He was born in 1182, the son of a well-to-do nobleman, in the little town of Assisi in Umbria, and as a lad became inflamed with the ideal of the religious life.

But instead of entering one of the existing monastic orders, where he would have been protected, he gave away every possession he had in the world and adopted 'poverty' as his watchword.

Clad in an old brown habit, he walked from place to place preaching charity, obedience, and renunciation of all worldly goods.

He lived on what was given to him to eat from day to day; he nursed the lepers and the sick.

Ever described as a most lovable person, he won by his preaching the hearts of people of all classes, from the King of France to the humblest peasant.