Have you ever noticed that there are a ton of Francesco’s and Francesca’s in Italy?!
It’s all thanks to St. Francis, one of the “patron saints of Italy”. Like all saints, he has a day of the year in his honor (October 4th).
He’s likely the most famous Italian saint, having given up his earthly possessions in exchange for a life of poverty, prayer, meditation, and harmony with nature. Even after 800 years, his life inspires many, so much so that Pope Francis took his name after his election in 2013.
Here are a few more fun facts you may not know!
Name Change
When he was born, his name was not Francesco. He was baptized as Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, but his father decided to change his name to Francesco, a rather unusual name at that time!
Man of the Arts
He was also a writer and poet. His song “The Canticle of the Sun” is considered one of the earliest examples of poetry in Italian language. Composed in 1224, it was actually the first one with a known author! In this religious number, he praises the sun, the moon, the wind, the water, the fire, all of nature, and even what he refers to as “sister death”.
Inventor of the Nativity Scene
In 1223, St. Francis invented the creche (or the nativity scene as we would call it), which is still displayed in most Italian homes at Christmas time. He even brought this creation to life in a small town called Greccio, where he recruited real people (and animals) instead of statues and figurines.
Bird Song
Legend has it that St. Francis had a special bond with birds and used to preach his religious beliefs to them. After one particularly inspired talk, the birds flew off in all directions (north, south, east, and west) to form the symbol of a cross. In his hometown of Assisi, a small aedicule (shrine) marks the spot where this miracle is said to have taken place.
On the Big Screen
St. Francis has been portrayed in several movies, starting from the silent movie era in 1911. Even Mickey Rourke portrayed the Saint in 1989 in the movie “Francesco” by Liliana Cavani. Though he doesn’t bear much of a physical resemblance, Rourke was praised for his performance.
If history, art, and religion interests you, be sure to visit St. Francis’s hometown of Assisi on your next trip! Located near Perugia in the Umbria region of central Italy, you’ll find artwork and sculptures in his honor.
