Saint Francis of Assissi 1. Birth Saint Francis was born Giovanni Bernadone in either 1181 or 1182 in the Italian hill town of Assisi. His parents, Pietro and Pica, were members of the rather well-to-do merchant class of the town. Pioetro Bernadone was away in France when his son was born. On his return, he had the boy's name changed from Giovanni to Franceso ("The Little Frenchman"-perhaps a tribute to France, a country he loved and from …showed first 75 words of 3708 total…

…showed last 75 words of 3708 total…touched him with his hands, the leprosy disappeared and the flesh grew immediately healthy. And as his body healed, his soul also healed along with his body. When the leper saw his body heal, he began to weep bitterly because of his sorrow for his sins and great compunction that he felt. As his body was cleansed from the leprosy by the bathing, so his soul was cleansing power of his tears and his sorrow.