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Saint Francis of Assisi

Saint Francis was born in Assis, Umbria in 1181. His father, Pietro Bernardone was very wealthy. His mother, Pica, was born of a noble family. Little is known about her. Francis was one of many children, said to of been born in a stable. At baptism, his name was Giovanni, but later Pietro changed it to Francesco. As a boy, Francesco learned to speak French, went to St. George’s school and the school of Troubadours. As a teenager, he left school and was still quite il-literate. He went to work with his father and traded there, but found very little interest of becoming a merchant. As he approached adulthood, he became more confident in himself. He was happy, handsome, and courteous. He was one of the favorites among the nobles of Assisi. However, he wasn’t a saint yet, at this time he showed no respect or symphony to the poor or sick, and he spent his money plentifully.

In 1201, Assisi had a skirmish with its rival, Perugians. Francis went out to fight as soldier; and they lost. Francis; others were captured by the Perugians. After a year of being a prisoner, his mind of thinking changed. He know wanted a career of military and war. He pursued this will. In 1205, the Knight of Assisi was fighting in the Neapolitan States against the emperor. Francis was prepared to join him. Apparently, he had a dream the night before he left to the Knight’s side. He saw armors with red crosses on them. A voice said, “These, are you and your soldiers.” Francis spoke back, “I know I shall be a great prince!” The next day he set foot for Apulia. There, he had another dream, telling him to go back to Assisi, he did so. There, he got sick. Seriously ill in bed, near death, God saved him so Francis can carry out God’s mission for him!

After giving up a military career, he started falling in love with a girl. After some doubt, he started seeking prayer to answer his call. When Francis was going through the Umbrian Plain, he saw a poor, ill man. He didn’t look at him, kept going, but fought back and gave the man all the money he had. After this event Francis made a pilgrimage to Rome. There, traded his clothes with a poor merchant’s tattered clothes and stood by the basilica fasting for hours with the poor.

When Francis returned to Assisi, he was praying in St. Damian’s church when he heard a voice telling him to fix the church. He did so. Also he gave the church’s poor priest gold, which was needed to help finish the beaten church. Francis threw the money at him telling him to take it after the priest refused it. After so, he was starving. A mob of rabble followed Francis around, calling him names, mocking him, and calling him a ‘madman’. Finally, his father took him home, beaten, bound, and locked in a dark closet. When the father left town, his mother, Pica, freed him and Francis then returned to St. Damian’s church, again. After his father kicked him out of the city because he thought Francis was wasting his money, he was living in a cave in Assisi. He spent a few years in prayer there.

After a few years, Francis then left Assisi to travel to other villages, preaching, calling people together to learn about his life experience and about God and Jesus Christ. He invited people to join him, One man, Bernard, joined him and spoke everywhere they went. Francis was humble now, loved all creations, everything God made, he loved and adored and respected. Near his death, he founded Order of Mendicant Friars or Franciscans. After Francis’s death in 1228, his followers and Bernard built a church n Assisi in memory of him. His influence in the world made him a saint of the Catholic Christian world!

Saint Francis Prayer "O Lord, make me an instrument of Thy Peace! Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is discord, harmony; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light, and Where there is sorrow, joy. Oh Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life."

AMEN

By: Vito D. From an old project for class! I hope it is informative!