Addoli Ar Y Cyd

Collective Worship

Title: St Francis of Assisi Theme: To look at the life of St Francis of Assisi School: Secondary Term: Autumn Term

Summary St Francis of Assisi – how he changed his life completely following his conversion.

Teachers’ Notes

Occasion: around 3 October

Instructions: The pictures should be shown on PowerPoint as the story is told. The ( ) shows when the slide should be changed. To attract the pupils’ attention, we recommend the first slide is already on display as they enter. The Main Text

(Picture 1)

St Francis was born in Assisi in 1182. His Christian name was Giovanni but this name was changed by his father, to Francis. This was in honour of his mother, who came from France, and because of his father’s interest in the history of France and its traditions.

(Picture 2)

His father was a wealthy tradesman and when he was young, Francis was guilty of spending a lot of money enjoying life to the full with his friends. He was considered quite a rebel in many ways. And yet, there is a very interesting story about when he came face to face with a beggar whilst he was out with his friends one day. His friends ignored the beggar’s pleas for help but Francis gave all he had in his pockets to the poor beggar. This was a symbol of what was to come in his life.

After his conversion, Francis turned his back on wealth and chose to work for God. Like many of the early saints, he lived a simple life. He looked at Jesus Christ as an example to follow.

(Picture 3)

His family did not agree with his new way of life and he was disowned by his father. Francis visited hospitals, helped look after the patients and preached on the streets.

(Picture 4)

People of the same temperament as him began to gather around him. They would go around the country, dressed simply and preaching the Gospel. Later, this group of people, under the leadership of Francis, became known as the Franciscans.

(Picture 5)

Francis came to be known as a friend of animals, and there are many stories about his kindness towards them. One of these stories tells of him travelling with his friends one day and coming to a place where many birds had gathered in the trees. Francis told his friends; “Wait for me while I preach to the birds”. Francis spoke to the birds, saying something like this: “My sister birds, you owe much to God, and you must always give praise to Him; for He has given you freedom to wing through the sky and He has clothed you… you neither sow nor reap, and God gives you rivers and fountains for your thirst, and mountains and valleys for shelter…. Therefore, always seek to praise God.”

(Picture 6)

This story, and the words of St. Francis, remind us of the words of Jesus Christ:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life and what you will eat, or about your body and what you will wear…Notice the ravens: they do not sow or reap; they have neither storehouse nor barn, yet God feeds them. How much more important are you than birds?” (Luke 12: 22-24)

Among St Francis’ sayings are the following: “ Start by doing what's necessary, then what's possible and suddenly you are doing the impossible”

St Francis of Assisi’s Prayer is one of the most famous prayers of all time. It is a bold prayer. It calls on everyone to try and create the opposite of what we see in the world. It calls for strength, to give of our own to meet the needs of others.

(Picture 7)

The Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi:

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love;

For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.