Simplify the following text for a Grade 4 native English-speaking person.
Original: Sometime shortly before the year 1160 he was inspired by a series of events , firstly , after hearing a sermon on the life of St. Alexius , secondly , when rejection of transubstantiation was made a capital crime , thirdly , the sudden and unexpected death of a friend during an evening meal .
Simplified: Sometime not long before the year 1160 he was inspired by some events . One of these was hearing a sermon on the life of St. Alexius .