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.
A clear picture emerges from authentic documents of a man who managed to capture the hearts and imaginations of many of his contemporaries. His simplicity, love of nature and animals and his great compassion for the poor were evident in his life. However, he did not start off with such admirable qualities.
He grew up in Umbria, Italy and his father was a rich merchant. As a young man he was known for his ready wit and fine clothes. He was gallant and courteous and always had plenty of money to spend. He had no interest in becoming a merchant or in learning.
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.
His beliefs eventually lead to him cutting himself off from his family and he wandered the highways, singing the praises of God and speaking to all about the love of God and the need for repentance. His beliefs were so sincere that a number of people started following him. One of his early disciples was a rich merchant who sold all his goods, gave the money to the poor and joined 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.
A clear picture emerges from authentic documents of a man who managed to capture the hearts and imaginations of many of his contemporaries. His simplicity, love of nature and animals and his great compassion for the poor were evident in his life. However, he did not start off with such admirable qualities.
He grew up in Umbria, Italy and his father was a rich merchant. As a young man he was known for his ready wit and fine clothes. He was gallant and courteous and always had plenty of money to spend. He had no interest in becoming a merchant or in learning.
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.
His beliefs eventually lead to him cutting himself off from his family and he wandered the highways, singing the praises of God and speaking to all about the love of God and the need for repentance. His beliefs were so sincere that a number of people started following him. One of his early disciples was a rich merchant who sold all his goods, gave the money to the poor and joined 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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