Saint Francis of Assisi was truly a man of God.

His life started off rich, wealthy,

but spiritually empty. He realized this and changed his ways. He lived out the rest of his
life a poor man, preaching the Lords teachings and starting the Franciscan !rder. He
may have started off empty, but that was "ust the beginning.
St. Francis began his life in the town of Assisi, born in the year ##$#. He was
raised by his father, %ietro &ernardone, a wealthy cloth merchant, and his mother, whose
name is un'nown, but is believed to have descended from a noble family. Growing up,
Saint Francis did receive some education at St. Georges from the priests, and education
from the school of (roubadours. )ven though Francis did receive elementary education,
he was never able to fully complete his literary instruction. His childhood was full of
riches and fun. He en"oyed fine clothing and his parents spoiled him. All the nobles
around town loved him and his personality, he was in with the popular crowd, but he had
always had a soft spot for the poor and needy.
*hen Saint Francis was about twenty years old, he "oined some townsmen to go
fight against a rival city, and they lost. He was ta'en as prisoner and held captive in "ail.
+uring his sentence, he became ill with a fever. He began to thin' about his life and
what was to come. At that moment he realized how spiritually empty his life had been.
(hese thoughts would "ust foreshadow his life to come. After he was well again and got
out of prison, he pursued a career in the military. He was going to set off to Apulia to
ta'e down the emperor, but then he had a dream. (here was a long hallway with armor
hanging on the walls, the armor had crosses on them. (here was also a voice that told
him this would be the armor that his soldiers used. He decided to ride on and continue
his "ourney, but he had a second dream. (he same voice chimed and told him to go bac'
to Assisi, so he listened. After he returned home, he gathered with his troops and friends
less and less because the need to be filled with the spirit of God flowed through him.
!ne day, Saint Francis was 'nelt in prayer in the Forsa'en *ayside -hapel of St.
+amians in Assisi when he heard a voice that told him, .Go, Francis, and repair my
house, which as you can see is falling into ruin./ (a'ing his message very literally, he
rushed home to collect colored drapes to sell at the mar'et to ma'e money for the repairs
that St. +amians needed. He sold the horse and the drapery and set off to the church to
give the poor priest the gold. !nce there, the priest refused the offer and Francis flung
the coins in anger. His father was so angry that Saint Francis ran to a local cave to hide.
He stayed in the cave for about a month and when he emerged, filthy and hungry, his
father drug him home, beat him, bound him, and loc'ed him in a dar' closet. !nce his
mother freed him he ran to St. +amians for shelter, but was soon discovered by his
father and he was sentenced to face the civil "urisdiction. (han'fully, since he was a man
of God he had to face the bishop instead. Saint Francis greatly loo'ed forward to this
opportunity to meet the bishop. After his meeting 0that went very well1 he gave all his
clothes to his father and discarded all worldly goods e2cept for his shoes, empty wallet,
and staff. Afterwards he started wandering and preaching the word of God.
After a mass on February 34
th
, Saint Francis got rid of the only other worldly
goods he had and obtained a woolen tunic which signified the lowest form of poverty
there was. After these bold achievements were made, people started to respect the love
and brother ship Saint Francis was spreading. !ne by one, people started to "oin him and
his way of living. At first it was only a few, but the number of people grew in number.
He had started the Franciscan !rder. (here was one girl who in particular who was the
cause of the Second Franciscan !rder. Her name was -lare and she went to Saint
Francis begging him to help her achieve poverty and live in for the *ill of God. He told
her to meet him at %orziuncola where he cut her hair and stripped her of all worldly
goods. She created the second Franciscan !rder, now 'nown as the %oor -lares. 5n the
last months of the Saints life, he turned his leadership position over to his brother, %eter
-atani. He went and traveled for some time before contracting an eye disease that no one
could help him with. 6nowing this, he returned to %orziuncola where he stayed in his hut
and prayed. He also completed his spiritual testament. He died on !ctober 7, #338,
singing psalm #4#.
5 chose Saint Francis for my patron saint because he was one of the most
courageous men, and he loved animals too. He was willing to give up everything he had
for God. 5f 5 had the great opportunity to meet Saint Francis, 5 would as' him, .*hen
you first started preaching, would you have guessed the great success that your
Franciscan !rder would have had9/ 5 would also as' him to as' God to help me to be
more courageous li'e him. Saint Francis has inspired me so much through my life, 5
could only hope that 5 would be worthy of having him be my %atron Saint.