St. Francis of Assisi, by J. Wippell, 1987

Francis of Assisi (1181-1226) is one of the most beloved saints. He was born Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, the son of a rich wool and cloth merchant, and entered his father’s business. He enlisted in the army and was taken prisoner in a war between Assisi and the nearby town of Perugia in 1205. In prison he fell seriously ill, and when he came back home, he seemed changed. He heard a voice in the run-down church of San Damiano, telling him “Go and repair my house, which you see is falling down.” He devoted much time to rebuilding the little church and eventually broke completely with his father, renouncing his inheritance and taking up a life of poverty. He begged for the money and material to finish San Damiano, he traveled as a pilgrim, and he tended lepers in a local leper colony. A few years later, some followers joined him, and they lived a communal life at the leper colony, founding the Order of Friars Minor. He took the name Francesco (Francis), a nickname he had always had in his family. The order is better known as the Franciscan Order. The founding friars traveled around Italy on preaching tours, and eventually Francis’s sermons became very popular.

Francis longed to preach beyond Italy, and after several unsuccessful starts, he and a dozen friars sailed for the middle east in 1219 when the Crusades were taking place. He was appalled at the loose lifestyles of the supposed Christian crusaders and denounced them. He managed to get behind enemy lines unharmed and tried to convert the Sultan, who was impressed greatly by Francis but was not converted. While he was away, his order grew greatly both within and outside of Italy. He returned to manage a now large number of followers, over 5000, but he always preferred the role of simple monk to that of administrator. In last years of his life, he turned over the administration of his order to another monk and devoted his life to prayer and writing. During this time, he wrote some of his most famous works, including The Canticle of the Sun and Fioretti (Little Flowers).

Episodes in the Fioretti tell of Francis’s rapport with birds and animals, who were said to be tame in his presence. In his sermon to the birds, he asked them to praise God for his many blessings, and the birds rose into the air in the form of a cross. Francis with the birds and animals gives us one of the most enduring images of this saint, and he is so depicted in our stained glass window.

Francis was venerated even in his lifetime and his cult was widespread. He was canonized in 1228 by Pope Gregory, just two years after his death. His basilica is a major pilgrim site, and his life story has been told by many, from the frescoes of Giotto, ca 1300, to a Franco Zefferelli film of 1977.

This window is located on the north side of the nave, lower level, first window below the transept. It was given in memory of Helen Alexander, Douglas Alexander, Margery and Archibald Alexander by Margery Alexander in September 1987. The insciption of dedication reads: To the Glory of God & In Loving Memory of Archibald G. Alexander, Margery G. Alexander, Douglas H. Alexander and Helen D. Alexander. It was designed by Claud A. Howard for J. Wippell & Co. studios on England. Mr. Howard was a designer for Wippell’s from 1947 until his death at age 88 in 1995.