Chronology of the lives of St Francis and St Clare
1182
Peter of Bernardone and Pica gave birth to their first-born son. He will be baptised with the name John, but later his father, back from France, will call him Francis.
1202
At Collestrada, in the war between Assisi and Perugia, Francis is taken prisoner and spends over a year in jail.
1204
A serious illness marks for Francis the beginning of a spiritual crisis that preludes a change of life.
1205
Francis leaves for Puglia to enrol in the army of Gualtiero di Brienne; at Spoleto a strange vision stops him and urges him to return to Assisi.
1208
or 1209 (24th February). At the Portiuncula, Francis listens to the reading of the Gospel passage recounting the mission of the apostles in the world and the invitation to a life of poverty and simplicity.
1209
In the spring, together with the group of his first companions, he goes to Rome and obtains from Pope Innocent III the approval of his new foundation: theOrder of Friars Minor is officially born.
1216
From Honorius III, who succeeds Innocent III, who died that year in Perugia, Francis obtains confirmation of the Indulgence of the Portiuncula. The Feast of the Pardon of Assisi (as the indulgence is called) takes place on 2 August.
1219
In the summer, Francis with some companions again heads for the East, reaching Egypt where he meets the Sultan Melek-el-Kamel.
1220
In the Chapter held on 29th September at the Portiuncula, he appoints friar Pietro Cattani as his Vicar.
1221
Pietro Cattani dies on 10 March and is replaced by Brother Elias of Cortona. Francis drafts the Rule of the Friars Minor, consisting of 23 chapters, which however does not receive pontifical approval.
1223
In the summer, at Fontecolombo near Rieti, he drafts a new Rule in 12 chapters, which will be approved by Honorius III. At Christmas, in the village of Greccio, he creates the world’s first nativity scene.
1224
17 September: On the mountain of La Verna, Francis receives the stigmata which will mark him until his death.
1225
Suffering from the stigmata and an eye disease, he spends the winter at San Damiano, where he composes the Canticle of the Creatures. He then reaches Rieti to have his eyes treated. The operation proves to be very painful.
1226
Exhausted by suffering, Francis is taken to Siena, Cortona and Nocera. Finally he returns to Assisi, as a guest of the bishop; on the verge of death, he is taken to the Porziuncola, where he spends his last days and dies on the evening of 3rd October. His body, brought to San Damiano, is venerated by Clare. The remains of the Poverello are then buried at the church of San Giorgio in Assisi.
1228
16 July: Pope Gregory IX declares Francis a saint.
1230
25 May: Francis’ body is laid to rest under the high altar of the new Basilica dedicated to him.
