Saint Francis of Assisi by Leo age:12

Saint Assisi’s Service and Sacrifice

            He served and ministered to the sick and poor.  He embraced lepers.  He lived in absolute poverty.  His name was Saint Francis of Assisi.  Saint Francis was the son of a wealthy cloth merchant.  During his early life, Francis spent his days hosting parties with his family’s riches, which left him little time for God.  Shortly after being ransomed from prison, and contracting sickness, Francis believed that God was using these significant trials in his life to reform his ways and lead him to take up ministry.  Francis gave up his wealth and quickly traveled from town to town, preaching and helping the feeble. 

            Saint Francis, who is now regarded as one of the holiest men of his day, led an early life encompassed by frivolity.  Saint Francis was born in Assisi, Italy to a prosperous family.  His early life was not that of a saint’s.  Frequently, lavishly, and liberally, he hosted massive banquets for nobles.  At these feasts, his friends joyously proclaimed him, “King of Feasts.”  Francis’s busy life of partying and selling cloth left him with little or no time for God.  Francis, being dashing, pleasant, and learned, constantly dreamt of knighthood.  His native land of Assisi was battling Perugia.  Naturally, he decided to join the war.  While fighting, Francis was wounded, taken prisoner, and diagnosed with Malaria.  Francis began to reconsider his frivolous early life. 

            Francis gave up his partying ways and converted to Christianity.  Francis, who was ransomed by his father, returned to Assisi.  Sickness again took hold of him.  Finally, after his trials, Francis began to consider a profession of peace and justice.  Francis had a vision.  Once, Francis was spoken to by a mysterious voice.  He was convinced that it was God who had talked to him.  He felt urged in another area of service.  Lepers disgusted Francis.  One day, Francis met one, and rather than merely throwing him a coin and proceeding, Francis embraced the leper.  On another occasion, in the church of San Damiano, a tremendous voice, commanded Francis to rebuild the church.  He eventually realized that God was compelling him to build up the church at large.  He also recognized that Christianity would set him in contrast to his society and distance him from his family and friends.  Francis’s conversion marked an enormous turning point in his life, preparing him to minister to lepers and build up the church as a Christian.

            Saint Francis forsook his wealth for ministry.  Francis could have lived in riches and comfort.  In patterning his life after Christ’s, however, he gave up his wealth and position.  Tenaciously, he trudged through cities and villages, ministering to lepers.  He also tended the sick and poor.  Many were roused by Francis’s call to extreme poverty.  Devout Franciscan friars, who were also known as “Little Brothers,” owned no property or estate, not even a monastery.  The spent their lives devotedly traveling from town to town helping others.  Francis gave up a life of luxury in exchange for sacrifice.

             During his ministry, Saint Francis demonstrated a vast amount of selflessness.  Francis’s family was profusely wealthy, yet he turned his back on his family fortune and frivolous lifestyle.  Francis experienced many trials, which he believed was God calling him to ministry.  Francis reformed and lived a life of ministry and poverty.  Francis set a lasting precedent for future generations of Christians, and those who would follow the Franciscan Order, embracing his lifestyle of service and sacrifice.