28.5" Tall Saint Francis of Assisi Statue — Patron Saint of Animals & Nature, Elegant Aluminum Metal Figurine for Home & Garden Outdoor Decor

Saint Francis of Assisi (born Giovanni Francesco di Bernardone; 1181/1182 – October 3, 1226) is widely regarded as one of the most revered figures in Christian history. The son of a prosperous cloth merchant in Assisi, he initially led the carefree life of a wealthy youth and even served as a soldier for his town. In 1204, while en route to war, he experienced a vision that sent him back to Assisi and ultimately turned him away from worldly pursuits. During a pilgrimage to Rome he joined the poor, even begging at St. Peter’s, an experience that prompted him to embrace a life of poverty. Francis began preaching publicly and soon attracted followers. He established the men’s Franciscan Order, the women’s Order of St. Clare (the enclosed Order of Poor Clares), and the lay Third Order of Saint Francis (also known as the Third Order of Brothers and Sisters of Penance). His movement grew quickly and, in 1210, Pope Innocent III gave official approval to the order. In 1219 he traveled to Egypt in an effort to convert the Sultan; later he returned to Italy to reorganize the rapidly expanding community, and after papal endorsement he gradually stepped back from active administration. Notable moments late in his life include arranging the first Christmas nativity scene in 1223 and, in 1224, receiving the stigmata—the first recorded instance of a person bearing the wounds of Christ’s Passion. He died in 1226 while preaching Psalm 141.