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Among such episodes, the most important, according to his disciple and first biographer, Thomas of Celano, occurred at the ruined chapel of San Damiano outside the gate of Assisi when Francis heard the crucifix above the altar command him: “Go, Francis, and repair my house which, as you see, is well-nigh in ruins.” Taking this literally, Francis hurried home, gathered some fine cloth from his father’s shop, and rode off to the nearby town of Foligno, where he sold both cloth and horse. Peter’s Basilica and begged alms an incident in which he not only gave alms to a leper (he had always felt a deep repugnance for lepers) but also kissed his hand. Several other episodes contributed to his conversion to the apostolic life: a vision of Christ while Francis prayed in a grotto near Assisi an experience of poverty during a pilgrimage to Rome, where, in rags, he mingled with the beggars before St. On his return, he dedicated himself to solitude and prayer so that he might know God’s will for him.īonaventura Berlinghieri: St. On his journey, however, he had a vision or dream that bade him return to Assisi and await the call to a new kind of knighthood. After his recovery, he attempted to join the papal forces under Count Gentile against the emperor Frederick II in Apulia in late 1205. In 1202 he took part in a war between Assisi and Perugia, was held prisoner for almost a year, and on his release fell seriously ill. His youth was most likely without serious moral lapses, and his exuberant love of life and a general spirit of worldliness made him a recognized leader of the young men of the town.
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He liked to speak French (although he never did so perfectly) and even attempted to sing in the language. Francis learned to read and write Latin at the school near the church of San Giorgio, acquired some knowledge of French language and literature, and was especially fond of the Provenƈal culture of the troubadours. On his return, however, Pietro changed the infant’s name to Francesco because of either his interest in France or his wife’s background. At Francis’s birth, his father was away on a business trip to France, and his mother had him baptized Giovanni. Early life and careerįrancis was the son of Pietro di Bernardone, a cloth merchant, and the lady Pica, who may have come from France. In 1979 Pope John Paul II recognized him as the patron saint of ecology.
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Catherine of Siena are the patron saints of Italy. The Poverello (“Poor Little Man”) is one of the most venerated religious figures in Roman Catholic history, and he and St. Francis’s devotion to the human Jesus and his desire to follow Jesus’ example reflected and reinforced important developments in medieval spirituality. His evangelical zeal, consecration to poverty, charity, and personal charisma drew thousands of followers. He was also a leader of the movement of evangelical poverty in the early 13th century. Clare (the Poor Clares), and the lay Third Order.
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Francis of Assisi, Italian San Francesco d’Assisi, baptized Giovanni, renamed Francesco, in full Francesco di Pietro di Bernardone, (born 1181/82, Assisi, duchy of Spoleto -died October 3, 1226, Assisi canonized Jfeast day October 4), founder of the Franciscan orders of the Friars Minor (Ordo Fratrum Minorum), the women’s Order of St. SpaceNext50 Britannica presents SpaceNext50, From the race to the Moon to space stewardship, we explore a wide range of subjects that feed our curiosity about space!.Learn about the major environmental problems facing our planet and what can be done about them! Saving Earth Britannica Presents Earth’s To-Do List for the 21st Century.
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