St. Francis of Assisi
1181 – 1226
Patron of animals, ecology, Italy, merchants
Saint Francis of Assisi (1181/1182–1226), born Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, was the son of a wealthy cloth merchant in the Umbrian town of Assisi. As a youth he dreamed of knightly glory, but capture in a war with Perugia and a long illness turned his soul toward God. While praying before the crucifix in the half-ruined chapel of San Damiano, he heard Christ say, "Francis, go and repair my house, which as you see is falling into ruin."