Saint Francis was born between 1181/82. His name was Giovanni, Francisco di Pietro Berndone. His father was known as Pietro Bennardone. He was a wealthy businessman who wanted Saint Francis to follow in his footsteps as a Taylor /clothes merchant. Saint Francis lived with his family in a place called Spoleto. Francis was known as a little bit of a rebel in his younger days. He used to hang around with his friends and drink a lot, and people in the town commented how rude he was. He was one of seven children, and he was named after the people of France.
Not until 1202, when Francis of Assisi fought in the war between Assisi and Perugia,
Saint Francis was captured and was held prisoner for almost a year. His health
became that he was confined with others in a damp and dirty-smelling cell with rats
and mice in it.
Francis’s participation in the war was the turning point in his life. After his release, he
began to receive visions from God that changed his life. He abandoned his life of
luxury, became a devotee of the faith, and devoted himself to serving the church and
the needy so much. Hence, he even kissed a leper when, before, he used to shun
and be nasty to these people at home. On one occasion, he gave his cloak from his
clothes. If we look at Matthew 10. 9, you will see this chapter, where Matthew
inspired Saint Francis; within a year, Francis gained 11 followers.
On one occasion, Saint Francis is accused by his father of wasting money and stealing money and clothing from his father’s shop. So Saint Francis, in front of the town’s Bishop, stripped his clothes off so he was naked and disowned his father. The Bishop was so embarrassed that he took off his clerical robe and wrapped it around Saint Francis, trying to call the situation down, and the people of the town were embarrassed by his behaviour. Some of them, remembering how Francis used to act being drunk, muttered under their breaths what can you expect from a boy who gets his way? He said when he gave his father his clothes back, he said I will be naked before God.
Saint Francis went to the Pope and asked him if he could start an order. After
several attempts to see the Pope, he was finally granted permission to begin his only
order, now known as the Saint Francis Friars or the San Franciscan order. One of
the things that not many people know is that in 1205, in a place called Dominio, he
heard exultation from Christ on the cross while he was in the country sitting in a
ruined church across from the wall where he heard Christ say to him go and rebuild
this church he had stopped there to meditate, but this had a tremendous effect on
him hearing what Christ said so he and his followers began to bring stones and
bricks and rubble to rebuild this church.
Saint Francis is also known in 12/20 for setting up his first known nativity scene,
which is now common worldwide. Saint Francis is known as the patron of St of Italy.
Also, the patron saint of animals, St. Saint Catherine of Siena, Francis, was named
the patron saint of ecology. On October 4, churches celebrate ceremonies blessing
animals, which has become a World Animal Day. . Francis was canonized as a Saint
by Pope Gregory1x on July 16 1228. Today, there are Franciscan orders all over the
world of the Friars Minor, the order of Saint Clair, who was a longtime girlfriend of
Francis and followed him to start up an order for women, and there is the lay 3 rd
order, of which I have been a member for the last five years
Saint Francis died on October 3 1226, but he was said to have received stigmata,
known as the wounds of Christ, two years before he died. He is the first person to be
recorded as receiving the stigmata on October 3. We always celebrate the life of
Saint Francis, and we follow the same ruling as the first order. We have a daily
prayer routine, the service of which is written in our prayer books of Saint Francis.
Our closest monastery, known as Friary, is in Somerset, known as Highfield. It is
surrounded by lovely countryside, and some items indicate the life of Saint Francis.
L0VE, POVERTY, CHASTITY, HUMANITY PRAYER
By
Pierre Cornlouer