 The story of his change of life is reported that, in 1209, he had initially sold some bricks to Francis, who, after his dramatic renunciation of his family, was on a campaign to repair the rural chapels around the city which had fallen into disrepair.He later saw Francis with Bernard of Quintavalle, a local nobleman determined to follow Francis and his way of life, who was in the middle of giving away his entire fortune to the poor.Falling prey to greed, Sylvester claimed that he had been paid too little for the bricks he had previously sold Francis and demanded a just compensation, which he was given.