ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI (1181–1226) The Poverello – The Saint of the Poor Feastday: October 04 Born circa 1181 in Assisi, Italy, St. Francis of Assisi, though revered today, began his life as a confirmed sinner. His father was a wealthy cloth merchant who owned farmland around Assisi, and his mother was a stunning Frenchwoman. Francis was renowned for drinking and partying in his youth. After fighting in a battle between Assisi and Perugia, Francis was captured and imprisoned at ransom. He spent nearly a year in prison—awaiting his fathers ransom—and, during this time, reportedly began receiving visions from God. Finally, after a year of negotiations, Franciss ransom was accepted and he was released from prison in 1203. When he came back to Assisi, however, Francis was a very different man. Francis, now in his early 20s, began turning his focus toward God. Instead of working, he spent an ever-increasing amount of time at a remote mountain hideaway as well as in old, quiet churches around Assisi, praying and looking for answers. During this time, while praying before an old Byzantine crucifix at the church of San Damiano, Francis reportedly heard the voice of Christ, who told him to rebuild the Christian Church and to live a life of extreme poverty. Thusly, Francis abandoned his life of luxury and devoted his life to Christ. He began preaching around Assisi and was soon joined by 12 loyal followers. After his epiphany at the church of San Damiano, Francis experienced a defining moment in his life. In order to raise money to rebuild the Christian Church, he stole a bolt of cloth and a horse from his father. His father became furious upon learning of his sons crimes, and subsequently dragged Francis before the local bishop. The bishop told Francis to return his fathers money, to which his reaction was extraordinary: He stripped off his clothes and passed them, along with the money, back to his father, declaring that God was now the only father he recognized. This event is credited as Franciss final conversion, and there is no indication that Francis and his father ever spoke again thereafter. Franciss Christ-like poverty was a radical notion at the time. The Christian Church was tremendously rich, much like the people heading it, which concerned Francis and many others, who felt that the Churchs long-held apostolic ideals had eroded. Thusly, Francis set out on a mission to restore Jesus Christs own, original values to the now-decadent Church. With his incredible charisma, thousands of followers were soon drawn to him, listening to his sermons and joining in his way of life; his followers became known as Franciscan friars. Continuously pushing himself in the quest for spiritual perfection, Francis was soon preaching in up to five villages per day, teaching a new kind of emotional and personal Christian religion that everyday people could understand. He even went so far as to preach to animals, which garnered criticism and earned him the nickname Gods fool. But Franciss message was spread far and wide, and thousands of people were captivated by what they heard. In 1224, Francis reportedly received a vision that left him with the stigmata of Christ—marks resembling the wounds Jesus Christ suffered when he was crucified, through his hands, and the gaping lance wound in his side—making Francis the first person to receive the holy wounds of the stigmata. Francis of Assisi died on October 3, 1226, at the age of 44, in Assisi, Italy. Today, Francis has had a lasting resonance, with millions of followers across the globe. He was canonized as a saint just two years after his death, on July 16, 1228, by his former protector, Pope Gregory IX. Today, St. Francis’ legacy remains with his followers in the many congregations he founded, among them the Franciscan Friars (white, black and brown) and the Franciscan Capuchins. The current Pope took the name of Francis, and is now making waves, like St. Francis of Assisi, who changed the Church image by projecting the true image of Christ. Let us pray that St.Francis of Assisi guide our Pope Francis!
Posted on: Sat, 04 Oct 2014 05:21:14 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015