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The Life of St. Francis of Assisi There are few saints who have such widespread popularity as Francis. His simple, absolute devotion to the Gospel and to poverty has indelibly shaped Christian spirituality, and his work to renew the church has borne fruit far beyond the limits of his life on earth. Francis had dreams of becoming a knight on the battlefield. Around 1202, Francis was part of a military campaign against the neighboring city-state of Perugia and was taken captive. In their prison, he ended up a broken and disillusioned young man. It was after his return from prison, and during the recovery that followed, that Francis’ life was changed. He began to reconcile his ideals of winning honor and glory in battle with a deeply-felt call to give away everything he had in order to follow Christ. When Francis took up with his friends again, he was noticeably distracted and distant. People would remark that Francis must be very deeply in love. “Yes,” he would reply, “I am going to take a wife more beautiful and worthy than any you know.” FAITH.ND Saint Francis of Assisi had a fear and abhorrence of lepers. One day, however, he met a man afflicted with leprosy while riding his horse near Assisi. Though the sight of the leper filled him with horror and disgust, Francis got off his horse and kissed the leper. Then the leper put out his hand, hoping to receive something. Out of compassion, Francis gave money to the leper. But when Francis mounted his horse again and looked all around, he could not see the leper anywhere. It dawned on him that it was Jesus whom he had just kissed. Francis’ embrace of the leper was not an isolated instance. No, his ministry to lepers would only expand. Francis would go down to the colony of lepers two miles below Assisi, outside the city walls. Francis and other friars continued to minister to the lepers, feeding them, while also caring for and kissing their wounds. This became an ongoing ministry for Francis and the friars. What Saint Francis Learned. In his Testament, Francis wrote, “When I was in sin, the sight of lepers nauseated me beyond measure; but then God himself led me into their company, and I had pity on them. When I became acquainted with them, what had previously nauseated me became the source of spiritual and physical consolation for me. After that I did not wait long before leaving the world.” Franciscan Media Who are the Lepers in your Life? Who do you need to embrace? |