Emphasis Preaching Journal

Saint Francis of Assisi, who preached to the birds that Jesus speaks about, desired to follow his Lord with the passion of an X-Games participant. When his father, Pietro, a well-to-do merchant, confronted him about his vow to poverty, Francis could not be dissuaded from generously sharing his blessings with the poor and the lepers. The father did not want the inheritance simply to be given away to the poor and needy. Pietro imprisoned his own son in the family home cellar to discipline him, but to no avail. Finally, the father confronted his son with the help of a local bishop.