Many people enjoy reading biographies for the insight they provide into the lives of interesting individuals. Reading a Saint Francis of Assisi biography reveals more about the life of a medieval saint. An author writing about him would have much material to draw from as several of his disciples wrote about him and there are also poems, letters and liturgical writings to examine.
From these documents it is evident how he captured the hearts of people around him with his devotion and passion. Many stories are told about his compassion as well as his love of animals and power over them. In his early years, there was little indication of the type of man he would eventually become.
He was born in a hill-town in Umbria where his father was a wealthy merchant and as a young man his father gave him plenty of money to spend on clothing and entertainment. He did not take much interest in learning or in the business of his father. He was described at this stage of his life as gallant, handsome and courteous with a ready wit.
It took becoming a prisoner for a year during a petty civil war as well as bouts with illness to start turning his attention to more spiritual matters. An encounter with a leper where he overcame his revulsion to give him money was a turning point in his life. He started devoting all his time and attention to spiritual matters.
He cut himself off from his father and began wandering around, speaking to people about repentance and the love of God. Some significant people were influenced by his message. One of these was a wealthy merchant who sold all his possessions, gave them to the poor and joined him. Another was a canon who left the cathedral to join him.
Papal approval was eventually given to this band of brothers who were called the Friars Minor (Little Brothers). They believed that as followers of Christ, they too should have nowhere to lay their heads but when given the chapel of Porzuincola by the Benedictines, they accepted use the grounds for building some simple huts. This became the first Franciscan convent. It was not long before communities like this developed all over.
He had a burning desire to evangelize infidels and pursued this but when he returned from his missions, he found that changes had been made to the order that he felt violated his fundamental idea. These changes were regarded as necessary by the brothers to try to bring more organization to an ever growing order.
It was while he was praying during a 40 day fast in the latter part of his life that he saw a seraph in a vision and afterwards found a wound in his side and nails in his hands and feet. A clear and simple account of this happening and the stigmata that appeared was written by one of the brothers with him at the time. This is just one account in the life of a remarkable man who continues to inspire readers today.
From these documents it is evident how he captured the hearts of people around him with his devotion and passion. Many stories are told about his compassion as well as his love of animals and power over them. In his early years, there was little indication of the type of man he would eventually become.
He was born in a hill-town in Umbria where his father was a wealthy merchant and as a young man his father gave him plenty of money to spend on clothing and entertainment. He did not take much interest in learning or in the business of his father. He was described at this stage of his life as gallant, handsome and courteous with a ready wit.
It took becoming a prisoner for a year during a petty civil war as well as bouts with illness to start turning his attention to more spiritual matters. An encounter with a leper where he overcame his revulsion to give him money was a turning point in his life. He started devoting all his time and attention to spiritual matters.
He cut himself off from his father and began wandering around, speaking to people about repentance and the love of God. Some significant people were influenced by his message. One of these was a wealthy merchant who sold all his possessions, gave them to the poor and joined him. Another was a canon who left the cathedral to join him.
Papal approval was eventually given to this band of brothers who were called the Friars Minor (Little Brothers). They believed that as followers of Christ, they too should have nowhere to lay their heads but when given the chapel of Porzuincola by the Benedictines, they accepted use the grounds for building some simple huts. This became the first Franciscan convent. It was not long before communities like this developed all over.
He had a burning desire to evangelize infidels and pursued this but when he returned from his missions, he found that changes had been made to the order that he felt violated his fundamental idea. These changes were regarded as necessary by the brothers to try to bring more organization to an ever growing order.
It was while he was praying during a 40 day fast in the latter part of his life that he saw a seraph in a vision and afterwards found a wound in his side and nails in his hands and feet. A clear and simple account of this happening and the stigmata that appeared was written by one of the brothers with him at the time. This is just one account in the life of a remarkable man who continues to inspire readers today.
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