What was St. Francis of Assisi's impact on the church?

Answer 1

Francis dressed in rough clothes, begged for his sustenance, and preached purity and peace. Francis formally renounced his wealth and inheritance. He visited hospitals, served the sick, preached in the streets, and took all men and women as siblings. He began to attract followers in 1209, and with papal blessing, founded the Franciscans based on a simple statment by Jesus: "Leave all and follow me." He visited and preached to the Saracens. Francis composed songs and hymns to God and nature. He lived with animals, worked with his hands, cared for lepers, cleaned churches, and sent food to thieves.

Answer 2

St. Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of Italy and animals. St. Francis took an oath of poverty and organized others to follow him. He went to Egypt to try to convert the Sultan. He was able to convince the Sultan to allow Franciscans, of all Catholics, to stay in the Holy Land to care for Christian shrines. St Francis set up the first Creche to celebrate Christmas in 1223.

Answer 3

St Francis gave up his amazing life with wealth and comfort. He worked with st Clair who is also amazing. St Francis had the ability to communicate with animal, he understood the them like he understood himself! St Francis was a wonderful person. This is why he has a few schools after him. I go to one of them and I realize how amazing he is!

Answer 4

St Francis changed the Medieval Church in a number of ways. At the time the Church had accumulated a large amount of wealth. Its current monastic groups were very influenced by St Benedict and the Benedict rule. Part of which required monks to not be wanderers or beggars. Francis believed in the literal interpretation of selling everything you owned and giving it to the poor. He pushed and challenged the Church to move back to simplistic life style of not having more then you needed. He also was the creator of the nativity play, done by most churches on Christmas today. Francis loved lepers and was one of the first to break down the segregation of lepers and people in the community to help feed and clothe these sick persons.

Answer 5

Originally, Francis worked with his father's fabric store in Assisi. Next he tried becoming a knight to fight in a war against a neighboring town. He was taken prisoner and spent about a year as a prisoner of war. During this time he had a revelation from God to "Rebuild His Church." Once out of jail, Francis divested himself of all possessions, disowned his father, and became a wandering friar who, eventually attracted a number of followers who later become the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor. They lived in poverty and assisted the poor, the sick and tried to reform some abuses going on at the time in the Church.

Answer 6

St. Francis of Assisi is one of the most popular saints in Christendom. He was known for founding the order of Franciscan monks, and he also invented the idea of a nativity scene.

Answer 7

He accomplished founding the Franciscan Order.

Answer 8

Click on the link below for all kinds of interesting facts about Francis of Assisi.

Answer 9

I have placed a link below to a biography of St. Francis. After you have read it you can decide what was his 'claim to fame.'