Mary Fabyan Windeatt

St. Francis of Assisi Coloring Book Mary Fabyan Windeatt

Francis Bernardone was one of the liveliest young fellows in Assisi. His family was rich, and he was always spending money and making merry with his friends. But God decided to shake Francis out of his thoughtless life: He spoke to him, telling him to give up his pleasures and serve Him instead. At first Francis shrank back in fear, but soon he discovered that giving everything away and becoming a poor beggar to serve Christ did make him free and truly happy. Soon, two important men in town came to join Francis. A 15-year-old girl named Clare heard about these holy friars. She wanted to do the same as they, but her father wanted her to marry. So one night Clare slipped out of her family's castle to go meet Francis and the other friars to give herself to God as a nun. She gave away her beautiful clothes and put on a poor grey dress like a peasant girl, with a rope as a sash. Then she joyfully bent her head while Francis cut off her beautiful long hair. God was pleased with Francis. Even the animals seemed to know this, because they listened to him. Francis spoke to the fierce wolf of Gubbio, who had everyone terrified, and the wolf became gentle as a puppy. At the end of Francis' life he received the wounds of Christ in his hands, feet and side, making him even more like his Master in Heaven. Finally God called Francis to Heaven, there to rejoice forever with an even greater joy than any happiness he had ever known on earth.