ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI

EARLY YEARS

• Francis was born in the early months of 1182 in Assisi, Italy
• Father - Pietro di Bernardone, wealth traveling merchant
• Mother - Pica, very religious Catholic
• Pica took care of Francis while Pietro was traveling in France
• Pica and Pietro both fought about Francis being a man of God

EARLY YEARS (CONT.)

• While in his college years, Francis stayed up from dusk to dawn partying
• After college, he wanted to become a knight and bring pride to Assisi
• So he fought against Assisi's rival city Perugia
• Assisi lost and after the battle, Francis was captured and released a year later
• He then joined the Fourth Crusade, but was again humiliated by not going

ADULT YEARS

• He then turned to God and lived in a cave, always asking for forgiveness, for 25 years
• He then looked to serve others and tell them about God and hope to convert them
• One story of St.Francis is he served a leper and as soon as he left, he disappered
• Francis thought this was a test from God and passed it
• Another story is that a crucifix told him to repair the church and bring people back

ADULT YEARS (CONT.)

• His father later brought him to the bishop to ask him to repay him everything
• And to also renounce to become the heir for bishop, the bishop said to do it
• He said God would provide to St.Francis and later said that he isn't his father
• St.Francis then lived a life of begging and loving God
• After years, he had companions and then created the Franciscan Order

LATER YEARS

• At first everyone was hostile to the Franciscans and thought they were insane
• Francis then when to Rome to see Pope Innocent III and approve the Franciscans
• After he said yes, St.Francis went with the Fifth Crusade to Syria and convert Muslims
• After he became blind and later became sick and died on October 4, 1226 (45)

SAINTHOOD

• Only 2 years later, St. Francis became canonized by Pope Gregory IX
• Feast day is on July 16
• He is the patron saint of Italy, ecologists, merchants, and animals
• St.Francis is the founder of all Franciscan orders