St francis of assisi biography video edgar
Coming to the city of Ascoli, he preached the word of God fervently as usual. Through a change wrought by the right hand of the Most High, the people were filled with so much love and devotion that they trampled one another hurrying to see and hear him. And thirty men, clerics and laymen, received the habit at that time. So great was the faith of men and women, and so great was their devotion to the holy man of God, that they considered fortunate anyone who could at least touch his clothes.
When he entered a city, the clergy rejoiced, the bells rang, men exulted, women cheered, children applauded, and often, taking branches from the trees, they went to meet him singing. Heretical depravity was confounded, the faith of the church was extolled, and while the faithful engaged in jubilation heretics went into hiding. For so many signs of sanctity appeared in him that no one dared to oppose his words.
Indeed, the attention of the crowd was directed at him alone. He felt that the faith of the Holy Roman Church should be observed, honoured and imitated above all things, since in it alone lays the salvation of those who are to be saved. He felt great affection for priests and every ecclesiastical order. The people offered him bread to bless, stored it away for a long time, and then were cured of various illnesses when they ate it.
In their overwhelming faith they often cut off parts of his clothes, so much that he was often left nearly naked. And what is even more marvellous, if the holy father touched some object, it in turn became the means by which health was restored to others. Thus a certain woman from a little town near Arezzo was pregnant, and when it was time for her to deliver she remained in labour for several days in incredible pain, hanging between life and death.
Her neighbours and family heard that Saint Francis was to pass that way as he journeyed to a certain hermitage. They waited, but he went by another route. He had gone on horseback because he was ill. When he arrived at his destination, he entrusted the horse to a brother named Peter, who was to bring it back to the man who had loaned it.
On his way, Peter passed through the village where the woman laid suffering. When the men of the village saw him, they hurried up to him thinking he was Francis, but they soon learned the truth and were deeply disappointed. Finally they began to ask one another if something might be found which Francis had touched with his hand. After searching for a long time, they came upon the reigns of the bridle, which he had held while riding.
Removing the bridle from the horse's mouth, they placed the reins on the woman. Immediately the danger passed. She bore the child safely and joyfully. His highest intention, greatest desire, and supreme purpose was to observe the holy Gospel in and through all things. He wanted to follow the doctrine and walk in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to do so perfectly, with all vigilance, all zeal, complete desire of the mind, complete fervour of the heart.
He remembered Christ's words through constant meditation and recalled his actions through wise consideration. The humility of the incarnation and the love of the passion so occupied his memory that he scarcely wished to think of anything else. Hence what he did in the third year before the day of his glorious death, in the town called Greccio, on the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ, should be reverently remembered.
There was in that place a certain man named John, of good reputation and even better life, whom the blessed Francis particularly loved. Noble and honourable in his own land, he had trodden on nobility of the flesh and pursued that of the mind. Around fifteen days before the birthday of Christ, Francis sent for this man, as he often did, and said to him, "If you wish to celebrate the approaching feast of the Lord at Greccio, hurry and do what I tell you.
I want to do something that will recall the memory of that Child who was born in Bethlehem, to see with bodily eyes the inconveniences of his infancy, how he lay in the manger, and how the ox and ass stood by. The day of joy drew near, the time of exultation approached. The brothers were called from their various places. With glad hearts, the men and women of that place prepared, according to their means, candles and torches to light up that night which has illuminated all the days and years with its glittering star.
St francis of assisi biography video edgar: Un'opera musicale di grande
Finally the holy man of God arrived and, finding everything prepared, saw it and rejoiced. The manger is ready, hay is brought, and the ox and ass are led in. Simplicity is honoured there, poverty is exalted, humility is commended and a new Bethlehem, as it were, is made from Greccio. Night is illuminated like the day, delighting men and beasts.
The people come and joyfully celebrate the new mystery. The forest resounds with voices and the rocks respond to their rejoicing. The brothers sing, discharging their debt of praise to the Lord, and the whole night echoes with jubilation. The holy man of God stands before the manger full of sighs, consumed by devotion and filled with a marvellous joy.
The solemnities of the Mass are performed over the manger and the priest experiences a new consolation. The holy man of God wears a deacon's vestments, for he was indeed a deacon, and he sings the holy Gospel with a sonorous voice. And his voice, a sweet voice, a vehement voice, a clear voice, a sonorous voice, invites all to the highest rewards.
Then he preaches mellifluously to the people standing about, telling them about the birth of the poor King and the little city of Bethlehem. Often, too, when he wished to mention Jesus Christ, burning with love he called him "the child of Bethlehem," and speaking the word "Bethlehem" or "Jesus," he licked his lips with his tongue, seeming to taste the sweetness of these words.
The gifts of the Almighty are multiplied here and a marvellous vision is seen by a certain virtuous man. For he saw a little child lying lifeless in the manger and he saw the holy man of God approach and arouse the child as if from a deep sleep. Nor was this an unfitting vision, for in the hearts of many the child Jesus really had been forgotten, but now, by his grace and through his servant Francis, he had been brought back to life and impressed here by loving recollection.
Finally the celebration ended and each returned joyfully home.
St francis of assisi biography video edgar: Saint Francis of Assisi
The hay placed in the manger was kept so that the Lord, multiplying his holy mercy, might bring health to the beasts of burden and other animals. And indeed it happened that many animals throughout the surrounding area were cured of their illnesses by eating this hay. Moreover, women undergoing a long and difficult labor gave birth safely when some of this hay was placed upon them.
And a large number of people, male and female alike, with various illnesses, all received the health they desired there. At last a temple of the Lord was consecrated where the manger stood, and over the manger an altar was constructed and a church dedicated in honour of the blessed father Francis, so that, where animals once had eaten hay, henceforth men could gain health in soul and body by eating the flesh of the Lamb without spot or blemish, Jesus Christ our Lord, who through great and indescribable love gave himself to us, living and reigning with the Father and Holy Spirit, God eternally glorious forever and ever, Amen.
Two years before Francis gave his soul back to heaven, while he was staying in a hermitage called "Alverna" after the place where it was located, he saw in a vision from God a man with six wings like a seraph, standing above him with hands extended and feet together, affixed to a cross. Two wings were raised over his head, two were extended in flight, and two hid his entire body.
Francis of Assisi died on October 3,at the age of 44, in Assisi, Italy. Today, Francis has a lasting resonance with millions of followers across the globe. He was canonized as a saint just two years after his death, on July 16,by his former protector, Pope Gregory IX. We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!
Jesus Christ. Saint Nicholas. Jerry Falwell. Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh. Saint Thomas Aquinas. History of the Dalai Lama's Biggest Controversies. Saint Patrick. Pope Benedict XVI. John Calvin. Dalai Lama. War and Imprisonment Francis and the men of Assisi came under heavy attack, and in the face of superior numbers, they took flight. After the War After a year of negotiations, Francis' ransom was accepted, and he was released from prison in Devotion to Christianity After his epiphany at the church of San Damiano, Francis experienced another defining moment in his life.
Death and Legacy As Francis approached his death, many predicted that he was a saint in the making.
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He is the patron saint for ecologists. Watch Next. Advertisement - Continue Reading Below. Inhis body was relocated to the lower church of a basilica built to honor him. Saint Francis of Assisi Biography Biographies. Anthony T. White T. Try Storyboard That! Create a storyboard. Create your own Storyboard Try it for Free! Learn more about people who have influenced history in our Picture Encyclopedia!
First recruits -- 5. Rivo Torto -- 7. The life of the first Friars -- 8. Clare and the order of poor ladies -- 9. Growth of the order -- The meeting with St. Dominic -- The indulgence of the Portiuncula -- Missions in Christian lands -- Missions in Pagan lands -- Crisis in the order -- The third order --