5 things to know about St. Francis of Assisi’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary

St. Francis of Assisi established a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, naming her the patroness and queen of the Friars Minor. According to the biographer St. Bonaventure, Francis placed his order and himself under her permanent protection and guidance.

One account describes a vision in which Francis saw friars struggling to reach Christ by climbing a steep red ladder. In the vision, Jesus presented a second, less steep white ladder with Mary at the top and instructed Francis to tell his followers to reach Him through the ladder of His mother.

Thomas of Celano, a friar and servant of God, described Francis' love for Mary as inexpressible, noting that she made the Lord of Majesty a brother to humanity. The upcoming feast day of St. Francis on Oct. 4 marks the 800th anniversary of his death.