St. Francis of Assisi

Saint Francis of Assisi was an Italian Catholic friar and preacher. He founded the men's Order of Friars Minor, the women's Order of Saint Clare, the Third Order of Saint Francis, and the Custody of the Holy Land. Francis is one of the most venerated religious figures in Christianity. He is known for his love of animals and nature and his humility. Francis is also known for receiving the stigmata, making him the first recorded person to bear the wounds of Christ's Passion. He was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church just two years after his death.

Feast Day is on October 4.

Patronage: Animals, ecology, Italy, merchants, and stowaways