I also really enjoyed this class very much. As stated in my Church History I reflection; History is my favorite subject, and if you were to throw the word Church in there; then we really got something.
This class is part two of a two part course. In this class we followed the story of the church through its second 1,000 years. There was a lot of stuff to address to say the least.
The following assignment is my Research Paper. We were told to to write on the topic of a medieval or Renaissance saint. I have chosen Saint Francis of Assisi (1182-1226AD). I set out to provide the reader with a summary of his life and contributions that affected the Church during the Middle Ages.
This class is part two of a two part course. In this class we followed the story of the church through its second 1,000 years. There was a lot of stuff to address to say the least.
The following assignment is my Research Paper. We were told to to write on the topic of a medieval or Renaissance saint. I have chosen Saint Francis of Assisi (1182-1226AD). I set out to provide the reader with a summary of his life and contributions that affected the Church during the Middle Ages.
SAINT FRANCIS
The story and history of Saint Francis of Assisi is very interesting to say the least. Although the patron Saint of animals and birds lived a relatively short life; he did however, live a very potent life. In Saint Francis’ forty-four years on this earth he was known for a multitude of things; being young an rebellious, a drinker, a fornicator, a known sinner, a poet, a solider, a prisoner of war, a pauper, a monk, husband to “Lady Poverty,” friend of the leper, the first ever recorded recipient of the stigmata of Christ, inventor of the first ever manger scene reenactment, and most of all a devout follower of Christ.
Francis was born in Italy, in the year 1181/1182 AD. He was the son of a rather well to do merchant of cloth who also owned farmland around Assisi. It is not unreasonable to assume that the wealth of Francis’ family could have contributed to young Francis’ rebellious lifestyle.
The website entitled Biography.com records that “Francis wanted for nothing during his youth; he was spoiled, indulging himself with fine food, booze and women, and left school at the age of 14. By this time, he had become renown as a teenage tearaway who frequently drank, partied and broke the city curfew. He was also known for his charm and for being dandy in his dress. In these rustic surroundings, Francis of Assisi learned the skills of archery, wrestling and horsemanship. He was expected to follow his father into the family textile business, but was bored by the prospect of life in the cloth trade. Instead of planning a future as a merchant, he began daydreaming of a future as a knight; knights were Medieval action heroes, and if Francis had any ambition, it was to be a war hero like them. It wouldn't be long before the opportunity for warfare beckoned.” (The Biography Channel website. 2014)
With youthful dreams of Knighthood in his head by the year 1202 AD, war broke between Perugia and Assisi, and Francis jumped at the chance to go. Francis’ unit came under heavy attack and they were forced to retreat, however not before the death of many, and the imprisonment of others. Francis’ was one of those captured, and thereby he was held for ransom. It would be one year before Francis’ ransom was negotiated by his father and Francis would again be free. In the year 1203 AD Francis was released and returned home, however; by this time he had become sick both physically and mentally. This is unfortunately one of the many causalities of war. However, this time in prison, and Francis’ sickness were about to become the avenues to Salvation for Francis.
The story of Francis conversion to Christianity is captured by Wikipedia the free online encyclopedia. Wikipedia writes “According to the hagiographic legend, thereafter he began to avoid the sports and the feasts of his former companions. In response, they asked him laughingly whether he was thinking of marrying, to which he answered, "yes, a fairer bride than any of you have ever seen," meaning his "Lady Poverty". He spent much time in lonely places, asking God for enlightenment. By degrees he took to nursing lepers, the most repulsive victims in the lazar houses near Assisi. After a pilgrimage to Rome, where he joined the poor in begging at the doors of the churches, he said he had a mystical vision of Jesus Christ in the country chapel of San Damiano, just outside of Assisi, in which the Icon of Christ Crucified said to him, "Francis, Francis, go and repair My house which, as you can see, is falling into ruins." He took this to mean the ruined church in which he was presently praying, and so he sold some cloth from his father's store to assist the priest there for this purpose. His father, Pietro, highly indignant, attempted to change his mind, first with threats and then with beatings. In the midst of legal proceedings before the Bishop of Assisi, Francis renounced his father and his patrimony, laying aside even the garments he had received from him in front of the public. For the next couple of months he lived as a beggar in the region of Assisi. Returning to the countryside around the town for two years, he embraced the life of a penitent, during which he restored several ruined chapels in the countryside around Assisi, among them the Porziuncola, the little chapel of St. Mary of the Angels just outside the town, which later became his favorite abode” (Wikipedia. 2014).
In the year 1209 AD; after hearing a sermon on Matthew 10:9 (preach the Gospel and do not worry about processions) , Francis led his followers to Rome to seek permission from Pope Innocent III to found a new religious Order. Upon permission, Francis committed himself to a life of poverty and caring for others. Jesse Hurlbut writes “The Franciscans were founded in 1209 by St. Francis of Assisi, one of the holiest, most devoted, and most lovable of men. From Italy they spread rapidly over all of Europe and became the most numerous of all the orders. It is said that in the Black Death, the pestilence which swept through Europe in the fourteenth century, more than 124,000 of the Franciscan monks perished while ministering to the dying and the dead. From the color of their habit they became known as the Grey Friars” (Hurlbut. 1970).
The future Saint went onto accomplish many other great feats besides his personal holiness, and the establishment of a Franciscan order. Francis went onto preach and teach in up to five villages a day, He would even preach to animals and birds, he cared for the lepers in whom no others would touch, he visited the Sultan of Egypt and presented the Gospel to him; the Sultan then gave Francis permission to preach in the Holy Land (to this day The Franciscan Order is present in the Holy Land and has been since 1217 AD), Frances is also recorded to be the first person to reenact the nativity scene at Christmas time.
One other special point of interest in the life of Saint Francis is that he is recorded to be the first recipient of the stigmata of Christ. Once again the website entitled Biography.com records that “In 1224, 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—making Francis the first person to receive the holy wounds of the stigmata. (According to scripture, Francis's wounds never left him for the rest of his life; some believe that his wounds were actually symptoms of leprosy, not proof of a miracle.)” (The Biography Channel website. 2014)
Throughout the years since the imprisonment of Francis, his physical sickness became worse. This could have also been due to his traveling, wilderness retreats, and lack of nutrition, and contact with the leprous. Regardless of the cause, on October 3, 1226, at the age of 44, in Assisi, Italy, Francis of Assisi died. Two short years later he was canonized as a saint, on July 16, 1228, by Pope Gregory IX.
Since his death Francis has become the patron Saint of animals and birds, because of the respect he gave to all of God’s creatures. In addition, Saint Francis can still be found today in the arts, and Catholic Festivals. The Website entitled: Medieval-life-and-times. Com records that “It is helpful to be able to recognize Saint Francis of Assisi in paintings, stained glass windows, illuminated manuscripts, architecture and other forms of Christian art. The artistic representations reflect the life or death of saints, or an aspect of life with which the person is most closely associated. Saint Francis of Assisi is represented in Christian Art with a lamb and a lily, the emblems of meekness and purity, and the stigmata, or five wounds of the crucified Christ.” Medieval-life-and-times. Com goes onto further state that “The Feast Day of Saint Francis of Assisi is October 4th. The origin of Feast Days: most saints have specially designated feast days and are associated with a specific day of the year and these are referred to as the saint's feast day. The feast days first arose from the very early Christian custom of the annual commemoration of martyrs on the dates of their deaths at the same time celebrating their birth into heaven.” (Medieval-life-and-times website. 2014)
In death and in life Saint Francis actions are a reminder to all Christians that we must be willing to forsake all, and follow Christ. In a day and time when church corruption stood at an all-time high; Saint Frances bent a knee to an all-time low and presented himself naked before the cross, and at the feet of Jesus. One should hope and aspire to live a life of service for their King; as that of Saint Francis of Assisi.
References
Works Cited
1. St. Francis of Assisi. (2014). The Biography Channel website. Retrieved 12:41, Feb 19, 2014, from http://www.biography.com/people/st-francis-of-assisi-21152679.
2. Francis of Assisi. (2014). Wikipedia the free online encyclopedia website. Retrieved 1:22, Feb 19, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Francis_of_Assisi.
3. Hurlbut, Jesse. L. (1970). The Story Of The Christian Church. Chapter 16: The Medieval Church.
4. St. Francis of Assisi. (2014). The Biography Channel website. Retrieved 01:21, Feb 19, 2014, from http://www.biography.com/people/st-francis-of-assisi-21152679.
5. Saint Francis of Assisi. (2014). Medieval-life-and-times website. Retrieved 02:05, Feb 19, 2014, from http://www.catholic-saints.info/patron-saints/saint-francis-of-assisi.htm.
The story and history of Saint Francis of Assisi is very interesting to say the least. Although the patron Saint of animals and birds lived a relatively short life; he did however, live a very potent life. In Saint Francis’ forty-four years on this earth he was known for a multitude of things; being young an rebellious, a drinker, a fornicator, a known sinner, a poet, a solider, a prisoner of war, a pauper, a monk, husband to “Lady Poverty,” friend of the leper, the first ever recorded recipient of the stigmata of Christ, inventor of the first ever manger scene reenactment, and most of all a devout follower of Christ.
Francis was born in Italy, in the year 1181/1182 AD. He was the son of a rather well to do merchant of cloth who also owned farmland around Assisi. It is not unreasonable to assume that the wealth of Francis’ family could have contributed to young Francis’ rebellious lifestyle.
The website entitled Biography.com records that “Francis wanted for nothing during his youth; he was spoiled, indulging himself with fine food, booze and women, and left school at the age of 14. By this time, he had become renown as a teenage tearaway who frequently drank, partied and broke the city curfew. He was also known for his charm and for being dandy in his dress. In these rustic surroundings, Francis of Assisi learned the skills of archery, wrestling and horsemanship. He was expected to follow his father into the family textile business, but was bored by the prospect of life in the cloth trade. Instead of planning a future as a merchant, he began daydreaming of a future as a knight; knights were Medieval action heroes, and if Francis had any ambition, it was to be a war hero like them. It wouldn't be long before the opportunity for warfare beckoned.” (The Biography Channel website. 2014)
With youthful dreams of Knighthood in his head by the year 1202 AD, war broke between Perugia and Assisi, and Francis jumped at the chance to go. Francis’ unit came under heavy attack and they were forced to retreat, however not before the death of many, and the imprisonment of others. Francis’ was one of those captured, and thereby he was held for ransom. It would be one year before Francis’ ransom was negotiated by his father and Francis would again be free. In the year 1203 AD Francis was released and returned home, however; by this time he had become sick both physically and mentally. This is unfortunately one of the many causalities of war. However, this time in prison, and Francis’ sickness were about to become the avenues to Salvation for Francis.
The story of Francis conversion to Christianity is captured by Wikipedia the free online encyclopedia. Wikipedia writes “According to the hagiographic legend, thereafter he began to avoid the sports and the feasts of his former companions. In response, they asked him laughingly whether he was thinking of marrying, to which he answered, "yes, a fairer bride than any of you have ever seen," meaning his "Lady Poverty". He spent much time in lonely places, asking God for enlightenment. By degrees he took to nursing lepers, the most repulsive victims in the lazar houses near Assisi. After a pilgrimage to Rome, where he joined the poor in begging at the doors of the churches, he said he had a mystical vision of Jesus Christ in the country chapel of San Damiano, just outside of Assisi, in which the Icon of Christ Crucified said to him, "Francis, Francis, go and repair My house which, as you can see, is falling into ruins." He took this to mean the ruined church in which he was presently praying, and so he sold some cloth from his father's store to assist the priest there for this purpose. His father, Pietro, highly indignant, attempted to change his mind, first with threats and then with beatings. In the midst of legal proceedings before the Bishop of Assisi, Francis renounced his father and his patrimony, laying aside even the garments he had received from him in front of the public. For the next couple of months he lived as a beggar in the region of Assisi. Returning to the countryside around the town for two years, he embraced the life of a penitent, during which he restored several ruined chapels in the countryside around Assisi, among them the Porziuncola, the little chapel of St. Mary of the Angels just outside the town, which later became his favorite abode” (Wikipedia. 2014).
In the year 1209 AD; after hearing a sermon on Matthew 10:9 (preach the Gospel and do not worry about processions) , Francis led his followers to Rome to seek permission from Pope Innocent III to found a new religious Order. Upon permission, Francis committed himself to a life of poverty and caring for others. Jesse Hurlbut writes “The Franciscans were founded in 1209 by St. Francis of Assisi, one of the holiest, most devoted, and most lovable of men. From Italy they spread rapidly over all of Europe and became the most numerous of all the orders. It is said that in the Black Death, the pestilence which swept through Europe in the fourteenth century, more than 124,000 of the Franciscan monks perished while ministering to the dying and the dead. From the color of their habit they became known as the Grey Friars” (Hurlbut. 1970).
The future Saint went onto accomplish many other great feats besides his personal holiness, and the establishment of a Franciscan order. Francis went onto preach and teach in up to five villages a day, He would even preach to animals and birds, he cared for the lepers in whom no others would touch, he visited the Sultan of Egypt and presented the Gospel to him; the Sultan then gave Francis permission to preach in the Holy Land (to this day The Franciscan Order is present in the Holy Land and has been since 1217 AD), Frances is also recorded to be the first person to reenact the nativity scene at Christmas time.
One other special point of interest in the life of Saint Francis is that he is recorded to be the first recipient of the stigmata of Christ. Once again the website entitled Biography.com records that “In 1224, 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—making Francis the first person to receive the holy wounds of the stigmata. (According to scripture, Francis's wounds never left him for the rest of his life; some believe that his wounds were actually symptoms of leprosy, not proof of a miracle.)” (The Biography Channel website. 2014)
Throughout the years since the imprisonment of Francis, his physical sickness became worse. This could have also been due to his traveling, wilderness retreats, and lack of nutrition, and contact with the leprous. Regardless of the cause, on October 3, 1226, at the age of 44, in Assisi, Italy, Francis of Assisi died. Two short years later he was canonized as a saint, on July 16, 1228, by Pope Gregory IX.
Since his death Francis has become the patron Saint of animals and birds, because of the respect he gave to all of God’s creatures. In addition, Saint Francis can still be found today in the arts, and Catholic Festivals. The Website entitled: Medieval-life-and-times. Com records that “It is helpful to be able to recognize Saint Francis of Assisi in paintings, stained glass windows, illuminated manuscripts, architecture and other forms of Christian art. The artistic representations reflect the life or death of saints, or an aspect of life with which the person is most closely associated. Saint Francis of Assisi is represented in Christian Art with a lamb and a lily, the emblems of meekness and purity, and the stigmata, or five wounds of the crucified Christ.” Medieval-life-and-times. Com goes onto further state that “The Feast Day of Saint Francis of Assisi is October 4th. The origin of Feast Days: most saints have specially designated feast days and are associated with a specific day of the year and these are referred to as the saint's feast day. The feast days first arose from the very early Christian custom of the annual commemoration of martyrs on the dates of their deaths at the same time celebrating their birth into heaven.” (Medieval-life-and-times website. 2014)
In death and in life Saint Francis actions are a reminder to all Christians that we must be willing to forsake all, and follow Christ. In a day and time when church corruption stood at an all-time high; Saint Frances bent a knee to an all-time low and presented himself naked before the cross, and at the feet of Jesus. One should hope and aspire to live a life of service for their King; as that of Saint Francis of Assisi.
References
Works Cited
1. St. Francis of Assisi. (2014). The Biography Channel website. Retrieved 12:41, Feb 19, 2014, from http://www.biography.com/people/st-francis-of-assisi-21152679.
2. Francis of Assisi. (2014). Wikipedia the free online encyclopedia website. Retrieved 1:22, Feb 19, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Francis_of_Assisi.
3. Hurlbut, Jesse. L. (1970). The Story Of The Christian Church. Chapter 16: The Medieval Church.
4. St. Francis of Assisi. (2014). The Biography Channel website. Retrieved 01:21, Feb 19, 2014, from http://www.biography.com/people/st-francis-of-assisi-21152679.
5. Saint Francis of Assisi. (2014). Medieval-life-and-times website. Retrieved 02:05, Feb 19, 2014, from http://www.catholic-saints.info/patron-saints/saint-francis-of-assisi.htm.