Who is Francis of Assisi? What makes him such an influence in our religious history? What are his accomplishments and insights that helped shape Christianity to what it is today? How did his actions to perform the gospel life change the view of Christianity? There are many factors that went into the life of Francis that made Christianity what it is today. The transition that Francis had to go through in order to become a man of Christ, to the attempt to convert the Sultan. Saint Francis relationships with his father, Saint Clare, and Bishop Guido, all of which have contributed to the successes of Francis throughout his life. Francis of Assisi was born to Pietro Bernardone, a wealthy man who was a cloth merchant and Pica a women who belonged to a noble family. Francis had many siblings. There is legend that Francis was born in a stable, in resemblance of the …show more content…
birth of Jesus. When Francis was baptized he was given the name Giovanni. Francis father felt the name was awkward so he called him Francesco. Francis was a troubled youth, but was looked at as a leader. People looked up to him as has would take pride in his appearance with his expensive clothes, gallant and courteous demeanor. Francis showed little interest in his fathers' business. Although, he had no problem spending his fathers' money. He would spend his money foolishly, but also he still showed sympathy to the poor and felt there was more that could be done to help them. Francis went to war with the Perugians and was captured and imprisoned for more than a year. Francis was then released, as Francis was going to go back into war and become a knight he had a dream that changed his direction completely (Robinson, 1909). Francis started on his journey to follow God's way. Standing in front of his father he stood up and told him that "Hitherto I have called you my father on earth; henceforth I desire to say only 'Our Father who art in Heaven'." As Francis disrobed and stood naked in front of everyone, he was looked at by Guido as a true savior. Guido presented him with a cloak, girdle, and a staff of pilgrimage. Francis returned to Assisi and continued to rebuild the chapels. He continued his work in charity especially in trying to convert the lepers to a pure way of life. He met St. Clare who at 18 and had ran away from the life of her father to follow St. Francis's way of poverty and seclusion. She felt his views were meaningful and would make a different in the world. Together they help build Franciscan Convent. St. Clare joined a group of nuns who later considered themselves as the Poor Clares. As Francis moved forward more and more people began to listen to his words and were captivated by what he was saying and could relate. He was all about peace and harmony. He chose to do this without weapons and fighting, but instead with his word. Francis decided that he would eventually go to the infidel camp where he was taken prisoner and brought before the sultan. The sultan seemed to be affected by the words of Francis. The sultan is known for converting others to Muslimism, and at the same time Francis was there to help convert the sultan to Christianity. Neither was accomplished, but rather they both listened to each other and accomplish peace with one another, without disgracing either's religion. Francis was given a horn as a gift from the sultan (Robinson, 1909). Francis was the well known for setting the ways of Christianity.
There are six practices that Francis helped put in place transformed Christianity for good. His practices are still preached today. Friendship, Francis was friends with everyone. He had the ability to accept those in poverty and the wealthy, but even more he was able to accept the purity of nature and animals. Francis preached that we all are equal and have something to offer one another. Poverty is another practice that Francis had spoke of. He felt by giving everything you have and living with nothing allowed you to become one with poverty. Spirituality was also something that no other leader had ever preached as an important time no matter who or what, faith is the ultimate connection to follow God. Francis cared for everything no matter what it was, human, animal even things such as rocks needed to be cared for. Finally Francis's last practice was death. Francis felt that death was his sister. Everyone would be encountered with it and it was something not to be feared, but be more looked at as peaceful (Sweeney,
2014). Francis is looked at as one of the most influential saints not only back in the 1200's, but also in today's church. He was kind and gentle to all that was around him. He transformed Christianity to something that does not look to war as a solution. He turns to peace and harmony and sees beauty in everyone whether they are Christian or not. He lived a life that was true to God and he preached that all along the way. Everyone and everything he encountered he found peace within it.
St. Francis of Assisi work, Admonitions, is a virtual instruction manual on how to live a Christian life. St. Francis was born into a merchant family and was headed to a secular career. He then experienced a deeply religious vision. He turned away from all worldly things, and began to concentrate on preaching in urban areas. The fact that he began to preach in urban areas and not live a cloistered life of a monk in a monastery is very important in itself. St. Francis took advantage of his lure and charismatic personality to preach to the people. St. Francis and his followers believe that not only do they have to read the Bible or pray but also they must believe in what they are reading and believe in what they praying.
scale. Saint Francis was born in Italy to a wealthy family of silk merchants almost thirty years after Saint
Every human has a experienced struggles that had drawn them down the wrong road, some express it physically and some mentally. St. Francis of Assisi has been accustomed to express his sorrow of emptiness in his heart a multitude of ways. Throughout his lifetime, he was faced with obstacles that he was not able to overcome himself. Saint Francis knew that he needed someone else to help and guide him past these obstacles. There has been three times where Saint Francis was in aid of help or wisdom from someone: during his early years, when he was captured in the act of war, and his attempts to rebuild the Christian church.
Saint Francis of Assis wasn’t a good young boy, but after the voice of God speaking to him, he changed, and his actions show. Saint Francis was a saint from Assis who was known to help the poor and animals. Saint Francis wasn’t a good boy in his youth, but after his calling from God, he changed for the good of all people. Many pray the Saint Francis, so that he may relieve their stress on the poor and sick.
These three men of God, Saint Dominic Guzman of the Dominican Order, Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Thomas Aquinas had and have a very significant value over the early years of Christianity. Without these great men and their ideas of spreading the word and living without worldly possessions, it is very possible that Christianity and Catholicism would be different than it is today. It is easy to say that these three men lead their lives by example. They stood by their moral beliefs and lived very humbly. It was a different time back than when these Saints roamed the countryside and preached and prayed. It is now all of importance of the Christian faith to live by and study this theology. As Christians during the thirteenth century all the way through to present time, Christianity is the hope of the world.
There are many great women who have influenced contemporary philosophy as we know it today, the most influential of these women being Saint Catherine of Siena. Catherine lived during the Medieval period of philosophy around the 14th century. She was a Catholic mystic who devoted her life to Christ, and during her service to the Catholic Church, her most famous work The Dialogue was created while in state of meditation. It is not surprising that St. Catherine of Siena has had a large impact on the current era of philosophy, along side many well known ancient philosophers such as: Plato, Aristotle, Epicurus, Plotinus, and Xenophanes. Frank Magil, author of Masterpieces of Christian literature in summary form, stresses her importance by saying,
Francis spent some time working as a cook in a monastery and as a labourer – used all his money on repairing churches. Words of Christ in St Matthew came to him:
Martin Luther is one of the most significant figures in Christianity. It is interesting to see that he was first a Christian and not intentionally raised to disagree with Christianity. This makes him extraordinary as he grew up as far as to be a philosopher and priest in the faith but it also makes him special as he sees problems in the Church from the inside of the Church rather than out. Growing up in an abusive and controlling household, Martin Luther developed a feeling of resentment in Christianity because it was forced on him by his family. Martin Luther’s childhood development is a huge factor on some of his greatest works including the rReformation and construction of the 95 theses stemming from his view of Christianity, and his translation
The influence and rhetoric Augustine had as a great theologian and philosopher has helped shape and build Western Christianity and Theology. He is perceived by many individuals to be as crucially important, following that of St. Paul, in founding Western Christianity, playing a very impactful role in Roman Catholic, as well as, Protestant religions. The ability augustine had to express his philosophy through his works and his scholarly achievement is bewildering to comprehend, even in today's modern age. It is believed Augustine wrote upwards of 300 pages per book every year, for approximately forty years. Countless volumes Augustine manifested are still accessible today but there are some of them which have never been translated into English.
Known to be granted the second stigmata, Francis de Assisi was a well-known man that “captured the imagination of his contemporaries by presenting to them poverty, chastity, and obedience with purity and strength of a radical testimony (SCTJM).” His evangelical life was spent preaching to everyone about the love of God. With his background and teachings, Francis left the respectably wealthy society he lived in to one that renounced riches for simplicity and love for God.
Francis of Assisi was born in 1182 in Italy, into a rich family due to his father’s wealth from being a cloth merchant, which he wanted Francis to do as well. Francis, being a natural born leader, was loved by everyone and lived a very happy life as a child. Francis was attracted to parties as he grew up, and reflecting back on that time he even stated “I lived in sin”. After 25 years of his life he finally realized his true vocation of being a man of God, and started to pray longer and more often, as well as repenting his sins. Francis recalled his test from God, where he was face to face with a leper, despite their ugly appearance and smell, he kissed their hand, filling himself with joy. Soon Francis was left with nothing, no family, no money, no home, but remained happy as he knew he had God. As he preached, people wanted to follow his way of life by sleeping in the forest, eating garbage and loving God.
The chapter talks about the Francis’ associates in Assisi. It is affirmed that Francis’ was not alone in his journey, and his companions included Clare. The political and social
St. John Paul also greatly changed the world’s view of the Catholic church. He further explained through many of his papal encyclicals, books, and teachings the true meaning behind the Catholic faith. Realigning the view that much of society held. His message was also one of universal love and acceptance. Not only did he proclaim such profound messages, he lived them, and spread them himself. St. John Paul is the most traveled Pope within history; a
He walked for three years, and had doors slammed in his face and rocks thrown at him. When he walked through the winter snow, his feet bled from the frostbite. No one would even open their doors for him, and he had no way to deliver his message. He soon came up with the idea of slipping pamphlets under people’s doors. These pamphlets would help people to remember the genuine importance of the Catholic faith. Even after all these endeavors, none of the adults wanted to talk to Francis, so he reached out to the children. When the parents saw how gentle and kind he was with their children, they started communicating with him. It is believed that by the time Francis came home, he had brought 40,000 of 60,000 Calvinists back to the Catholic church. In 1602, he was consecrated Bishop of Geneva. 2 years later, he took a big step on his journey to become a saint. While he was in the town of Dijon, he noticed a woman listening intently to his sermon. He recalled seeing this woman in a dream. Her name was Jane de Chantal, and she was a devoted Catholic like Francis. Both of these people were saint-like on their own, but it wasn’t until they became friends that they became
The year is 1189 and Francis Bernardone is a young mischievous boy of only seven years. As the years progress however, he begins to become aware of the suffering around him and he decides that it is time to answer God’s call to service. In this enthralling biography on the coming to be of Saint Francis of Assisi, Francis and Clare Saints of Assisi, by Helen Walker Homan, Francis grows from a rowdy trouble maker, into one of the holiest people known to man. Throughout the story he grows greatly in virtue. Francis strays from his careless life of a rich merchant’s son to a life of giving to others, and in the process exhibits outstanding generosity, courage, and faith.