St. Francis is adored by the Catholic Church and the community of Assisi for his life of dedication to the meek and devotion to nature, two fundamental principles of Christianity. As seen throughout much of the city, media depicting St. Francis exhibiting the core Catholic value of caring for God’s creations are prevalent, raising awareness of this quickly forgotten tenet and educating the public of a humble side of Catholicism.
The basic Catholic belief in cherishing the natural world is often overshadowed by issues that are viewed as more controversial in society today. In the United States, service to the poor and the pro-life debate typically take center-stage in news coverage. While St. Francis spent much of his life working with and for the less fortunate, his dedication to nature is a novel change from the typical Catholic teachings.
Assisi enlightens people of this conviction for God’s creations in their reverence for St. Francis and his life’s work. A notable story portrayed in the frescos decorating the walls of the St. Francis Basilica, in graffiti on the city walls, and on rosaries, crucifixes, and figurines alike is the infamous Sermon to the Birds. Francis’s regard for nature and animals is significant to his teachings. The commemoration of these stories in the mementos that pilgrims and tourists take home with them may not be ideal, but they are a piece of Catholicism that lives on within the lives of Christians and non-Christians alike.
St. Francis lived a unique story that attracts many to a compassionate lifestyle within Catholicism. His devout work among the meek and natural world gives light to a modest Church that is often dominated by scandal and political debate in today’s society.