800 Years of Saint Francis: A Saint Who Still Moves People Today

October 3, 2026, marked the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi. Francis died on the evening of October 3, 1226, in the Portiuncula near Assisi. His feast day is traditionally celebrated on October 4. The anniversary thus commemorates not only his death but, above all, a life whose message of peace, simplicity, and connection to creation has remained alive to this day. Vatican News

Francis was born in Assisi around 1181 or 1182 and came from a wealthy family. However, his life took an unexpected turn. He chose a life of poverty, dedicated himself to those on the margins of society, and eventually founded the community of Lesser Brothers, from which the Franciscan Order emerged. His attitude was characterized by humility, charity, and a deep trust in God.

He is particularly well known for the Canticle of the Sun, in which Francis sings of the beauty of creation. His closeness to animals and nature is also among the images still associated with him today. At the same time, he was a man with a clear vision of how the Christian faith should be lived. It is precisely this combination of simplicity, consistency, and joy in life that makes him an extraordinary figure even 800 years later. 

In sacred art, Saint Francis is frequently depicted in a simple religious habit, sometimes with a cross, a book, or together with animals. Val Gardena woodcarving also has a long tradition of depicting saints and religious motifs. Wood-carved saint figures, Val Gardena carvings, and sacred wood art from South Tyrol combine craftsmanship precision with a special expressive power.

This tradition is particularly visible during the Advent season. Wooden nativity figures, Val Gardena nativity figures, and hand-carved depictions from the Val Gardena valley are among the best-known forms of sacred woodcarving art. What was important to Francis 800 years ago finds its own unique connection therein: faith, simplicity, nature, and craftsmanship.