He Faced a Sultan and Bore the Stigmata: Why St. Francis Wasn't Just a "Nature Guy"
Uncover the courageous true story of St. Francis of Assisi and find practical ways to build the virtue of fortitude in your Catholic home today.
If you walk through many gardens (mine included), you will likely see a stone statue of St. Francis of Assisi. He is usually smiling, holding a small bird, or standing next to a deer. Because of this, many people think St. Francis was just a quiet, gentle "nature guy" who liked animals.
While hanging out with animals is great, St. Francis was so much more than a gentle nature lover or a medieval hippie. His real history is far more profound.
St. Francis was actually a brave missionary who faced down enemy armies, crossed war zones to convert a Sultan and became the first saint in Church history to bear the physical wounds of Christ.
This October 4th, let’s introduce our children (and maybe even ourselves) to the true, courageous St. Francis who gave everything to Christ. And it is the perfect time to do this, as 2026 is the Jubilee Year of St. Francis, the 800th anniversary of his death.
Before he wore a brown, patched habit, Francis wore shining armor. As a wealthy young man in Italy, he desperately wanted to be a glorious knight. He fought in local wars, was captured and spent a year as a prisoner of war. When he returned home, God fundamentally reoriented that intense warrior energy.
God told Francis to "Repair My Church." He thought that this meant the crumbling church at San Damiano, which he did rebuild. But God had bigger plans for him. Francis realized he was still called to be a knight, but for a different Kingdom. He traded his iron sword for the sword of the Spirit, and his earthly pride for absolute poverty.
In 1219, during the Fifth Crusade, St. Francis did something that modern history often forgets. Driven by an unquenchable love for the conversion of souls, he traveled to Egypt to preach the Gospel to the Muslim army. Francis and his companion, friar Illuminatus of Arce, walked right across enemy lines. They were immediately captured, beaten, and threatened with death. Instead of backing down, Francis demanded an audience with the leader, Sultan Malik al-Kamil.
What followed was extraordinary. Instead of executing Francis, the Sultan was captivated by his courage and total lack of interest in gold or power. Francis spent days preaching the Trinity and the Gospel to the Sultan. He even offered to walk through a blazing fire to prove the truth of Christ.
While the Sultan did not convert, he was so moved by Francis’s holiness that he granted him safe passage back and asked Francis to pray for him. Francis didn't seek peace by compromising the Catholic faith; he sought peace by boldly sharing it.
Francis's radical love for Jesus eventually led to a miracle that shocked the medieval world.
Two years before his death, in 1224, while fasting on a mountain in preparation for Michaelmas, Francis had a soaring vision of a crucified seraph angel. When the vision faded, Francis felt a deep physical pain.
He had received the stigmata—the actual, bleeding wounds of Christ in his hands, feet, and side. Francis was the very first recorded saint to receive this miracle. As in all things sent by God, he accepted the stigmata with happiness and gratitude. Francis loved Jesus so intimately that his body physically reflected the Crucifixion. It proved to everyone that Francis wasn't just a helper of the poor or a lover of nature, but was entirely united to the suffering of Jesus. He bore the wounds of Christ, bleeding and painful, until his death in 1226.
So, what about the birds and the deer? St. Francis didn't worship nature; he worshiped the Creator. Because he loved God so deeply, he saw every animal, plant, and sunbeam as a beautiful reflection of God’s perfect design. When he called animals his "brothers and sisters," he was praising the heavenly Father who made them all. Yet this was far from a soft, modern sentimentality. Francis did not view creation as a peaceful escape, but as the vast province of God. By commanding the birds to sing praises or demanding that the elements honor their Maker, Francis was acting as a knight for the King -- the one true King. He ventured into freezing mountain wildernesses and barren caves not to lazily "commune" with the outdoors, but to discipline his body like a soldier preparing for battle and as a way to show his absolute submission to God.
Bringing St. Francis into Your Home
We can use the legacy of St. Francis to cultivate the Cardinal Virtue of Fortitude (courage) within our home and families. True courage is not a soft sentiment; it is a virtue that means standing up for the truth of the Catholic faith, even when it is hard. And the home is the primary training ground for spiritual warfare, where we learn to endure hardship for the glory of the King.
Practice Daily Self-Discipline: St. Francis deliberately sought out harsh, unforgiving environments to conquer his own pride and flesh. As adults, we build this courage by choosing what is right over what is easy. We can practice this by turning off digital distractions, making real time for silent prayer, and choosing a simpler life focused entirely on Christ.
Meditation on the Stigmata: St. Francis's deep spiritual warfare culminated in bearing the physical wounds of Christ. For parents, this means modeling redemptive suffering during major life trials, financial stresses, or illnesses. For children, we can use the stigmata to teach them about "offering up" small daily pains—like chores, schoolwork frustrations, or sharing toys—to Jesus for the salvation of souls.
Practice Brave Witnessing: St. Francis was so fearless he marched straight to the front lines of the Crusades to preach to the Sultan. We are called to that same bold public allegiance. In our households, this means practicing brave witnessing by refusing to hide our faith in a secular world. For adults, it might mean defending Church teachings in conversation with colleagues or extended family. For kids, ask them how they can be "missionaries" by befriending the lonely child on the playground or proudly saying Grace before meals in public.
The next time you walk past a statue of St. Francis in a garden, don't just see a protector of animals—see a warrior who conquered his own ego to serve the ultimate King. Francis loved nature because he loved the One who created it, and he used the wilderness to train his soul and prepare his heart to fiercely serve God. Our homes deserve that same fierce, intentional devotion. Don't settle for a watered-down faith, but rather challenge ourselves to live with the true fortitude of St. Francis, claiming every corner of our lives for Christ.
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