Saint Francis Of Assissi

Saint Francis of Assissi


1.  Birth


     Saint Francis was born Giovanni Bernadone in either 1181 or 1182 in the

Italian hill town of Assisi. His parents, Pietro and Pica, were members of the

rather well-to-do merchant class of the town.  Pioetro Bernadone was away in

France when his son was born.  On his return, he had the boy's name changed from

Giovanni to Franceso (“The Little Frenchman”-perhaps a tribute to France, a

country he loved and from which his wife's family came). Saint Francis of Assisi,

was born in 1182, more probably in the latter year.  His mother's family, which

was not without distinction, may originally have hailed from Provence.  His

father, Pietro di Bernardone, was a prosperous cloth merchant and one of the

influential business men of Assisi.  A merchant in those days was a far

different individual from the modern shop keeper; forced by circumstances to be

both daring and prudent, he constantly embarked upon the most hazardous

undertakings and his career was likely to be a succession of ups and downs.

Moreover, business activities, which today tend more and more to assert their

independence of any ethical code, were then strictly subordinated to accepted

moral standards, as is clearly shown in the writings of Leo Battista Alberti, a

century and a half  later, or in the Summa Theologiae of Thomas Aquinas.

Bernardone was not in Assisi when his son was born.  At first the child was

called John but upon his father's return he was christened Francis, in memory of

France, whence Pietro di Bernardone had just returned.  More than any other

character in history, St. Francis in after life retained the qualities most

characteristic of childhood, so that it is not difficult to imagine him as he

must have appeared during his early years, with his combination of vivacity,

petulance and charm.


Childhood


     At the proper time young Francesco Benardone was sent to clergy of San

Giorgio, his parish church, to learn his letters and the ciphering necessary for

a merchant.  He sat on a bench with the better-class boys, chorusing sacred

Latin.  He was not  a brilliant student.  The three extant scraps of his writing

betray a clumsy fist and abound in sad solecisms.  In later years he avoided

holding a pen;  he  preferred to dictate, and to sign his pronouncements with a

cross or tau, a semisacred symbol.  However, he learned enough Latin for his

purposes, for school routine and for the comprehension of the ritual.  Francesco

also had the education of the home and shop.  He could admire his father, honest

and worthy, but an austere man, taking up where he laid not down, reaping where

he had not shown.  Drama also rendered his secret dream, the realization of the

chivalrous life.  The exploits of Charlemagne's paladins and the Knights of the

Round Table were already familiar throughout Italy, and code of knightly

behavior was known and honored, if little practiced.  Francis's imagination

disported itself in the enchanted world of knighthood;  and all his life he used

the language of chivalry and appealed to its ideals.

     After Francis had attained manhood and developed his native discernment, he

devoted himself to the profession of his father, who was a merchant.  Yet this

he did in his own way.  Merry and generous by nature, ever ready for jest and

song, he roamed the town of Assisi day and night with his comrades and was most

prodigal in his spending-to such and extent that he used all the money allowed

him and all his earnings for banquets and festivities.  For this reason his

parents frequently remonstrated with him, pointing out that he was living in

such style with his friends that he no longer seemed to be their son, but the

son a great prince.  Yet as his parents were wealthy and loved their son

tenderly, they allowed him to have his own way rather that disturb him.


Educational Backround


     The official Life of Saint Francis, written by Saint Bonaventure, the

Minister General of the Franciscan Order, after the chapter of 1266 at which it

was de
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