St. Francis of Assisi

The life of a Catholic saint

Born in Italy in 1181, Saint Francis of Assisi had begun his life as a confirmed sinner, he was known for drinking and partying in his youth. His father was a wealthy cloth merchant and his mother a beautiful Frenchwoman, Francis had a luxurious life in his youth, being spoiled and indulging in food, wine, and wild celebrations. Leaving school at age 14, Francis was a rebellious teenager who constantly drank and partied, and was known for being vain.

When the war between Assisi and Perugia broke out in 1202, Francis eagerly took part in the battle. With no combat experience, it didn’t take long before Francis was captured and spent a year in prison awaiting his father to send payment. During this time Francis began to have visions from God. After the war, Francis was riding his horse in the countryside when he saw a leper, but instead of running off, he kissed him, describing the encounter as a feeling of sweetness in his mouth, causing him to have a sense of freedom and his past life had lost all its appeal. Francis left his life of luxury and became a devout Christian, spreading his faith worldwide.

In his early 20’s, Francis began to turn his focus toward God. He had spent most of his life in churches around Assisi, looking for answers, and helping nurse lepers. As he was praying at the crucifix at the church of San Damiano, Francis heard the voice of Jesus who told him to rebuild the Christian church and to transform his life to live in poverty. Francis obeyed his…