Roger Bacon High School - Troubadour Yearbook (Cincinnati, OH)

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MR. JOHN MCANAW, A.B. MR. GEORGE JOHNSON, P11. . English History Adviser of Student Publications MR. CLARENCE SEITZ, 8.8. in Ed. Mathematics Commercial Studies MR. JOSEPH LINK, Ph.B., B.S. w '-' ' YRILLA LINFERT Secretary C Registrar ' 26 h

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.. C I , MR. EDWARD BURNS, 13, .B., LL. CX MR J ? F! HnP11.B. luff J Direc or of 'hysical Education Mathemati Athletic C is, C thlelic Coach , U r 3 D IAE QLJJL .r BRO. NORBERT STECKEL, C Science 13.8. 111 Ed. 95 JCMR. JOSEPH BOSCHERT, Ch.E. MR. JOHN DOERGER, A33; 6 Mathematics English D ? 25 C - s, 36

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Giovanni Bernardone, more com- monly known as F rancis of Assisi, was born in the year 1182. His mother, Lady Pica, was of noble birth and 0f Provencal origin, while his father was a wealthy merchant of ASSisi. It is probable that partly on account of his mother's nationality and partly on account of the fact that his father was in France at the time of the childis birth, the young Bernardone early in life acquired the name, ggFrancesco 0r ' thc Frenchman? Despite the contentions of some of his hiographers, the common opinion seems to he that the Assisian possessed from early youth an unsullied moral purity. Another trait which the Happy Troubadour seems to have possessed even in his adolescent years is a dis- regard for wealth. When Francis was about nineteen years of age, he came under the spell of troubadours from farther north on the European conti- nent who invaded the Italian peninsula. Their tales of romantic adventures gripped the imagination of the young man. and the daring life which their stories of war presented appealed to his ambitious and lively nature. Natur- ally very gay and joyous, he was very much pleased hy the happy note of these ballads. AS the young man listened to the songs of the troubadours, a desire for mundane glory, tempered only by a sense of chivalry, surged forth in his heart. While we tind that St. Francis eventually freed himself of these earthly ambitions imparted by the Trouhadours, he never seems to have IFE OF ST. FRANCIS 0F ASSISI lost his buoyant, chivalrous attitude toward life. At this point of his life, he is described as being slender, somewhat helow middle height, and of a dark complexion. His features bordered on being delicate e thin sensitive lips, a straight well-shapen nose, smooth hmw1 and dark piercing eyes. His posture was straight, and his move ments were brisk. He. dressed with a splendor that showed a delight in color. Coarseness of any kind nause- ated him, and his taste for foods, at this time, can best he described as dainty. 50011 an opportunity for Francis to exercise his chivalrous nature pre- sented itself. Assisi became involved in war with a neighboring town. At the battle of San Giovanni, the Assi- sians were defeated and Francis and many of his comrades were thrown into prison. During this continement his gallant display of good cheer made him appear almost ridiculous to his fellow prisoners. The harsh treatment which the young noble received in prison weak- ened his physical constitution, for after his release he spent a year ill in hed. The noticeable effect of this sickness was an increasing seriousness and a lessening of his appetite for war. He tried to donate his services whole- heartedly to a campaign being waged on behalf of the Pope against the Emperor, but he found that the clash of arms had lost its attraction. At this point, Francis experienced the great conflict of his life, the hzqh