St. Francis Bernadone was born in Assisi, Italy in 1181, the son of a wealthy merchant. It was during a prolonged severe illness that Francis became aware of his religious calling. At the age of 25, Francis became inspired by the Scripture passage of Matthew commanding the disciples to evangelize the world, without possessions. He abandoned his affluent way of life and embraced the life of radical poverty, or, in the words of Francis, “to wed Lady Poverty.” 
Three years later in 1209, his companions numbered 12 and he received the approval of Pope Innocent III to lead a life according to the Rule of the Holy Gospel. They became a band of roving preachers of Christ, thus began the “Friars Minor,” or “Lesser Brothers.” 
Rejecting all material goods, Francis and his brothers preached throughout Italy. They summoned people to faith and penitence, refused even corporate ownership and ecclesiastical preference. Saint Francis never became a priest out of humility. 
Francis’ practice of poverty and devotion to the humanity and Passion of Christ resonated in the hearts of a world grown spiritually cold; soon a vast Franciscan movement swept through Europe. By 1219, over 5,000 Franciscans gathered at Assisi for the famed Chapter of Mats. Francis subsequently founded a Second Order through St. Clare of Assisi for cloistered nuns. A Third Order for religious and laity of both sexes was also formed.

Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi: 
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

St. Anthony, called “Saint Anthony of Padua” on account of his long residence in that city, was a native of Lisbon, Portugal where he was born on August 15th, 1195. When he was 15 years of age he joined the Canons Regular of St. Augustine. Soon after, seeking stricter observance of religious life, he transferred to the Holy Cross Monastery in Coimbra where he prepared for the priesthood. He lived in this house for 8 years, intent on his studies, when the relics of 5 Franciscan martyrs were brought from Morocco to Portugal. This event inspired him to follow in the footsteps of St. Francis. He obtained the consent of his prior and passed over to the Franciscan order at the age of 25 and took the name of Anthony. After some time, he obtained leave to go to Africa and preach to the Moors where he became severely ill and returned to Spain. At that time, St. Francis was holding a chapter in Assisi. Friar Anthony attended the gathering and from there was sent to a monastery in Forli and later to Rimini. His talents could not be kept hidden any longer. He was asked to teach theology in Bologna and later Toulouse, Montpellier and Padua.

Christopher Columbus was a secular Franciscan who took Franciscan friars with him on voyages. He went to confession regularly, had love for the Real Presence and had devotion to Mary.

In the 1870s, a number of Fathers of the First Vatican Council proposed Columbus’ canonization – not only because he introduced Christianity to the New World, but because of his character and virtue. Columbus’ discovery is indeed extraordinary, but opening up two American continents to Christianity has been called the greatest evangelistic feat since the days of St. Paul.

He was a man of deep piety – attending daily Mass at a convent chapel in Italy, where he met his first wife, Donna Phillipa. His ship men maintained daily prayer, and his son Fernando noted specially: “He was so strict in matters of religion…that he might have been taken for a member of a religious order.”

Then there are Columbus’ own writings. His Book of Prophecies, scarcely mentioned by biographers, was begun in 1502 after his third voyage to America. He cites Scripture at length, following God’s will, and extending Catholicism afar. In 1491, one year before the  discovery of America, Spain was finally liberated from 700 years of Muslim domination – and Columbus’ voyage-journal reveals his aim to surpass Islam with the spread of Christianity.

As early as 1493, he wrote to the Royal Treasurer of Spain, calling discovery of the New World a great victory – but not in the typical sense. Rather, Columbus says: “Since our Redeemer gave this victory to our most illustrious King and Queen … it is fitting for all Christendom to rejoice … and give solemn thanks to the Holy Trinity … for the great exultation it will have and the turning of so many peoples to our holy Faith“ (Christine Valentine-Owsik, writing for Legatus).

Continue your journey inside the church with the Virtual Tour and meditations, or with the Noble Journey installation.