Biography of St. Francis of Assisi

Poverty and love for nature

26 June 1182
3 October 1226
Saint Francis of Assisi was born in Assisi, 1181 1182 between December and September. Some indicate how probable date of birth on 26 July 1182. His father, Pietro Bernardone of Malloy, is a rich cloth merchant and spices, while her mother, Pica Bourlemont, is of noble extraction. Legend has it that Francis is conceived during a trip to the Holy Land of the pair, now in there over the years. Baptized by his mother changed his name to Francis John, will see the return of his father, absent for a business trip in France. He studied Latin and the vernacular, music and poetry and his father taught him French and Provençal with intent to start it to trade.
Teenager finds himself working behind the counter of his father's workshop. At twenty he participates in the war that sees contrasted the towns of Assisi and Perugia. The army that fights Francis was defeated and he remains captive for a year. The captivity is long and difficult, and returned home seriously ill. Once recovered thanks to maternal care, part again in the wake of Gualtiero da Brienne, southward. But along the way has the first appearance, which leads him to abandon his life as a soldier and back to Assisi. His conversion began in 1205.
Tell you about various episodes from this period: the one where, in 1206, swap their clothes with a beggar romano and begins to beg in front of Saint Peter's Basilica, the famous encounter with the leper on the plain in front of Assisi. Most ignorant friends in him the merry old time raids leave companion, and the father who begins to understand how unfounded the aspirations he has against him, comes into direct conflict with him. Francis meditates in the countryside around Assisi and one day, while praying in the Church of San Damiano, the crucifix comes alive to ask him to repair the dilapidated Church. To comply with the divine request, upload a cloth made in his father's horse and sells them.
Then realizing that the money is not enough, sells even on horseback. After this episode the clash with his father is getting harder, until Peter decided to disinherit him. But Francis in the public square of Assisi renounces paternal heritage: is the 12 April 1207. By now abandons Assisi and heads in Gubbio, where, just outside the walls, facing the terrible Wolf that throws terror among the inhabitants of the city. Unable to tame the ferocious animal, simply talking to him. Takes place so what is considered his first miracle. Francis sew a shirt of coarse linen, tied at the waist by a cord with three knots, wearing sandals and remains in the territories of Gubbio until the end of 1207.
He always carries with him a bag of tools from Mason, with whom he restored the Church of San Damiano and the Porziuncola of Santa Maria degli Angeli, who becomes his home. This is the period in which conceives the first sketches of what would later become the Franciscan rule. The reading of the Gospel of Matthew, chapter X, inspires him to get him to take it literally. Inspirational step says: "you don't get gold silver or money to your pockets, not a travel bag, neither two coats, neither shoes nor a stick; Since the worker is entitled to its sustenance!". The first official disciple of Francis is Bernardo da Quintavalle, magistrate, followed by Pietro Cattani, Canon and doctor of law. In these first two disciples come together: Egidio, farmer, Sabatino, Mally, Philip Sylvester, John Longo, priest of the Chapel, barbarous and Bernardo Vigilante and Angelo Tancredi. In all the followers of Francis are twelve, just like the Apostles of Jesus. Elect in their convent before the Porziuncola and then the Hovel to Rivotorto.
The Franciscan order was officially founded in July 1210, thanks to Pope Innocent III. The main rule of the Franciscan order is the absolute poverty: the friars may not own anything. Everything they need, including refuge, must be the result of donation. To provide to the Franciscans a roof over their heads there think the Benedictines who, in Exchange for a basket of fish per year, granting them the Porziuncola in perpetual use. Francis of Assisi in 1213 part to travel to mission before in Palestine, then in Egypt, where he met the Sultan Melek el-Kamel, and finally in Morocco. One of his journeys led him to the shrine of Santiago de Compostela in Spain, but is forced to return back to the worsening of his health. In 1223 he devoted himself to rewrite the rule enforcement, hiring through the fall. Unfortunately Brother Leo and brother Bonifazio forgive, but Francis gets back willingly. Will Pope Honorius III to recognize the Franciscan rule as law for the Holy Church.
In December 1223 Francesco also organises the first Nativity in a cave, which is now considered the first Nativity scene in history. The following year the miracle of water flowing from a rock and receives the stigmata. Despite the tiredness and physical suffering, he also composes the famous "song of songs", which contributes to enshrine it in the collective imagination as the Friar who preaches to the birds. Meanwhile health deteriorates more and more: it is even almost blind. Francis of Assisi died at his Porziuncola chapel on 3 October 1226 just 44 years. On 16 July 1228 is declared a Saint by Pope Gregory IX.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.