Eventually, Francis joined a group of knights from Assisi. The cavalry was riding south to fight under Walter de Brienne for the Pope against the Germans. Having equipped himself with sumptuous apparel and fine armor from his father, he proceeded to war. One night while asleep during battle, he dreamed he saw his father’s house transformed into a castle. On the walls of this castle hung armor much armor which was marked with the sign of the cross and he heard a voice saying that the armor belonged to Francis and his soldiers. Confident now that he would win glory as a knight, he set out again to fight. However, a small voice kept taunting him saying, “serve the Master rather than the man.” Francis listened carefully and returned home. A deep sense of love and compassion was growing within St. Francis. Riding one day in the plains below Assisi, he met a leper whose loathsome sores filled Francis with horror. Suddenly however, he overcame his disdain for the leper and gave all the money in his pocket to him and kissed the leaper’s hand. This marked the turning point in his life. Francis eventually realized he was being called to re-build the church during that time. After assembling a small group of people who joined him, he went to see the Holy Father, Pope Innocent III. Somehow by the grace of God, he was able to receive an audience with the Holy Father. Dismissing him and his group, the Holy Father had a dream that evening. The pope in his dream saw a physical church falling – windows coming down, pillars crashing, and statues breaking apart. Underneath the entire building was Francis, holding the structure together. The next morning, Pope Urban re-called Francis and gave his blessing to his new order – the Franciscans! Fr. Roach
