ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16331, 21 January 1921, Page 7

ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI.

HIS SEVENTH CENTENARY. | By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright, j Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received Januuary 21. 11.10 a.m-) ROME. January 20. A Papal Encyclical invites the. Christian world to solemnise tho seventh centenary of St Francis of Assisi. St Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscans, was born in 1181 or 1182 at Assisi, Umbria. Italy. In his youth he was tho leader of the young men of the town in their revels, but ho" was always conspicuous for his charity to the poor. A serious and prolonged illness fell upon him, and he I ecame dissatisfied with his way of life. On his recovery he set out on a. military expedition, but fell ill again and had to return. One day he gave a. banqeut to his friends, and after it they sallied forth with torches, singing through the streets. Francis being crowned with garlands as the king of the revellers. After a time his companions missed him, and on retracing their steps found him in a trance or reverie, a permanently altered man. He devoted hitnself to solitude, prayer and the service of the poor. He went on a pilgrimage to Rome, and finding the usual crowd of beggars before hit Peter’s, ho exchanged lis clothes with on® of them, and experienced an overpowering joy in spending the day begging among the rest. The determining opisode of his life followed soon after his return to Assisi. As he yas riding fce ! mot. a leper, v.-ho begged nn alms. Francis | had always had a special horror of lepers, j and turning his face he rode on. But immediately an heroic act of self-conquest was ! wrought, in him. and returning he alighted, gave tbe leper all the money he had. and kissed his hand. From that day ho gave himself up to the service of tho lepers and | the hospitals. He founded the great order o-f the Franciscans. A feature of his character was his constant jovousnoss. and his j love of nature, animate and inanimate, was ! very keen. His preaching to the birds is |b, favourite representation of St Franc-s in I art. He died in 1226. at the age of forty- | five, and was canonized two yearß later ty i Pope Gregory IX.