Francis of Assisi

Francis was the son of Pietro Bernardone, a wealthy cloth merchant of Assisi. Having begun to give away his father’s goods to the poor and to the repair of churches, he was brought by his angry father before the bishop of Assisi to renounce his inheritance formally. The account is Thomas of Celano’s First Life of St Francis (1228), in the translation of A. G. Ferrers Howell (1908).

Then he brought his son before the bishop of the city, so that by a formal renunciation of all his property in the bishop’s presence he might give up all he had. And Francis not only did not refuse to do this, but, greatly rejoicing, made haste with ready mind to perform what had been demanded of him.Thomas of Celano, First Life of St Francis (tr. A. G. Ferrers Howell, 1908)

Celano describes what Francis then did.

immediately put off and cast aside all his garments and gave them back to his father. Moreover he did not even keep his drawers but stripped himself stark naked before all the bystanders. But the bishop, observing his disposition, and greatly wondering at his fervour and stedfastness, arose forthwith, gathered him into his arms and covered him with the mantle which he himself was wearing.Thomas of Celano, First Life of St Francis (tr. Ferrers Howell, 1908)

Francis went out to live in poverty. Others joined him, and the order that bears his name was approved by Pope Innocent III. He was born at Assisi about 1181 and died there in 1226; he was canonized in 1228.