Saint Francis of Assisi was born in Italy in 1181 or 1182. He was born into wealth, and spent a lot of time drinking and partying during his youth.

The faithful gather to celebrate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi in Assisi, Italy, on Oct. 4 (photo: Sala Stampa Sacro Convento Assisi) Francesca Pollio Fenton/CNA World October 4, 2023.

This unique journey to Central Italy, specifically the Umbria and Tuscany ... “Walking in the Footsteps of St. Francis.” ... participants will delve into the life of Saint Francis of Assisi, ...

St. Francis’ meditations on the life of Christ led him to create the first-ever Nativity scene in Greccio, Italy, in 1223. ‘St. Francis at Greccio’ by Giotto, 1295 (photo: Public domain ...

BRAINERD — This year is the 800th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi's creation of a living reenactment of Christ's Nativity in a cave in Greccio, Italy.

During his homily, Archbishop Jedraszewski said St. Clare of Assisi sewed special shoes for St. Francis to “ease his pain” caused by stigmata and that “many people describing Francis wrote ...

The crèche is a reproduction of the scene in Greccio, Italy, where St. Francis of Assisi staged the first Nativity scene in 1223. The baby Jesus will be placed in the manger Dec. 24. (CNS/Lola Gomez) ...

Marking the 800th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi putting together the first Christmas crèche in a cave in Greccio, Italy, the Vatican publishing house compiled texts by Pope Francis about ...

CNA Staff, Oct 4, 2023 / 17:06 pm. On the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the faithful gathered at the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, Italy, to honor the beloved Italian saint and celebrate ...