Description Size: 3/4 inch Material: Sterling silver This medal shows St Francis in his habit with his arms crossed in humility and prayer. The reverse shows St Clare holding a monstrance with the blessed sacrament. Born in 1181, St Francis was a spoiled young man who became a soldier. He was captured in battle and spent over a year in prison. During this time he had a vision of Christ telling him to change his life and upon his release he renounced his father’s fortune, dressed in rags, and begged for his money. He lived such a holy life that he began to attract followers, and in 1209 he founded the Franciscan order based on the Jesus’s words “Leave all and follow me.” He gave food to the hungry, cared for animals, rebuilt churches, and thought of all as his brothers and sisters. When St Clare was a girl, she was so struck by St Francis of Assisi that she confided her desire to live for God to him. She ran away from home with her cousin to become a nun and was received into religious life by St Francis. She founded a religious order called the Poor Clares that is still in existence today. When she was to ill to go to mass, an image of the service appeared on the wall of her room leading to her patronage of television. The medal was cast in sterling silver from an antique medal in the Rosa Mystica Collection so it shows all the beauty and history of the original piece. It comes with a matching holy card in an organza gift bag, ready for gift-giving, and was made in the USA. St Francis is the patron of: Animals Birds Dogs Cats Ecology The Environment Lace makers Zoos Needle workers Against fire Against dying alone Families Nature St Clare is the patron of: Knitters Needle workers Eyes Television Goldsmiths For good weather