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The Story of Saint Francis of Assisi
From Assisi to a life of prayer and service, Francis learns to welcome neighbors, live simply and seek peace.
Short answer: This ten-page Saint Francis of Assisi storybook for ages 6 to 12 follows him from his youth in Assisi to chapel repair, companions, praise of creation and a meeting with the sultan. The final page offers a question, a Bible reading, a safe action and a prayer for families to share.
Story Summary
This ten-page story follows Francis from his youth in Assisi to chapel repair, companions, creation praise and a meeting with the sultan. The final page offers a question, Bible reading, safe action and prayer.
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Evidence for This Page
AI-generated read-aloud narration. Illustrations are original composite scenes, not historical footage.
Read the Bible and pray together
With a trusted adult, read Matthew 5:9. Jesus calls peacemakers blessed. Talk about one small act of peace: listening, including someone or asking a trusted adult for help when someone is hurt.
About Saint Francis of Assisi
- Lived
- 1181/1182-1226
- Place
- Assisi, Italy
- Status
- Canonized 1228 by Pope Gregory IX; patron of ecology
- Feast
- October 4
Francis was the son of a rich cloth merchant in Assisi. He wanted to be a knight, but after being taken prisoner in a war and a slow change of heart he gave up his inheritance. He heard Christ speak from the cross at San Damiano and began to live the Gospel in poverty, preaching and joy. Companions joined him, and Pope Innocent III approved his way of life in 1209.
In 1219 he crossed the lines at Damietta to speak with the Sultan, armed only with his faith. In 1223 he set up the first Christmas crib at Greccio. In 1224 he received the stigmata, and near the end of his life, almost blind, he wrote the Canticle of the Creatures. He died on October 3, 1226, and was canonized two years later. Many sayings are wrongly credited to him, including the "Peace Prayer."
Read the full life of Saint Francis
Sources: Benedict XVI: Saint Francis of Assisi, January 27, 2010.
About this story
Illustrations are imaginative composites, not historical records. The chapel repair scene does not literally depict the reported call. The clothed cloth-table scene symbolizes renunciation, rather than reconstructing the historical gesture. Neighboring courtyards suggest the friars and Clare's community, not a documented joint meeting or the approval in Rome. The bird scene illustrates an attributed early account, not a verified animal response.
Children should not approach strangers, wild animals, war or hazardous travel to imitate this story. Help involving illness needs trusted adults and medical guidance; leprosy is treatable today. Francis's simple living was an adult choice, not permission to leave family or give away necessities. Ask a trusted adult how to help safely.
Sources
Benedict XVI: Saint Francis of Assisi
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Saint Francis of Assisi?
Francis was born in Assisi around 1182. He founded the Friars Minor and is remembered for simple living, care for neighbors, prayer and praise for creation.
Who is this storybook for?
Children ages 6 to 12, reading or listening with a trusted adult. The final page has a question, Bible reading, safe action and prayer.
Are the pictures exact historical scenes?
No. The sourced events and reported accounts are distinguished in the page notes. The pictures are imaginative composites, not eyewitness records.