Miracles of Saint Francis of Assisi

Francis performs prodigies

Saint Francis of Assisi arrived in the city of Toscanella and was hosted by a knight who had a lame son. Behind the insistent supplications of the latter and thanks to the hospitality offered to him, Francis healed the boy amidst the joy of those present.

Physical healings during the life of Saint Francis

The paralytic of Nardi

A paralytic named Pietro lived in the city of Nardi. One day, hearing of Francis's arrival in this city to preach, he had a supplication sent to the diocesan Bishop asking him to send the Poor Man of Assisi. Francis accepted, went to Pietro, and with a simple sign of the cross healed the paralytic.

The blind woman of Nardi

A woman, in the same city of Nardi, regained her sight at the moment Francis made the sign of the cross.

The woman with withered hands

A woman with hands so withered that she could not use them, hearing of the Saint's arrival in Gubbio, urged him to restore the use of her hands. Francis listened to her prayer and healed her.

The epileptic friar

Saint Francis felt pity for a friar struck by epilepsy; he went to him and, after blessing him, healed him.

The possessed woman of Città di Castello

A possessed woman lived in the city of Castello. Francis, passing through that place, cast out the demon and freed the woman from evil.

Miracles after death: the prodigies recognized by the Church

In the canonization process of the Saint, more than forty miracles were reported and recognized by the Ecclesiastical Authorities. Here are the most significant ones, divided by type.

Resurrections through the intercession of Saint Francis

The resurrection at Montemarano

A woman particularly devoted to Saint Francis died in the city of Montemarano. During the wake, many people gathered to pray; suddenly the corpse awoke and asked the priest present to be able to confess. After finishing her confession, she confided to the priest: "I was waiting to be condemned to a harsh punishment, but Saint Francis asked for and obtained for me the grace to return to life to repent and confess all my faults." After this, the woman fell asleep in the Lord again.

The little girl of Pomarico

In Pomarico lived a married couple who tenderly loved their little girl. One day the little one suddenly died. The mother, collapsed in grief, prayed and pleaded with ardent prayers to Saint Francis. The Saint appeared to her, assuring her about the fate of her beloved daughter. Shortly after, the little girl woke up amidst the amazement of those present and got up as if nothing had happened.

The boy drowned in the Volturno

In Capua, a boy drowned in the Volturno. A man, after spotting him, pulled him to the shore already a corpse. Those present, realizing the boy's death, began to invoke the intervention of Saint Francis. The friar did not disappoint them: the boy got up as if nothing had happened, to the joy and astonishment of all.

The young woman of Sessa Aurunca

In Sessa Aurunca a house collapsed, killing a young woman inside. Rescuers pulled her from the rubble and laid her on a small bed. The mother, trusting in God and in the merits of Saint Francis, began to pray. At one in the morning the young woman woke up perfectly healthy. The prodigy made those present exult with joy.

The young man of Ragusa

In Ragusa, while a young man was working at a winepress because it was harvest time, a pile of wood placed nearby fell on his head and killed him. The father, promptly rushing over, began to beg Saint Francis to give his son back to him. The miracle happened: the young man came back to life perfectly healthy. Once again Jesus Christ had listened to the intercession of Saint Francis.

Extraordinary healings through the intercession of Saint Francis

The woman blind from birth from Thebes

In Thebes lived a woman devoted to Saint Francis and blind from birth. On the eve of the Saint's feast, she had fasted to pay homage to him. The following day she was taken to the Friars' church to attend Holy Mass. During the elevation of the Body of Christ, her eyes suddenly gained light. Immediately, out of joy, she burst into shouts of jubilation, to which the many present joined. Saint Francis had obtained for her the grace of healing.

The severed eye in the Gargano

In the Gargano, a man tending the shoots of a vineyard violently struck his eye with his billhook, severing it. The poor man appealed with faith to Saint Francis, who did not disappoint him. The eye healed instantly and perfectly, so much so that not even the sign of the injury was visible.

The gouged eyes in Assisi

A man in the city of Assisi had his eyes gouged out for an alleged theft. The poor wretch, so horribly mutilated, had himself taken to the altar of Saint Francis where, weeping for his innocence, he implored the Saint's help. Francis was not insensitive to the man's supplications and obtained the grace from Jesus. After three days, new eyes miraculously sprouted for the blind man, although smaller, and with them, sight.

Other prodigies and miraculous rescues

The stone fallen on the pulpit in Assisi

In the church of San Francesco in Assisi, while the Bishop of Ostia was preaching, a large stone, carelessly left on the marble pulpit, fell on the head of a woman seated under the pulpit. Those present, after seeing the woman's crushed head, covered her with a mantle because she was believed to be dead. Great was the astonishment when, at the end of the sermon, they saw her rise perfectly intact. The woman recounted that she had entrusted herself to Saint Francis and was certain that the prodigy had occurred through the merit of the intercession of this glorious Saint.

The poison swallowed in Vincalvi

In Vincalvi lived a cleric named Matteo. One day Matteo inadvertently ingested a powerful poison that acted immediately, stiffening his limbs and blocking his speech. Matteo urged Jesus to save his life for the merits of Saint Francis. Suddenly he managed with his lips to pronounce the name of the Saint and vomit the ingested poison, fully recovering his health.

The tumor healed in Cori

In the castle of Cori, located in the diocese of Ostia, a man was desperate because he had lost the use of his leg due to a tumor. He appealed to the Poor Man of Assisi to obtain help and was not disappointed. Francis appeared to him in the company of another friar; with a small stick in the shape of a Tau he touched the diseased part of the leg. Incredibly he regained the use of the limb, being able to walk freely. In memory of the prodigy, the symbol of the Tau remained impressed on the part touched by Saint Francis.