San Francis Medal and Necklace Spanish for animals, birds, fire, merchants and those who experience solitary death

Sterling Silver San Francis Medal and Necklace

14KT Gold Filled San Francis Medal and Necklace

14KT Gold San Francis Medal

St. Francis of Assisi

Saint Francis, the Seraphic, “the poor man of Assisi” was born at Assisi, in 1182, of a rich merchant family. Because, even in earliest years, he distributed all his substance upon the poor, his father insisted that he renounce every right to an inheritance. This Francis did with great joy of spirit in the presence of the Bishop of Assisi. Thenceforth his life was one of poverty, of humility, of aiding the poor and afflicted. He was not content until he gave himself to the care of the lepers, consoling them in their sufferings.

Rebuild My Church

One day, about the year 1206, Francis entered the neglected chapel of St. Peter Damian, and poured out his soul before the crucifix. Gazing with tearful eyes upon the cross, he heard a voice from the crucifix answering him: “Go, Francis, and restore My house which is falling”. The Saint was filled with fear, dreading that he might be the victim of an illusion. But the same voice from the crucifix repeated, “Go, Francis, and repair My house which is fall ing into ruins”. Then his fear redoubled and he asked himself from whence came this mysterious voice. A third time the crucifix answered, “Go, Francis, restore My house which is falling into ruins as you see.” Francis’ soul was filled with ineffable joy, as he re realized that it was God Who spoke to him from the crucifix.

As he thought that Our Lord wished him to repair the church of St. Damian, he returned to Assisi and begged an alms from door to door to repair the church. When the work was completed he restored another church near Assisi, dedicated to St. Peter. He then commenced the restoration of St. Mary of the Angels, which belonged to the Benedictines, about one mile from the city. While attending Mass in the restored chapel of Our Lady of the Angels (also known as Portiuncula, i.e., smallest portion), Francis heard the words as read in the Gospel: “Do not possess gold nor silver, nor money in your purse, nor scrip for your journey, nor two coats, nor shoes, a staff”.

The Franciscan Life of Poverty

Francis was overjoyed, as he felt these words were addressed to himself. After the Mass he asked the Priest to explain that passage of the Gospel. The explanation given, Francis cried out: “That is what I want, that is what I want, that is the object of all my ambition Now he clothed himself in a poorer and coarser garh took off his shoes, laid aside his staff, gave away his money, and replaced his girdle with a rough cord. All of which caused him to say frequently: “I am married to Lady Poverty”.

The Franciscan Order spread rapidly throughout Christendom, as may be judged by the fact that in 1219 five thousand Friars attended its General Chapter In 1224, on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, as St. Francis was praying on Mount Alvernia, he received the Sacred Stigmata, that is, the Impression on his flesh of Our Lord’s Five Most Sacred Wounds. Two years later, on October 4, 1226, at the age of forty-four St. Francis died at Assisi, and on June 16, 1228, he was canonized by Pope Gregory IX.

It was St. Francis deep love for the Christ Child that inspired him to build the first Christmas crib, which is the joy and inspiration of young and old in all Catholic churches. St. Francis also directed St. Clare of Assisi in the founding of the Poor Clares at St. Damian’s in Assisi. The Sisters are known as the Second Order of St. Francis. In addition to these two Orders, St. Francis founded the Third Order, for persons living in the world and desirous of sharing the privileges and graces of the religious state. May wearing this St. Francis of Assisi medal serve as a prayer for the holy saint to intercede for our prayers.

St. Francis of Assisi Rosary
UPC: 617759867299
Brand: Bliss