The followers of Saint Francis of Assisi were called the Fransician Order of Monks. Also known as Friars, these Christians lived in purposeful poverty, and were believed to have more grace than any other monastic community. Francis and his acolytes worked miracles and they reportedly had acquired divine wisdom from God. Francis taught his monks that the way to heaven was by faith along with good works, not just one or the other.
There are many varied stories of miracles worked by the friars, such as when a illness was spreading throughout the monastery, Saint Francis conducted a mass which healed all the sick. On another occasion, a monk named Anthony is said to have preached to animals, and was able to convert dozens of pagans and heretics to the faith.
The book states that Jesus and Mary allegedly appeared to a friar who was on his death bed, and explained to him that He gave Francis the Holy Spirit to start the orders. A monk named Brother James was headed to purgatory, but his fellow monk Brother John prayed for him to be released. After this, Brother John was able to celebrate mass one more time before perishing.
Once a mysterious old man stopped by the monastery. While the friars were washing his feet out of respect, the elderly visitor told the friars that Saint Francis would lead them all to heaven within a year. The book claims that Francis did regularly get monks who had died sent to heaven through his prayers, and once even prayed to get a fellow monk released from purgatory.
The Fransician monks were holy through their asceticism and lived simple lives away from all worldly possessions. Through this, they were able to acquire divine wisdom and also to bring others to Christ through their holy example.
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