Giovanni Bernadone was born c.1182 to Pietro and Johanna Bernadone. The name Francis was added to the baptismal name Giovanni. Pietro Bernadone was a wealthy cloth merchant who was very indulgent with his son and showered him with material pocessions. Francis as a youth was noted for poetical sensitivity, extreme generosity, and extravagance in clothing. During Francis' time the town of Assis and the neighboring town of Perugia were constatly at battle with each other. In 1202 Francis was involved in one of these battles and was captured and imprisoned in Perugia. During his imprisonment he became seriously ill. It was during his illness and imprisonment that he was enlightened and decided to choose the path of God. After his release in 1204/05 he went on a pilgrimage to Rome. Francis wanted to obtain knighthood in the Papal army. It was during this time Francis suffered freightening dreams. He retreated to Assis and spent much time in prayer, finally renouncing his former way of life and his inheritance and incurring the wrath of his father. He left all to live a life of poverty and penance. Francis lived among the poor and the lepers, and rebuilt many of the churches that had fallen in disarray. He quickly obtained a following which no longer afforded an eremitical way of life. Francis was known to be unpretensious and approachable. He saw beauty in the simpliest things.       Francis set up his first monastery in Portiuncula. His monasteries were simple and placed in isolated areas. The Franciscans pocessed no property, therefore they did not need arms to defend their pocessions. Francis had to battle many Bishops in the area who were resentful that he choose to establish his monasteries in a non traditional way. Francis was persistant and remained loyal to his vision. Francis was a lover of nature and animals, and was known to communicate with God's creatures.With the help of Clare of Assis, later known as Poor Clare, he was able to set up a female branch of the order. Francis sent his brothers out as missionaries to teach and preach the Word of God. Francis's later years were plagued with physical pain, he became ill with a sickness in his eyes lost almost all of his sight. On October 3, 1226 Francis died in the Town of Portiuncula. He was buried the following day at San Goirgio Church. Francis is known as the Patron Saint of Franciscans, Italy (since 1939), the poor, the blind, prisoners, the lame, the ship wrecked, flax merchants, cloth merchants, traders, tailors, weavers, social workers, and environmentalists. His Feast Day in the Catholic Church is on October 4th. "I have done what is mine to do; may Christ teach you what you are to do." final word of Saint Francis