Naked Faith and St. Francis of Assisi

In the Jubilee year 2025, my husband and I had the priviledge of being able to make a pilgrimage to Italy. Not only did I get  to visit some of my saint friends in person (I say this referring to that fact that we venerated their relics and walked where they walked) but I had also ventured along paths my ancestors may have walked as well.  To have this knowledge made the trip all of the more meaningful to me. 

One place I would have liked to have spent more time in was Assisi.  I felt such a strong sense of belonging and home here. Assisi is a small, picturesque town perched on a hilltop in the Umbria region of central Italy with winding alleys and a medieval feel.  It harbors not only magnificent beauty, but a quiet, contemplative atmosphere.

Assisi is the birthplace of none other than St. Francis of Assisi, and his sister in Christ, St. Clare.  St. Francis has a special place in my heart, and after seeing his birthplace in person, my awe for this well-known saint has increased ten-fold.

I particularly wanted to see a panel painted by the Sienese master Stefano di Giovanni “Saint Francis Renounces His Earthly Father”.   Although it is a panel rather than a wall-mounted fresco, it was intended to be viewed in a church setting and is often described as a “mural-like” narrative.  I had viewed images of it on the internet, but nothing could have prepared me for its impact in person.   The story was evident without any words, which brought tears to my eyes.

A surprising depiction indeed.  Saint Francis stands completely naked in the town square, his body exposed to emphasize his total abandonment of worldly wealth. To his left, his well-dressed father clutches the rich garments Francis has just cast off.  His father has his hand formed in a fist ready to punch St. Francis, (which I did not notice immediately) but the merchant is holding back his arm!  Town onlookers are watching the spectacle unfold.

On the right, Bishop Guido of Assisi steps forward and drapes his own cloak over the saint, shielding his modesty and as if to say “the church supports your decision-we are your refuge”.

The theological symbolism of this panel is undeniable. Francis modeled his life on the life of Jesus, who was born in a manger, lived in poverty, and ultimately suffered a naked crucifixion. The nakedness of the saint undeniably echoes Christ’s own vulnerability.

In medieval spirituality, the body was often seen as the “house of the soul.” Stripping away external adornments symbolized stripping away worldly attachments so the soul could be free to love God fully.

Francis’s father, a prosperous merchant, has a common expectation that a son should inherit wealth and continue the family trade. By rejecting his father’s clothes, and going to the extreme of stripping naked to make his point, Francis publicly rejects the path of material success laid out for him, and really anything else material or worldly that his family wishes to give him.

What does Francis’ radical and brave act teach us? 

It teaches us that we are not alone when we choose to be “in the world” but not “of the world”.  Every saint, in some way, had to make acts of renunciation.   Unfortunately, when you renounce what the world gives, and when you stand up for what is right, it will not be a popular decision with those to whom your faith confounds.    You may be excluded, ignored, vilified and ridiculed—which can cause emotional pain greater than any physical pain.   Do you have the courage as St. Francis did, to be as uncompromising in your faith as he was?  You must believe it can be done! “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

Prayer for Courage Inspired by Saint Francis

Lord of all creation,
grant us the humble heart of Saint Francis,
who embraced poverty and love without fear.

May his spirit stir within us boldness to
renounce the comforts that bind us,
stand firm for justice and mercy,
and walk the path of compassion even when the road is steep.

Teach us to trust in Your providence,
to act with gentle bravery,
and to seek Your kingdom in every breath.

Through Saint Francis’s example, may we find the courage
to love boldly, serve selflessly, and follow Christ wherever He leads.

Amen.