Olivia Bonvenuto

Campbell

Religion II

December 15th, 2017

Saint Francis of Assisi

Saint Francis of Assisi is a very widely known figure throughout the catholic church. In

1181 Giovanni di Bernardone, or Saint Francis, was born in Assisi, Italy where he also later in life

passed away in 1226. All during his life he was accepted and liked amongst the people of Assisi,

he was a happy and always determined to please others with his own actions. Through the

course of his life he was in the military and fought in a battle against the Perugians, who during

that time became a rival city to Assisi. When he returned, he was praying at the chapel of St.

Damian’s and while doing so he heard a voice call out to him. The voice said “Go, Francis, and

repair my house, which as you see is falling into ruin.” Taking what he heard to a literal sense,

Giovanni di Bernardone set out and sold his horse and other items, in order to have money to pay

for the refurbishment of St. Damian’s. Sadly, his hard work did not have much of an impact

because the donations would not be accepted, and when this happened he grew angry and had an

outburst. His father disapproved of his behavior, Giovanni hid in a cave so he did not have to

face his fathers’ wrath. Though he did not escape it because eventually he grew hungry and

wanted to return home, and when he did he was greeted by his father with harsh and cruel

punishment, he locked him in a dark closet and left him there. Once released by his mother he

returned to St. Damian’s. He eventually leaves his father and mother, and takes God as his

father. He leaves and begins to spread brotherly love, penance, and even peace. As he made his

way through the land he began to pick up men along the way who were inspired and wanted to
follow him. He was eventually ordained a deacon and continued preaching and leading people to

the religious life. Only two years before Francis had passed away, he received a stigma of

Christ. Brother Leo, who was a friend of Francis, was there to witness the stigmata and was able

to leave a letter that is preserved in Assisi. This letter states, where the wounds were and what

they looked like. He described the wounds as how we know what Jesus’ wounds looked like

after the crucifixion. He had marks on his side, that looked like it had been placed there by a

lance, as well as on his hands and feet. Francis continued to grow old and became ill and blind,

he wanted to pass where he had first received his first calling from the voice of God. Saint

Francis was canonized as a saint by the one who took him in and loved him for who he wanted to

be, Pope Gregory IX. He is the patron saint of ecologists, which he earned by having respect

towards all things living, he showed both animals and nature love and respect it deserves to be

shown. St. Francis of Assisi’s legacy continues to live on thanks to, Cardinal Jorge, took his

name to be his when he became the Bishop.

Prayer to Saint Francis of Assisi:

Saint Francis of Assisi please help me to find the good in

all people, animals, and nature. Pray for me that I am able

to seek all that is valuable in life, to be able to forgive and

move on. Help me to find ways to help those who are less

fortunate than myself and my family. Especially during

this holiday season, pray that I am able to praise all of my close brothers and sisters, and even

those who I am not close with. Assist me in truly finding ways to make those around me feel

wanted and not neglected.

Works Cited
Akin, Jimmy. Who was St. Francis of Assisi? 12 things to know and share. N/A, 3 October 2013.
Document.
Biography.com Authors. St. Francis of Assisi Biography.com. A&E Television Networks, 3 January
2017. Document.
Editors, TheFamousPeople.com. St Francis of Assisi Biography. 29 May 2017.
Murray, Wendy. St. Francis of Assisi, a biographyq. 2 March 2016.