Saint Francis of Assisi

The acclaimed author examines the life of the medieval saint who founded the Franciscan Order and became the patron saint of animals and ecology.

Saint Francis of Assisi is one of the most beloved saints in the Catholic church. In this biography, author and Catholic philosopher G. K. Chesterton relays the unique and inspirational life of the humble saint. As a wealthy and spirited young man, Francis joined the war between Assisi and Perugia only to return ill and downtrodden. Then, after witnessing a poor man begging for alms, his spirit was renewed. He was inspired to start a new life of humble poverty and devotion to God.

Though not yet officially part of the Catholic papacy, Francis amassed a following in Assisi and traveled to Rome to get approval from Pope Innocent III to form what is known today as the Franciscan Order. The Order devotes themselves to living in poverty yet giving generously to the needy.