His quiet life of prayer and penance at the hermitage near Montepaolo was exchanged for that of a public preacher. [[St. Francis of Assisi]] heard of his great knowledge and holiness after a speech he gave in 1222 and was assigned to preach in Northern Italy. He lived and preached in Padua, a major population center of its day. His last and most famous sermon took place in 1231 before crowds estimated to be 30,000 people in attendance. He died in peace a short time after that at the young age of 36 years old. | His quiet life of prayer and penance at the hermitage near Montepaolo was exchanged for that of a public preacher. [[St. Francis of Assisi]] heard of his great knowledge and holiness after a speech he gave in 1222 and was assigned to preach in Northern Italy. He lived and preached in Padua, a major population center of its day. His last and most famous sermon took place in 1231 before crowds estimated to be 30,000 people in attendance. He died in peace a short time after that at the young age of 36 years old. |