Saint Francis Of Assisi Research Paper

Saint Francis of Assisi was born in the year 1181 in Assisi, Umbria, Italy. His birth name was Giovanni Bernardone. His parents were Pietro and Pica. Saint Francis’s father was in France when he was born. When he returned to Assisi and met his son he called him Francesco. From then on, he was called Francesco, not Giovanni. His father was a successful cloth merchant. This business allowed Saint Francis to have a privileged life. He wore the finest clothes and became well educated. He was one of seven children in his family. Saint Francis is known for caring for the poor. This started early in his life. Once he was selling clothes for his father and came across a poor man. This man did not have any money and barely had any clothes. Saint
Francis gave this man all the money in his pocket. When he arrived home his father was furious. He did not understand Saint Francis’s need to help the poor. Saint Francis was not interested in his father’s business. He joined the military in 1201. Saint Francis was captured and became a prisoner of war for a year. It was during this time that he became more interested in the Christian faith. He spent much of his time praying and thinking of God. By the time he was released and became free again, Saint Francis had decided to devote his life to Christ. Shortly after his release from the prison, Saint Francis had a vision and heard a voice telling him to restore the Church of God. Saint Francis took this seriously. He thought of the local church, St. Damian. This church was in ruin. Saint Francis sold his horse and his clothes and gave all the money to the church of Saint Damian. This incident encouraged Saint Francis to begin a new life of poverty.
Saint Francis told his family his plan. His father was not pleased with this decision and tried very hard to change his mind. He did not think his son would be happy living a poor life with Christ. He did not understand Saint Francis’s interest in the church. His father’s attempt to change Saint Francis’s mind failed. Saint Francis gave up all his wealth and his expensive clothes and left for a life devoted to loving and following Christ. Saint Francis was now homeless. He traveled the hills of Assisi and Umbria. He was happy. He preached repentance to everyone he met. He would spend his days praying and singing. He made good impressions on the people he met. Saint Francis decided to go to Rome.
He and some of his followers went to ask Pope Innocent III for permission to start a new religious order. The Pope gave his permission and Saint Francis became the founder of the Franciscan Order of Preaching Friars. Saint Francis and his followers wanted everyone to be respectful to all of God’s creations, including people, animals, and the environment. Towards the end of his life, Saint Francis spent a lot of time by himself. He prayed and sang to God. In the year 1224, Saint Francis took a journey to Mt. La Verna. He decided to fast for 40 days. During this time of fast, Saint Francis was visited by a six winged angel. He could see that this angel was crucified. When the angel left, St. Francis was left with wounds on his hands, feet, and side. They were the same wounds Jesus had suffered when he was crucified. St. Francis was the first person known to receive these wounds known as stigmata. Saint Francis died on October 3, 1226. He was canonized two years later on July 16, 1228 by Pope Gregory IX. Saint Francis of Assisi became the patron saint of animals, the environment, and Italy. He is well known for his love of the Eucharist, his sorrow during the Stations of the Cross, and for his creation of the Nativity Scene. He is also remembered for his kindness to the poor and his communication with the animals. His feast day is October
4th.

SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Biographies for Kids: Saint Francis of Assisi." http://www.ducksters.com Ducksters. Technological Solutions, Inc. (TSI), Sept. 2013. September 14, 2013

Foley, Leonard, “Who Was St. Francis?” http:www.americancatholic.org. Franciscan Media, February 2013. September 14, 2013

"Francis of Assisi and the Franciscan Order," in The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, Vol. V (1953), pp. 355-356

Tidmarsh, Mark. “St. Francis of Assisi.” http://www.catholic-saints.info. February 16, 2008. September 15, 2013

Outline

I. Birth
A. 1181, Assisi, Umbria, Italy
B. Name Giovanni Bernardone
C. Parents- Pietro and Pica
D. Father changed his name to Francesco
E. Wealthy, privileged, educated
F. One of 7 kids
II. Helped the poor
A. Cared for the poor
B. Gave money to poor man
C. Father was furious
III. Military
A. Not interested in father’s business
B. Joined military 1201
C. Captured and became prisoner of war
D. Spent time there praying
E. Decided to devote life to Christ
IV. Vision
A. Vision and heard voice telling him to restore Church of God
B. Took it serious
C. Sold his horse and clothes and gave the money to St. Damian
D. Encouraged him to start a life of poverty
V. Gives up Everything
A. Tells family
B. Father not happy
C. Tries to convince him not to do it
D. Gives up all his clothes and money to devote his life to following Christ
VI. Homeless
A. Homeless
B. Travels the hills of Assisi and Umbria
C. Very happy
D. Sings and prays
E. Makes good impressions on the people he meets
VII. Franciscan Order of Preaching Friars
A. Goes to Rome asking for permission to start a new religious order
B. Got the permission
C. Start the Franciscan Order of Preaching Friars with some of his followers
D. Preaches to be good to all God’s creations-people, animals, environment
VIII. End of Life
A. Alone, by himself
B. Prays and sings to God
C. Journey to Mt. La Verna
D. Fasts for 40 days
E. Visited by an angel
F. Receives the stigmata
IX. Dies
A. October 3, 1226
B. Canonized July 16, 1228 by Pope Gregory IX
C. Patron Saint of animals, environment, Italy
D. Known for kindness to poor and communication with animals
E. Known for his love of the Eucharist, his sorrow during the Stations of the Cross, and his creation of the Nativity Scene
F. Feast day October 4th