In 1181 or 1182, in the city of Assisi, Italy, a boy named Giovanni (John) was born.
But his father, Pietro Bernardone, a wealthy cloth merchant, changed his name to Francesco (Francis)!
Why? Because his father loved France! He did business there and wanted his son to have a French name!
Francis grew up rich, very rich! He had the best clothes, the best food, everything he wanted!
And young Francis loved this life!
The Prince of the Party
Francis was the most popular young man in Assisi!
He was cheerful, generous, loved to sing and party!
He spent his father's money without thinking! He bought food and wine for friends!
He organized parties that lasted all night! He sang through the streets!
Everyone liked him! "Francis is so fun!" "Francis is so generous!"
He wore expensive clothes! He always wanted to be the best dressed!
But deep in his heart, Francis felt something was missing...
The Dream of Being a Knight
Francis had a great dream: to be a knight!
In those days, knights were heroes! They fought in battles! They won glory!
Francis imagined himself with shining armor, white horse, winning fame!
In 1202, when he was about 20 years old, the opportunity arose!
Assisi went to war against the neighboring city, Perugia!
Francis enlisted! He got expensive armor! He was radiant!
"I'll return as a hero!" he told his friends.
The Defeat and Prison
But the battle was a disaster!
Assisi lost! Francis was captured and thrown in prison!
He was imprisoned for more than a year! In a dark, cold, dirty cell!
The party-loving young man was now in a horrible prison!
But something strange happened: Francis didn't lose his joy!
While other prisoners cried and complained, Francis sang!
"Why are you happy in a prison?" they asked.
Francis answered: "Because one day I will be a prince of a great kingdom!"
He didn't know it, but he was speaking prophetically...
The Illness
Finally, Francis's family paid ransom! He returned home!
But he returned sick! Prison had ruined his health!
He spent months in bed, weak, with fever, almost dying!
During this illness, Francis began thinking about life:
"What's the use of wealth? What's the use of parties? One day I'll die! And then?"
For the first time, the party-loving youth thought about deep things!
When he recovered, he was no longer the same...
The First Change
Francis tried to return to his old life! Parties, friends, fun!
But something had changed! He no longer enjoyed it as before!
One day, he was at a party with friends, singing and laughing...
Suddenly, he became quiet, still, thoughtful!
"Francis! What happened?" his friends asked.
"I... don't know... I was thinking..." he answered confused.
His friends laughed: "Are you in love?"
Francis smiled: "Yes! I'm in love with the most beautiful and noble bride in the world!"
He was speaking of Lady Poverty - but didn't know it yet!
The Encounter with the Leper
One day, Francis was riding through the countryside.
Suddenly, he saw something that filled him with fear: a leper!
Lepers were people with a terrible disease that disfigured the body!
In those days, everyone fled from lepers! They were disgusted! They were afraid!
Francis had always done this - when seeing a leper, he would flee!
But this time, something strange happened...
A voice in Francis's heart said: "Get off your horse! Go to him!"
Francis fought with himself! "No! I'm disgusted! I'm afraid!"
But the voice insisted! "Go! Embrace him!"
Finally, Francis obeyed!
He got off his horse! He walked to the leper!
And he did something incredible: he embraced the leper and kissed his wounds!
The leper cried with emotion! No one had ever embraced him!
Francis mounted his horse and left!
But when he looked back... the leper had disappeared!
"It was Jesus!" Francis understood! "It was Jesus in disguise!"
From that day on, Francis regularly visited lepers!
He brought food! He cleaned their wounds! He embraced them!
Francis's wealthy friends were horrified: "Have you gone mad?"
But Francis was happy! Happier than ever!
The Church of San Damiano
One day, Francis entered a small, old abandoned church called San Damiano.
It was falling apart! Almost in ruins!
Francis knelt before the crucifix and prayed!
Suddenly, he heard a voice! The Christ on the cross spoke to him:
Francis was frightened and amazed! Jesus had spoken to him!
"Yes, Lord! I'll fix this church!" Francis answered.
He didn't understand yet: Jesus wasn't just talking about that little church - He was talking about the entire Church!
The Conflict with His Father
Francis decided: "I'll rebuild the church of San Damiano!"
But how? He needed money to buy stones and materials!
So he did something impulsive: he took expensive fabrics from his father's shop and sold everything!
He took the money to the priest at San Damiano: "To rebuild the church!"
But the priest was afraid! "Your father will be furious! I can't accept!"
And he was right! When Pietro, Francis's father, found out... he exploded with rage!
"You stole from me! You're disgracing the family! What happened to you?"
Francis tried to explain: "Father, Jesus asked me to rebuild His house!"
"Jesus? You've gone mad! I'll commit you! I'll lock you in the house!"
And that's what he did! Pietro locked Francis in a room!
But when the father left on business, Francis's mother freed him!
Francis fled and hid in San Damiano!
The Public Trial
Pietro was furious! He wouldn't accept losing his son or his money!
He brought Francis before the city's bishop!
In the public square, before crowds, the father accused his son!
"He robbed me! I want my money back! I want him to come home!"
The bishop, Dom Guido, looked at Francis with compassion:
"Francis, you must return your father's money. Trust in God!"
And then Francis did something no one expected...
Total Renunciation
Francis took off all his clothes! Absolutely all of them!
He stood naked in front of everyone!
He placed the clothes at his father's feet and said:
His father was shocked! The crowd was shocked!
The bishop, moved, covered Francis with his own cloak!
Francis was free! He had nothing! But he had everything!
Francis left the city singing!
He wore only a simple tunic someone gave him!
He had no money! No house! Nothing!
But he was radiant with joy!
He met bandits on the road who beat him and robbed him... but he continued singing!
"Who are you?" the confused bandits asked.
Francis answered joyfully: "I am the herald of the Great King!"
And he continued on his way, praising God!
Reflection
