2026 marks the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis. To honor this milestone, our weekly reflections throughout the year will focus on the life of our spiritual Father. In the first quarter, we will consider Francis’ life up to the moment of his final break with his father, reflecting on different aspects of trust as they appear in his story.
Francis was the son of Pietro di Bernadone, a wealthy cloth merchant, and Pica di Bourlemont, a noblewoman from Provence. Born while his father was away in France, he was named Giovanni by his mother. Upon Pietro’s return, he began calling the boy Francis, likely reflecting his commercial ties to France.
Biographers tell us that Saint Francis had siblings, though little is known about them. They also suggest that he was indulged by his parents as a young boy, even described by some as spoiled. Pietro wanted all of Assisi to see how well he provided for his family. Although Francis was educated by the Benedictine monks, faith does not appear to have played an important role in his early life.
In these early years, Francis’ trust rested largely in his parents and in the material security they provided. While trust in one’s family is important during our formative years, we know that it should be accompanied with a formation in our faith. Francis’ sense of trust would change dramatically and radically later in life. He would eventually break completely with his family and place his trust only in God. Most of us will not have such a decisive break with family, but as we examine Francis’ life, we will discover the importance of placing our trust principally in the Lord.
This week, as we reflect on the role of family in our lives, let us be grateful for the care we have received while also asking ourselves where our ultimate trust lies.
