Pope Julius II Secular Franciscan

On February 21st, the Franciscan family celebrates SS. July II, Secular Franciscan.

From his childhood, Giuliano della Rovere was educated by Franciscan friars. Growing up he entered a convent of the first order of minor friars to carry out his higher studies. In 1471 he was appointed bishop, and later would be elevated to the dignity of cardinal. When he became Pontiff, he dedicated himself to recovering for the Church the feuds that he had been stripped. During his pontificate the Pontifical Swiss Guard was also created... (continue reading after the following advertisment)

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H.H. Julius II intervened directly in the life of the Secular Franciscans in 1508, establishing the proper form of the tertiary habit: the scapular. He determined that his habit would consist of two broad strips of wool that covered the chest and back of the secular brother, accompanied by the San Francisco cord, knotted at the waist. One of the reasons for this reduction was that the scapular could easily be hidden under the outer dresses, in case of facing any danger.

A beautiful legacy of SS. July II is the letter Cum Multae et graves (16-IV-1506), where he explicitly asks the conventual friars and observers, to be careful towards their own tertiary brothers.

Finally, SS. Julio II was also a great patron of the arts, protecting Italian painters Rafael (who was commissioned to paint his first portrait) and Michelangelo (who was commissioned to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel).

Julius II, contemporary medallion; in the coin collection of the Vatican Library