Lesson 1 – St. Francis of Assisi

1. Who is St. Francis of Assisi? (Biographical Information)

a) Born in 1182 to Pica and Pietro di Bernardone in Assisi, Italy. Pietro was a wealthy cloth merchant and Pica was from a wealthy French family.

b) We know that Francis was born into a family of privilege and more than likely received a formal education in the Liberal Arts taught by a Catholic priest at the Church of San Georgio.

c) Assisi was located on a major road, the Via Franca, that linked Assisi to markets in the North and South. This would have been important for his father’s cloth business and made Assisi an important city for trade.

d) In 1202, Francis joined the army with a dream of becoming a knight. The men of Assisi went to fight their archenemies, the men of Perugia. They were overtaken by the Perugians and were taken prisoners. Francis spent several months in prison as a POW. This would be a critical time that laid a foundations for the changes that were about to take place in his dreams for his life, his way of thinking, his relationship with God, and the values he held.

e) Francis became very sick in prison with an unknown illness. During this time in prison and while sick, he begins to do some soul-searching and to think about the direction in which his life is going and how he is living his life.

f) After he is released from prison, he returns to Assisi very ill. His mother nursed him back to better health and he spends time working in his father’s cloth business. However, the daily routine in his father’s business makes him feel restless.

g) In 1205, at the age of 23, he leaves Assisi to join the military campaign of Walter of Brienne, a famous knight. However, as he is on his way with the other young men, he remembers a dream he had while he was recovering from his illness where he was asked “Is it better to serve the Lord or the servant?” He replied, “the Lord.” He was then asked, “then why do you serve the servant?” He turns around and returns to Assisi, shocking his friends, and begins to spend time by himself praying.

h) One day, Francis is praying in the small Church of San Damiano and Jesus on the Crucifix (San Damiano Crucifix) speaks to him and tells him, “Francis, repair my house which, as you can see, is falling into ruin.”

i) Francis sells his horse and some cloth from his father’s business so he could rebuild the Church of San Damiano. This caused a strain in his relationship with his father.

j) His father wants Francis charged with theft and brings him to the Bishop outside of the Cathedral. Francis then, in front of his father, the Bishop, his friends and neighbors, strips his clothes off, gives them to his father and says “no longer do I call Pietro di Bernardone my father, but the Father who is in Heaven.” He takes the simple clothes of a beggar.

k) Francis begins a new life and a penetrating search for the will of God in his life.

l) Francis completes the command he received from the Crucifix at San Damiano and the little church is rebuild. He then goes on to Our Lady of the Angels Church “The Portiuncula.”

m) At the Portiuncula, Francis the missionary passage (discourse) from the Gospel of Matthew and says, “This is what I want!” “This is what I desire with my whole heart!” At this point, Francis’ life becomes the Gospel. He then went through the streets as a poor man proclaiming the Gospel message of peace and salvation through his example of living the Gospel.

n) Around 1219, Francis goes to the Near East to meet with and dialogue with the Sultan, the leader of the Muslims.

o) 1223, Francis presents a final Rule of Life to Pope Honorius III and given approval of the Rule with the seal of the Pope.

p) 1224 – Francis receives the Sacred Stigmata.

q) 1226 – Francis Dies

r) 1228 – Francis is canonized a Saint.

Homework: Find at least two facts about St. Francis that have not already been mentioned in class.