Francis of Assisi

Francis of Assisi embraced a life of poverty, prayer, and itinerant preaching after turning away from his earlier worldly ambitions. He gathered companions who became the foundation of the Franciscan Order and promoted a form of Christian discipleship centered on humility and service. His legacy also includes the Nativity tradition at Greccio and the *Canticle of Brother Sun*, which expresses his reverence for creation.