Everett 1

Rhea Everett
Briar Cliff University
Theology
2/21/2016
 Everett 2

As a student at Briar Cliff University I am studying the Christianity faith. During this

time of study I have learned some about Francis of Assisi. During this paper I plan to share some

of the knowledge I have gained. Some of the knowledge is on who Francis of Assisi was and

some of his significant accomplishments. Along with how he performed the gospel.
Francis of Assisi who lived 1182 to 1226 was born into a merchant family. He decided to

leave his life of wealth to live a life of poverty (Cory, C. A. (2000). His life of poverty included

eating scraps and wear low key clothes. Who started the religious community called order of

Friars Minor. , who also followed Francis lifestyle of poverty. Francis made several significant

insights and accomplishments.

Some of these accomplishments included improved several churches. His first church

was San Damiano where the idea came to him in vision from Jesus. To do this Francis would go

around the city and beg for money to fix up the San Damiano Church. During this time the

preacher of the church fed Francis a few meals. Which made him uncomfortable, leading him to

then beg for scraps of food. Even though the food did not taste like the food he ate home it

opened his eyes to how humble it was to eat scraps (Galli, 2000). After fixing up the San

Damiano, Francis went on to fix up other churches. Some of these churches included St. Peters

and St. Marys of the Aneds. Francis of Assisi also actively performed the gospel life in many

ways.
Some of these ways included having followers who he had help preach the word of the

gospel (Cory, C. A. (2000). Francis also preached about the renunciation of goods for the gospel

along with affirming the goodness of the world. Along with believing in the Christmas Creche,

the setting of the stable where Jesus was born. Francis felt that this showed that Jesus was

humble, by being born into the world. He also believed highly in the Sermont mount. The

Sermont mount discusses the radicalism of Jesus. All of these helped Francis and his

understanding of Christianity (Galli, 2002).

 Everett 3

Francis lifestyle of living poor became even clearer to him as he was listening to a

sermon. During this sermon it was discussed how Jesus followers were not to have any

expensive, such as golds and metals. This inspired Francis to further live a life of poverty. He

immediately traded in his belongings for less quality items. Especially his robe that he traded for

a brown robe (Galli, 2002). Franciss ideas and understanding of Christianity are still used today

as many follow the poverty lifestyle along with helping others. Today it is not as pronounced, as

many followers wear normal day clothing rather than wearing the brown robe.
Francis of Assisi led a very different lifestyle, which followed what is believed to be the

lifestyle of Jesus. Which lead him to lead a life of spreading Christianity. During which he

gained many different ideas on religion. Francis also helped improve many different churches

during his time.

Word count: 524

Resources

Cory, C. A. (2000). The Christian theological tradition reader. Upper Saddler River, NJ: Prentice

Hall.

Galli, M. (2002). Francis of Assisi and his world. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.