplicity, fraternity, joy, hope and charity. Francis receives on his flesh the marks of Christ's wounds, the stigmata. This symbolizes the general parallel between the life of Christ and that of Francis, a theme widely treated in medieval and Renaissance art. He dies in 1226 and is canonized in 1228.