Who was St. Francis of Assisi, really? To quote Fr. Omer Englebert in St. Francis of Assisi: A Biography, "Francis is universally admired, but he has not always been universally understood. As with Jesus Christ, another universal figure, Francis's admirers try to remake the saint in their own image."
Was he a nature lover who talked to the birds? Was he a social worker who embraced the poor? Was he an extreme ascetic—constantly fasting, even suffering the stigmata? He had a gentle personality but could be a fierce fighter when he faced an opponent of his Lord. In the words of G.K. Chesterton, "In appearance (Francis) must have been like a thin brown skeleton autumn leaf dancing eternally before the wind; but in truth it was he that was the wind."
However St. Francis is perceived, he definitely challenged the status quo. Here at Franciscan Media, the spirit of St. Francis inspires us daily. We learn from his humility and absolute devotion to the Gospel.
Have we at Franciscan Media inspired you to learn more about St. Francis or helped you enrich your faith in some other way? Perhaps through our digital magazine, Liberty + Vine, our award-winning St. Anthony Messenger magazine, or other media outlets such as AmericanCatholic.org and American Catholic Radio?
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