Among the prisoners taken by Perugia was a certain years-old Giovanni di Bernardone, called Francesco. After the captivity in Perugia, Francesco decided to make a reputation for knighthood participating in the crusade of Walter de Brienne, but an illness forced him to renounce already at Spoleto. In the meantime, in Assisi in was christened the future emperor Frederick II, three years after his birth on the market square of Jesi near Ancona.
Francesco decided to change his life, renouncing to the riches and the eases of his family fortune and praying at San Damiano had the vision which ordered him to restore the Church In , Francesco who had in the meantime received as a gift from the Benedictines the chapel of S.
Maria degli Angeli, called as well the Porziuncola, founded his order of the Grey-Friars. Francis' embrace of Christ-like poverty was a radical notion at the time. The Christian church was tremendously rich, much like the people heading it, which concerned Francis and many others, who felt that the long-held apostolic ideals had eroded. Francis set out on a mission to restore Jesus Christ's own, original values to the now-decadent church.
With his incredible charisma, he drew thousands of followers to him. They listened to Francis' sermons and joined in his way of life; his followers became known as Franciscan friars. Continuously pushing himself in the quest for spiritual perfection, Francis was soon preaching in up to five villages per day, teaching a new kind of emotional and personal Christian religion that everyday people could understand.
He even went so far as to preach to animals, which garnered criticism from some and earned him the nickname "God's fool. In Francis reportedly received a vision that left him with the stigmata of Christ — marks resembling the wounds Jesus Christ suffered when he was crucified, through his hands and the gaping lance wound in his side. This made Francis the first person to receive the holy wounds of the stigmata. They would remain visible for the rest of his life. Because of his earlier work treating lepers, some believe that the wounds were actually symptoms of leprosy.
Today, Saint Francis of Assisi is the patron saint for ecologists — a title honoring his boundless love for animals and nature.
As Francis approached his death, many predicted that he was a saint in the making. When his health began to decline more rapidly, Francis went home.
Knights were sent from Assisi to guard him and to make sure that no one from neighboring towns would carry him off the body of a saint was viewed, at the time, as an extremely valuable relic that would bring, among many things, glory to the town where it rested. Francis of Assisi died on October 3, , at the age of 44, in Assisi, Italy. Today, Francis has a lasting resonance with millions of followers across the globe.
He was canonized as a saint just two years after his death, on July 16, , by his former protector, Pope Gregory IX. We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us! Subscribe to the Biography newsletter to receive stories about the people who shaped our world and the stories that shaped their lives. Francis received his miraculous calling in and where St.
Clare died in ; it is a lovely oratory, simple and peaceful, less crowded than the other Franciscan sites but nevertheless an important stop on the pilgrimage to Assisi. The Carceri Hermitage is perhaps the most fascinating place of Assisi and rises on the green slopes of Monte Subasio, about 3,5 km away from the holy town centre; formerly a small oratory, it is well worth visiting for its Medieval architecture but makes also a good departure point for magic walks in the woods.
In , St. Francis used to come here to pray alone in a cave; in the centuries that followed, many other buildings were added, forming the striking complex we can all admire today. Every stone of Assisi emanates a bright aura, it is a very special place where you can really perceive a strong energy all around you; besides being the undisputed home of loving St. Clare, it is also rich in Roman ruins and dominated by a massive medieval fortress. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website, to personalize ads, analyze our traffic and provide social media features.
He even caught the interest of the sultan who received him with honor in the Holy Land. The life of Francis was a continuous expression of praise for the Creator. He died the evening of 3 October He was canonized a saint two years later.
The spirit of Francis continues to inspire so many in following Christ, in building dialogue among all in truth and charity, and in safeguarding creation. A powerful encounter and a question - do you serve the servant or serve the Master?
San Damiano.
0コメント