Saint Francis of Assisi, (1182-1226) the patron saint of animals and the environment, lived in a historically remote time yet he still remains a very influential figure today.

Born Giovanni Battista, Francis, as he became known, grew up the privileged son of a wealthy cloth merchant. He fought in the Battle of Collestrada, was captured and held prisoner for a year. Suffering from a fever during that time, his thoughts turned to the emptiness of his life. Returning home, he had prophetic dreams which led him to a religious conversion. He took the life of Jesus Christ as a model for his own, and also a “wife” Lady Poverty. When his bewildered father sued Francis, demanding his son return to him, Francis stripped naked in court, abandoned everything he owned and devoted his life to caring for the poor and sick. From that point the only father Francis would acknowledge was his heavenly father.

In the beginning of his ministry, Francis was seen as a fool, a clown, a man to be pitied and avoided. But something about him attracted followers, and over the years he founded three religious orders. The first was comprised of the “Friars Minor”. These men went forth in groups of two wandering from place to place singing the praises of God and spread the Gospel. The second order is the Second Franciscan Order of Poor Ladies, now known as “Poor Clares”, in honor of Saint Clare, the young woman who also left her comfortable upbringing and faced the anger of her family to follow Christ. The Third Order is the Brothers and Sisters of Penance, which Francis intended as a sort of middle state between the world and the cloister for those who could not leave their home or wanted to desert their spouses to enter either the first or second order.

Adrian House spent 4 years writing this biography but it is easy to read and very enjoyable. In the nearly eight centuries after his death, Francis continues to fascinate. More than three million people journey every year to his tomb in Assisi and consider his example: "Preach the gospel at all times. Use words if necessary."

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