Franciscan facts for kids

Francis of Asisi by El Greco

The word Franciscan refers to followers of one of the religious orders that follow the Rule of St Francis. Saint Francis of Assisi lived in the 13th century. Franciscans usually lead simple lives without much money. Today, there are three main branches of these orders. They mostly see themselves as part of the Roman Catholic or Anglican Church. There are also small communities in the Old Catholic and Protestant Church.

Images for kids

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  Francis of Assisi, founder of the Order of Friars Minor; oldest known portrait in existence of Francis, dating back to his retreat to Subiaco (1223–1224)

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  Saint Francis Comforted by a Musician Angel, by Francisco Ribalta.

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  Regula bullata, the rule confirmed by Pope Honorius III

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  The Confirmation of the Franciscan Rule by Domenico Ghirlandaio (1449–1494), Capella Sassetti, Florence

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  Honorius III Approving the Rule of St. Francis of Assisi, Bartolome del Castro, c. 1500 (Philadelphia Museum of Art)

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  Anthony of Padua (c. 1195–1231) with the Infant Christ, painting by Antonio de Pereda (c. 1611–1678)

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  A Franciscan convent in Mafra in Portugal

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  Bonaventure (1221–1274), painting by Claude François (c. 1650–1660)

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  A Christian missionary friar landing in southern India (14th Century)

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  Franciscan convent at Lopud in Croatia

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  Franciscan Church from 15th century in Przeworsk, Poland

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  Bernardino Ochino (1487–1564), co-founder of the Capuchin Order

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  Clare of Assisi (1194–1253), founder of the Poor Clares, in a painting by Simone Martini (1284–1344) in the Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi

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  Luchesius Modestini, honored as the first Franciscan tertiary

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  Mary Frances Schervier (1819–1876) was a member of the Third Order of St. Francis who became the foundress of the Poor Sisters of St. Francis, founded to serve the needy.

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  Oswald Staniforth, a 19th-century friar

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  The stigmatization of St. Francis

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  Gabriele Allegra (1907–1976) of the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum

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  Roger Bacon (c. 1214–1294), statue from the 19th century in the Oxford University Museum of Natural History

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  Bernardino of Siena (1380–1440), painted by Jacopo Bellini (c. 1400–1470)

See also

In Spanish: Orden Franciscana para niños