Francis was born in the year 1182 in the lovely town of Assisi in Italy. His father was a wealthy cloth merchant, very prosperous in his textile business. Francis was a happy-go-lucky, luxurious and handsome young man. When he was 20, in a war with the neighbouring Perugians, he was captured and was made to spend a year in prison. While confined to his bed with fever for several months, he came to realize the emptiness of the life he had been leading. Abandoning his former wasteful ways, he served the poor, the sick especially the lepers. He tried to find God?s will and plan in solitary prayer, meditation and penance. He also single handedly renovated the church of St. Damian when the ancient crucifix commended: ?Repair my house which is falling to ruin.? His father disinherited Francis of all his wealth and possessions which was gladly accepted by him