Francis of Assisi lived about eight hundred years ago. He was born in the city of Assisi, Italy, in 1182. He was the son of Piero of Bernadone, who was a wealthy merchant. He received a education and seemed to follow his father's footsteps as a wealthy merchant. In 1201 he took part in an attack on Perugia, was taken hostage, and remained a captive there for a year. After his release, Francis joined the army but couldn't complete his time because he got sick. This period of time would change his life forever. During his sickness, Francis would spend hours meditating on the Lord in an old church, and he felt God drawing near to him. Some people come to Jesus with a memorable experience, but others come to Christ through a process. Francis' conversion wasn't an overnight experience, but it was definitely real. Francis was famous for his love of all creation. He called for simplicity of life, poverty, and humility before God. He worked to care for the poor. Thousands were drawn to his sincerity, piety, and joy. In all his actions, Francis sought to follow fully and literally the way of life demonstrated by Christ in the Gospels. He died in 1226, at the age of 44. Dorothy Day, founder of the Catholic Worker movement, was born in Brooklyn, New York, November 8, 1897. After surviving the San Francisco earthquake in 1906, the Day family moved into a house in Chicago. It was a big step down in the world because John Day was out of work. Day's understanding of the shame people feel when they fail in their efforts dated from this time. Day lived long enough to see her achievements honored. In 1967, when she made her last visit to Rome to take part in the Congress of the Laity, she found she was one of two Americans invited to receive Communion from the hands of Pope Paul VI.
If Dorothy Day is ever canonized, the record of who she was, what she was like and what she did is too complete and accessible for her to be hidden. She will be the patron saint not only of the homeless and those who try to care for them but also of people who lose their temper. One of the miracles of Dorothy's life is that she remained part of a conflict-torn community for nearly a half a century. Still more remarkable, she remained a person of hope and gratitude to the end. Many voices are in support of the canonization process as well, citing Dorothy Day's life as an example that has inspired them to prayer and action for social justice. Her faithfulness to the Gospel, living the "preferential option for the poor" and showing that a lay person can achieve heroic virtue are oft...
... of saint because he had the strongest desire to do good for others. He exemplified great virtue and because of this a community was able to move forward.
“It was a different place when Damien came there and made his great renunciation, and slept that first night under a tree amidst his rotting brethren: alone with pestilence; and looking forward (with what courage, with what pitiful sinkings of dread, God only knows) to a lifetime of dressing sores and stumps.” (Bunson, 250)
Francis of Assisi is one of the most influential personalities in the entire world. In the book ‘Francis of Assisi: Performing the Gospel Life,’ Cunningham recounts the life of this humble monk who lived in the medieval times, and shaped the Christian life, which spread in Western culture throughout the rest of history. I believe Cunningham accurately accounts for the life of Francis of Assisi, and in doing so; he provides a trajectory of the Christian faith from its early and historical proponents through its fusion with western culture, and its subsequent spread throughout the world.
While learning of Dorothy's day life, we can truly see what a virtuous life looks like. Day grew up very little and played a major role in the social justice movement and was punished because of her part in it. Day had to overcome these struggles and because of this, she became a virtuous person. Day dedicated her life to helping the homeless and gave everything she had to people who had less than her. She had created a house of hospitality, that welcomed everyone, including drug addicts and prostitutes. Day didn’t ask for anything in return, she enjoyed helping these people. In the text she writes, “We appealed in our last issue for bed, and eight bed came. Our House of Hospitality for unemployed women is furnished now, and the surplus hat comes in we will gives to unemployed people in the neighborhood” (Day 60). Day was in the process of creating this one for women, it didn't matter how much she had, all she cared about was helping others in need. She used reason and her faith to make these choices, there was no battle, doing the right thing was natural. Dorothy Day was also one of the creators of the Catholic Worker, which became very influential to the social justice movement. A source writes, “They called the paper The "Catholic" Worker because at the time many Catholics were poor. Peter and Dorothy wanted to influence Catholics, who were criticized for a lack of social and political morality. The
Saint Gregory of Tours was born around the year 538 at Arverni, which is now Clermont-Ferrand. He belonged to the Gallo-Roman family, which was a very prestigious family. He was also related to the houses of Gaul. Gregory’s original name was Georgius Florentius. He took the name Gregory to honor his late grandfather who was named Gregory. His Grandfather was the Bishop of Langres. When Gregory was young, his father died and he went to live with his Uncle. His uncle, Gallus, was the Bishop of Clermont. Gallus educated him until his death in 554. Gregory’s mother left to live with friends in Burgandy and left her son to Avitus who became Bishop of Clermont after Gallus. Avitus taught Gregory all about the Scriptures. Gregory was not too impressed with the scriptures. Gregory got seriously ill and wasn’t supposed to recover. He did recover though and this made him more mindful of God and the scriptures. Gregory then became a friend with the Bishop of Tours whose name was Euphronius. Euphronius died in 573 and Gregory succeeded him as Bishop of Tours.
Born on November 8th, 1897, in New York City, Dorothy Day was a writer, editor and social reformer. She was born into a family of seven to her parents, Grace and John, who were both journalists. For the job of her parents, the Day family moved to California when she was only six years old, and later lived in Chicago. Dorothy worked for such social causes as pacifism and women’s suffrage, as a radical of her time. Day was intrigued by the Catholic faith for years, and converted in 1927. She co-founded The Catholic Worker, a newspaper that promoted Catholic teachings. This newspaper became quite successful and triggered the Catholic Worker Movement, which undertook issues of social justice directed by its religious principles.
During World War II the Catholic Worker an organ for pacifism and supported conscientious objectors (Dorothy American). Over many years, Day’s life story has been a subject of lots of books and films. Maria Kelly played her in the movie Entering Angels; The Dorothy Day Story, In 1996. In the same film Martin Sheen portrayed the Catholic Worker co-founder, Peter Maurin (Dorothy Bio). In 1932 Day met Peter Maurin, he had developed a program of Social reconstruction. The program, now known as the Catholic Worker movement, aimed to unite workers and intellectuals in joint activities ranging from farming to educational discussions (Dorothy American). Day dedicated most of her life to her faith and beliefs. On November 29, 1980, in New York City, she died. Over two hundred communities in the United States and other communities worldwide are still growing today through her movement (Dorothy
St. Francis of Assisi was born in Umbria in the year 1182. He was a child every father hoped for, he was filled with life, a determined and courageous individual. He was gifted with rather good looks, qualities that attracted friends and a gift of leadership. His father was an extremely wealthy merchant in Assisi. But this son, his favourite, was the one who broke Peter Bernardone’s heart. The boy turned on his father, and in a vicious event that eventually resulted into a public scene. St. Francis of Assisi stepped away from his father, his business and left his father in a state of immense emotional suffering.
Pope Francis who's full name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio is currently the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church. Bergoglio was born on December 17, 1936 to Mario Jose Bergoglio and Regina Maria Sivori. Francis was the first Pope that has ever been from the Americas, since his birthplace was Buenos Aires, Argentina, so this makes him the first non-European Pope in over one thousand years. In this Pope’s childhood he overcame a serious and almost fatal problem. Francis had to have a lung removed at a young age caused by serious infection. After completing and graduating from high-school, Bergoglio enrolled in the University of Buenos Aires, where in time he had received a masters degree in chemistry and worked briefly as a chemical technician and nightclub bouncer before deciding to go to seminary. Bergoglio began his training at the Jesuit seminary of Villa Devoto and entered the society of Jesus in March 1958. He went on after studying at the seminary to attend the Philosophical and Theological Faculty of San Miguel, where he earned himself a degree in philosophy and a doctrine in th...
Catherine of Siena was born in Italy in 1347 at a time when political and religious changes were affecting the hierarchy of the Catholic Church. Dedicating her life to the Holy Spirit from a very young age, Catherine pursued a life of purity and simplicity that served as a background to her great literary work, The Dialogue of the Divine Providence . Her work focuses on the importance of prayer and its transcendent power in human life.
Saint Francis of Assisi was an Italian monk who founded the monastic order of the Franciscans. He was from a wealthy family and spent most of his youth carousing the streets of Assisi with other young nobles. After fighting in the war between Assisi and Perugia, he contracted an illness and had his first mystical experience. After he was healed, Francis had another mystical experience while praying in a neglected church: “After a period of prayer and meditation, Francis heard the voice of Jesus coming from a nearby crucifix: ‘Francis go, repair my house, which, as you see, is falling completely to ruin’.” It was this call that inspired Francis to leave Assisi, determined to live more simply with his fellow monks.
Saint Catherine of Siena is the saint that I have chosen to be my saint. She was very interesting to me, and her story was very intriguing. She is the patron saint of fire prevention, bodily ills, sick people, miscarriages, nurses, and illness. She was canonized in 1461 by Pope Pius II. Her feast day is now celebrated on April 29.
Saint Francis of Assisi was a uniquely spiritual man who gave up a life of wealth and position to lead a life of poverty in accordance and service to God. Embracing a life according to the Gospels, Francis went on to establish a Monastic Order, known as the Franciscans. In the midst of the political climate within the religious community of Italy, Francis emerged a champion for the poor and sick, with humility and no regard for himself. Francis exhibited his love for God through his love and admiration for all of God's creation including nature. The principles of Saint Francis are as relevant today as they were in thirteenth century Italy; service and love to all of God’s creation.
St Ignatius of Loyola is an inspiring person and has touched the lives of many people even now centuries after his death. Loyola has affected the lives of an uncountable number of people, either directly or indirectly. He started as an extremely brave and tough soldier and turned into the founder of a powerful religious order. He was born in 1491 in Spain and founded the Jesuits in 1540 at the age of 49.The Jesuits today are still a devoted religious order. Everything they do is in God’s name, hence their motto AD MAIOREM DEI GLORIAM this literally means “for the greater glory of God”. (Linten, Seven Things) Many Jesuits (and even non Jesuits like Pope John Paul II) sign their documents with amdg at the end to show that they do their work for God and not solely for themselves. (Linten, Seven Things) The Jesuits have survived multiple persecutions and yet have still remained a major influence in the church and in universities around the world. If it were not for an unfortunate cannonball shattering a soldier’s leg then none of this may have happened.