St Francis of Assisi

St Francis Of Assisi

Hi,my name is Francis.I live in Assisi.I grew up with everything since my family was rich.When I was a young man I wanted to join the army and become a noble knight so my dad(Peter Bernardone) bought me a gold suit.However I heard of a man who had no suit of armour so I gave mine to him.When I was 20 I went out to war to the city of Perugia.I was taken prisoner because of my fine clothes.While I was in prison I thought about what I had done in my life.I became kinder to my friends in prison.I still wanted to become a knight so I set out to join the popes army.When I arrived I had a strange dream.A voice was saying “Follow the real Lord and not a servant”.I knew it was Jesus calling me.When I arrived in Assisi I met a leper.I got of my horse and hugged and kissed the leper.I started going to church every day.One day I heard a voice calling from the cross saying”Francis can’t you see that my house is falling down.Go and rebuild it.”I thought Jesus meant the church that I prayed in every day so I fixed and rebuilt it.Later I understood that Jesus had not meant that church but to renew the whole church of poverty and love.My father did not like this so I took of all my clothes only leaving a poor cloth and put that on the ground along with my money.I then said”From today I want to follow Christ and my only father will be God ,the father in heaven”.I encouraged people to change their lives and to live in poverty.I had some followers whom were Bernard,Peter and Leo and many others.One woman wanted to follow my example to.Her name was Claire and in 1212 she joined me.She soon had a group also who were called the “Poor Claires”.I died on October 3 ,1226.That is my story.