Saint francis of assisi biography for kids

What does it mean to be poor? Take the opportunity to discuss the issue of poverty on two levels: i) awareness that poverty is a problem that countries around the world have to face, and that people who live in poverty cannot afford to buy food, to have a decent home, to buy new clothes and shoes and not even medicines they might need; ii) with older children they can research on countries that have to deal with widespread poverty.

In a world set on a race for materialistic gains of all sorts as a priority, it is never too early to start laying a foundation for a mindset that would appreciate the simpler things in life.  Nurturing the virtue of poverty in a child’s life  could be practised by:

• making them aware that to enhance their self-image it is not necessary to go for brand names in shoes and clothes;
• not throwing away items that still function well, just for the sake of getting new ones;
• not throwing away food but find ways to use leftovers;
• not being too choosy and finicky about food;
• with older children simple messages could be passed on with regards to spending within the family budget or even within their own pocket money.

St Francis’ love for God’s Creation prompts us to appreciate our environment, to take precautions against actions that endanger natural resources and the beauty of nature that God created. This is what prompted Pope Francis to voice this concern for the preservation of our “common home” in the Church Document (Encyclical) “Laudato Si’,” a phrase taken from the writings of St Francis.

In most education systems, kids are being educated in the importance of caring for the environment. Attitudes learned at school, need to be supported, encouraged, and put into practice at home:

• encourage the practice of waste separation;
• build an awareness for the conservation of water and electricity;
• turn off water while brushing teeth;
• turn off light when leaving the room;
• switch off TV when no one

Have you ever wished you could talk to the animals? It is believed that St. Francis could.

St. Francis was born while his father was away in France. His mother baptized him shortly after his birth, naming him after St. John the Baptist. When his father returned he was angry–naming his son after a saint!

“I want my son to be a wealthy cloth merchant like I am,” believed his father. So he renamed his son Francesco after the country of France which he loved.

Growing up young Francis had everything he could want, and as a teenager he led a sinful life. But he felt something was missing. St. Francis thought it was glory.

“If I just become famous, my life will be PERFECT!” So Francis decided to join a crusade (a war to save the Holy Land). He purchased a beautiful set of armor, a horse and everything else that was needed. He boasted he would return famous.

One day into the crusade, he had a dream. God wanted him to return home. St. Francis followed God’s will. This was not an easy thing to do because of all the boasting he had done before leaving.

“HA! HA! look at Francis. He sure became famous! Famous for only being in the army one day! HA! HA!” St. Francis heard this kind of teasing everywhere he went.

St. Francis began to pray. One day while he was out riding his horse, he spied a dirty leper who smelled badly. What would you do if you met someone who was very sick and smelled? Well, St. Francis got down off his horse and gave this man a kiss on the hand. This surprisingly made St. Francis delightedly happy. As he rode off on his horse he glanced back. The man had disappeared!

“That must have been a test,” thought Francis. “A year ago I would have turned my horse away from that man and ignored him.”

St. Francis regularly went to a crumbling church to pray. One day, he heard Jesus talking to him from the crucifix.

“Repair my church,” Jesus said. Believing he was to fix this old church, St. Francis gave a bun

Saint Francis of Assisi was a Catholic friar who gave up a life of wealth to live a life of poverty.

Francis was born in Assisi, Italy in 1182. He was the son of a wealthy cloth merchant so lived a very good childhood, wanting for nothing. Francis loved to learn and sing songs as a boy. His father wanted him to become a businessman when he grew up but Francis had other ideas.

As Francis grew up, he began to see visions from God that changed his life. The first vision was when he was sick with a high fever. At first he thought that God had called him to fight in the Crusades. However, he had another vision that told him to help the sick. Finally, when praying in a church, Francis heard God tell him to "repair my church, which is falling in ruins." Francis gave all his money to the church. His father became very angry with him. Francis then left his father's home and took a vow of poverty.

As Francis lived his life of poverty and preached to people about the life of Jesus Christ, people began to follow him. By 1209, he had around 11 followers. He had one rule which was "To follow the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and to walk in his footsteps".

Francis was a devoted follower of the Catholic Church. He and his followers travelled to Rome to get the approval for their religious Order from the Pope. At first the Pope was reluctant. These men were dirty, poor, and smelled bad. However, eventually he understood their vow of poverty and blessed the Order.
 

Francis was known for his love of nature and animals. There are many stories about Saint Francis and his preaching to animals. It is said that one day he was talking to some birds when they began to sing together. Then they flew into the sky and formed the sign of a cross. It was also said that Francis could tame wild animals.

One story tells of a vicious wolf in

This page is about the friar and patron saint. For other uses, see Francis of Assisi (disambiguation).

Giovanni di Pietro di Bernardone, OFM, better known as Francis of Assisi (Italian: Francesco d'Assisi; c. 1181 – 3 October 1226), was an Italian Catholicfriar who founded the Franciscans. He was inspired to lead a life of poverty as an itinerant preacher. One of the most venerated figures in Christianity, he was canonized by Pope Gregory IX on 16 July 1228. He is usually depicted in a robe with a rope as a belt.

In 1219, he went to Egypt in an attempt to convert the sultan al-Kamil and put an end to the conflict of the Fifth Crusade. In 1223, he arranged for the first live nativity scene as part of the annual Christmas celebration in Greccio.

He founded the men's Order of Friars Minor, the women's Order of St. Clare, the Third Order of St. Francis and the Custody of the Holy Land. Once his community was authorized by the Pope, he withdrew increasingly from externa