St. Francis of Assisi Coloring Page
This St. Francis of Assisi coloring page shows Francis in his brown habit and knotted cord, with birds on his hands and a friendly wolf and lamb beside him. The PDF is free to print. Francis gave up his riches to live poor, serve others and praise God for all creation.
The story of St. Francis
Eight hundred years ago, in a town in Italy called Assisi, there lived a young man named Francis. His father was a rich cloth merchant, and Francis had fine clothes, plenty of money and lots of friends. He liked parties and dreamed of becoming a knight.
But God had other plans. Francis began to pray, and his heart changed. He used to be afraid of people with leprosy, a terrible skin sickness, but now, instead of turning away, he went to them and cared for them. One day he gave back everything his father had given him, even the clothes he was wearing, and chose to live as a poor man who belonged only to God.
Soon other young men wanted to live like Francis. They wore plain brown robes tied with a rope, walked from town to town and told everyone about the love of Jesus. They became the Franciscan friars.
St. Francis loved everything God made. He called the sun his brother and the moon his sister. A friar who knew him wrote that Francis once walked into a field full of birds and told them to praise their Creator, and they stayed to listen. A later story says a hungry wolf was scaring the town of Gubbio, and Francis spoke gently to it, and the wolf became tame. On Christmas he set up a manger scene at Greccio so people could see how humble Baby Jesus was.
What to color
- His habit: brown or gray, the plain robe of a poor friar.
- The knotted cord: white or cream. Its three knots stand for the friars' promises: poverty, chastity and obedience.
- The birds: any bright colors. They remember his love for all creatures.
- The wolf and the lamb: gray for the wolf and fluffy white for the lamb. Together they show the peace that God brings.
- The sun: a big golden yellow, for "brother sun" in his song.
- Assisi: pink and cream stone, which is the real color of the town's buildings.
A prayer to pray together
Francis wrote a song of praise called the Canticle of the Creatures. These lines come from Paschal Robinson's 1906 translation:
Praise be to Thee, my Lord, with all Thy creatures, / Especially to my worshipful brother sun.
Praised be my Lord, for sister moon and for the stars.
St. Francis, pray for us.
Ideas for families and classrooms
- Color the page on or near his feast day, October 4, and bring your pet to a blessing of animals at your parish.
- Go outside and make a list of "brothers and sisters" from God's creation: brother tree, sister rain, brother sparrow.
- Make a simple bird feeder from a pinecone, peanut butter and seeds.
- Ask: Francis gave away his fancy things. What could we share with someone who needs it?
- Learn about other patron saints of animals.
Read the full story: St. Francis of Assisi in the encyclopedia.
Frequently asked questions
What color is St. Francis's habit?
Brown or gray. The first Franciscan friars wore plain undyed wool, and today most Franciscans wear brown. The cord around his waist is white or cream, with three knots.
Why is St. Francis shown with animals?
Francis loved every creature as a gift from God. People tell stories that he preached to the birds and made peace with a hungry wolf at Gubbio. That is why he is the patron saint of animals.
When is St. Francis's feast day?
October 4. Many parishes hold a blessing of animals on or near that day.
Can I print this page for my class or parish?
Yes. The PDF is free to print for families, schools, CCD and parishes.