St. Francis Of Assisi Essays (1365 words) - Franciscan Spirituality

St. Francis Of Assisi Page 1 History Paper Spring Term 2000 Prof. Fabrizio St. Francis of Assisi St. Francis is considered a legendary hero and a popular saint. He was born in 1181, the middle of a time of great increases and expansions in the medieval West, in Assisi, the place where this was strongest. His parents were Pietro and Pica Bernardone. His father was a wealthy silk merchant. St. Francis spent his childhood in extravagant living and pleasure-seeking. He was always in trouble and ran around Assisi with his friends, eating, drinking, and having a good time. He went to war to fight for Assisi against Perugia and was taken prisoner in 1202. Eventually he was released and once again, returned to his old carefree ways. He became seriously ill for a while but then returned to the wars in 1205. He experienced a vision of Christ at Spoleto which was then followed by another vision while he returned to Assisi. One vision was of Christ telling him, ?Go and rebuild my church. It is falling down.? These visions are what changed his lifestyle forever. Despite his wealthy, comfortable life, St. Francis chose a life of poverty. He wore rags and wooden shoes on his bare feet. His father became furious at this and threatened to disown him. Francis returned his father's money and clothes that he had taken to help rebuild the church and severed relations with his father. St. Francis rebuilt San Damiano with money begged from his townsmen. He went on a pilgrimage to Rome in 1206, identifying himself with the poor and helping to take care of those who suffered from ?leprosy'. For two or three years he lived alone, Page 2 History 1010 wandering. Eventually, seven disciples joined him. Some of them were older, some middle-aged, but they lived together as a community at the Portiuncula in Assisi, near a leper colony. Here, he devoted himself completely to his life's work of poverty and preaching. St. Francis and the other preachers stood out from the other Italian poor preachers of the time because they had respect for, and showed obedience to the Church authorities and their doctrinal orthodoxy. They lived in simple huts and their churches were small. They slept on the ground and had no tables or chairs, as well as very few books. In 1209, St. Francis founded the order of Friars Minor, which took the people of that time by surprise because by doing this, Francis presented poverty, chastity, and obedience in terms of troubadours and courts of love. After this, St. Francis gained many followers. Francis wished to preach to more people from farther around. In 1212 he went eastward, but was driven on to the Dalmatian coast. In 1214 he left once again, this time for Morocco through Spain, but, he became very sick and was forced to come back home. In 1219, he sailed from Ancona with twelve other friars, heading for Acre and Damietta. Francis managed to pass through enemy lines and meet with the Sultan who was very impressed but did not want to convert. St. Francis would not take all the rich presents he was given and he went back to the Christian armies. In 1221, Francis made a rule, which was approved in 1223 as the Regula Bullata. It canalized the Franciscan Order into the Church. Francis had already made a rule Page 3 History 1010 previous to the Regula Bullata, called the Regula Prima, in 1210. The Regula Prima began with a promise of obedience and reverence to Pope Innocent III and his successors. Most of it deals with the Gospels, which refer to renunciation and to the conditions of life of the followers of Christ. Also, it says that ?all brothers shall be catholic and live and speak as catholics. If any shall err from the catholic faith and life either by word or deed and shall not mend his way, let him be expelled from the brotherhood.' In 1212, Francis was joined by St. Clare who helped to establish the Franciscan nuns. St. Francis was known to have a close bond or relationship with animals. Stories are told about him preaching to the birds, telling them that God loves them and that they should praise Him for everything they have been given, such as wings to fly freely through the sky. There is also another favorite