Born in 1182, Francis was the son of a wealthy merchant in Assisi Italy. Gifted with a joyful spirit, Francis renounced his father’s wealth to embrace poverty and preached the love of God to all. In 1210 Innocent III approved his Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans). Two years later he helped St Clare establish the Poor Clares. In 1224 while praying at La Verna, he received the wounds of the crucified Lord, which caused him great pain in his final years. He died on 3 Oct 1226. – CTS New Daily Roman Missal 2012, p 3042; Vatican II Weekday Missal 1975, p 1784
