introduction to the devout life john k ryan

The parents wouldn't come to him out of fear. This is the first record we have of religious tracts being used to communicate with people. He wrote out his sermons, copied them by hand, and slipped them under the doors. So Francis found a way to get under the door. No one would listen to him, no one would even open their door. And after three years, his cousin had left him alone and he had not made one convert.įrancis' unusual patience kept him working. He tied himself to a branch to keep from falling out and was so frozen the next morning he had to be cut down.

He slept in haylofts if he could, but once he slept in a tree to avoid wolves. In the bitter winters, his feet froze so badly they bled as he tramped through the snow. His father refused to give him any aid for this crazy plan and the diocese was too poor to support him.įor three years, he trudged through the countryside, had doors slammed in his face and rocks thrown at him. But by the time he left his expedition consisted of himself and his cousin. Francis decided that he should lead an expedition to convert the 60,000 Calvinists back to Catholicism. This was during the time of the Protestant reformation and just over the mountains from where Francis lived was Switzerland - Calvinist territory.

Then Francis had a bad idea - at least that's what everyone else thought. And then, Francis, without knowing about it, was appointed provost of his diocese, second in rank to the bishop. Every time it came out the sword and scabbard came to rest on the ground in the shape of the cross. Every time he fell the sword came out of the scabbard. God finally made God's will clear to Francis while he was riding.

Introduction to the devout life john k ryan