Saint Francis cord

The cord of Saint Francis is a garment worn by the Franciscan Order . It consists of a rope with three or five knots.  These knots have different meanings. The cord is inspired by the Catholic saint Francis of Assisi, who wore it as a belt, although it is much simpler and easier, it was tied just like today to the waist, girding the sackcloth that he took as a habit . 

The cord of Francis of Assisi is preserved in the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli in the city of Assisi in Italy . 

 History 
King Henry III of Castile, a devotee of the saint, created the emblem of the cord of Saint Francis as his personal identity, which was also used by his son John II and his grandson Henry IV. 

The use of the Franciscan cord was considered a clear example of the vow of poverty taken, since at that time money was usually carried in bags tied to the belt, with the visible cord around the waist of the Franciscans being a clear example of their precepts. 

Nowadays, the Franciscans of the Secular Franciscan Order (SFO) have stopped using the habit and today only wear a badge on occasions when meeting with the order, which consists of a scapular and a cord.

 Weather phenomenon 
Francis of Assisi and his cord give their name to the meteorological phenomenon known as The cordonazo of Saint Francis

 References 

Category:Religious clothing