Birthplace: Assisi, Italy
Feast day: Oct 4th
Born in 1192 to parents who were merchants in importing luxurious fabrics.
Francis was always thought that he would follow in this; but, Francis
joined the second crusade, having a fancy suit of armor made.
On his first night out, he had a vision: the Lord was sending him back.
His neighbors thought him a coward, and jeered at him.
Undeterred by this, Francis turned away from war, awaiting
a further sign from God as to what he should do.
Francis then had a vision in which God told him to repair his church.
Francis took this literally, and began to reapir the church
in which he had been praying with his own hands.
But, God meant a bigger church: Francis's mission was to help rebuild the whole faith.
The words to Francis came from the cross, in the church
at San Damiano. The replica cross
now known as 'The cross of San Damiano'.
Francis preached about humility, poverty, simplicity and prayer to everyone,
even the birds, whom he thought of as God's special creations.
He attempted to express God's brotherhood by truly
living the Gospel. But, his life of poverty was hard on his body.
He died in 1226; the order he founded,
the Francisian Friars
still carries on his humble teachings in every corner of the globe.
Best known story of Francis: when he met the beggar on the road
whom he gave a coin to, then deemed that this was Jesus testing him. At that time he shed
his wealth and went to begin his new life.
Also, before his death, Francis received
the stigmatta, a true uniting with Jesus, and his suffering on the cross.
* * * * * *
Birthplace: Galilee
Feast day: June 29th
Very little is known about the early life of Peter, whose original name was Simon.
He was a Galilean fisherman, likely born in either Bathsaida or Capernum.
At the start of the ministry of Jesus, Peter was called by Jesus, as He walked on
the shore of the Sea of Galilee. He called Peter and his brother, "Come, and I will make
you fishers of men".(Matt 4:19) They dropped their nets and followed him.
Peter followed Jesus for 2 years, and witnessed many miracles, including the cure of his own
mother-in-law of a fever. But, Peter also failed to have faith many times. One of the stories of
this was when Christ was walking on the water, and Jesus beckoned to Peter to come to Him.
Peter set out with confidence, but when suddenly overcome with fear, he began to sink. As was so
often with Peter, he wanted to believe, but his fear was stronger than his faith.
Another well known story connected to Peter, is when he was called upon to stay awake with Christ,
as He prayed at Gethsemane; but, like the other Apostles, he fell asleep. The well known stories of the
cock crowing three times, tell how Peter denied knowing his Lord three times. This all caused much
remorse in Peter, and he vowed to change.
After the resurrection, Christ appeared to Peter and gave him
the awesome responsibility of carrying on His work on earth.
Peter took up this leadership challenge,
assured that he would never be alone. He preached in
Asia Minor, Antioch (where he was first acclaimed as Bishop),
and ultimately in Rome, often conflicting
with authorities. The first pontiff, he was martyrd
during Nero's reign. He laid the foundation for all Popes
that would follow him, to this day.
"You are Peter, and upon this rock I shall build my church".
The story about Peter is about failing, and trying again;
about faith overcoming fear. We can take Peter's
example of resolving to do better next time,
and know that the Lord will always forgive our failures.
Birthplace: Tarsus, in modern Turkey
Feast day: June 29th
Paul was originally named Saul when he was born in Tarsus about the year 3.
Born of a wealthy family, he followed Jewish law zealously, believing
that Christianity should be destroyed. He had not met Christ, yet he aggressively
persecuted Christians, dragging them out of their homes to prison. A well known story
which helped to change Saul's mind was when he watched St Stephen stoned, amazed
at his smiling face as he glanced up to God. Another life changing event for Saul..
on the road to Damascus to arrest a group of Christians, a light flashed, blinded Saul,
knocking him to the ground. A voice said, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"
(Acts 9:4) Saul knew it was Jesus. When he finally could see again three days later,
he saw with his eyes, and with his heart; Saul became Paul and set forth to carry Jesus' word.
Paul first began preaching in Damascus. The tables turned, and now
Paul was being persecuted by people who disagreed with his teachings
He was lowered by friends in the dead of night from a city wall in a basket
to avoid being killed. People were astounded by Paul's miraculous change of heart;
even the Apostles did not trust him at first.
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