Official Sacred Record
LEGACY
Leader Francis of Assisi's reading records
Leave your thoughts in the guestbook.
I n t r o d u c t i o n
Saint of Holy Poverty Francis of Assisi
LeaderIT1181 — 1226
Founder of the Franciscan Order. Born to a wealthy merchant, he renounced everything to live in poverty and love, renewing medieval Christianity.
“Abandoning worldly wealth and lowering myself endlessly, I simply live as a small friend to the poor and young birds.”
C o n t e m p o r a r i e s
L i b r a r y
Cultural Journey
How cultural experiences shaped this figure's life
Francis of Assisi does not treat the Gospels as an object of interpretation. For him, scripture is not a text to be analyzed or glossed but a directive to be followed to the letter. The moment he read Matthew 19:21 — "Go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor" — the son of a wealthy merchant stripped off his very clothes and returned them to his father. Luke 9:3 — "Take nothing for your journey" — translates directly into the Franciscan vow of poverty. Between reading and action, there is no room for interpretation.
According to Bonaventure, whenever a verse of scripture touched Francis's heart, he inscribed it deep in his memory and returned to it with constant affection and devotion. His method of reading was not the scholar's but the practitioner's. Even when his eyes weakened from illness, he asked others to read the Bible aloud to him, taking particular delight in the prophets and the Psalms. His confession that his soul rejoiced at hearing scripture alone reveals that for him the Bible was not an intellectual object but a sensory experience.
Francis's receptive capacity extended beyond scripture. His sense of God's presence in the birds, the wolf, the water, and the fire of the natural world came to fruition in the Canticle of the Sun. For him the entire world was a text to be read, and the Gospels were its grammar.
According to Bonaventure, whenever a verse of scripture touched Francis's heart, he inscribed it deep in his memory and returned to it with constant affection and devotion. His method of reading was not the scholar's but the practitioner's. Even when his eyes weakened from illness, he asked others to read the Bible aloud to him, taking particular delight in the prophets and the Psalms. His confession that his soul rejoiced at hearing scripture alone reveals that for him the Bible was not an intellectual object but a sensory experience.
Francis's receptive capacity extended beyond scripture. His sense of God's presence in the birds, the wolf, the water, and the fire of the natural world came to fruition in the Canticle of the Sun. For him the entire world was a text to be read, and the Gospels were its grammar.
Cultural Journey
How cultural experiences shaped this figure's life
Francis of Assisi does not treat the Gospels as an object of interpretation. For him, scripture is not a text to be analyzed or glossed but a directive to be followed to the letter. The moment he read Matthew 19:21 — "Go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor" — the son of a wealthy merchant stripped off his very clothes and returned them to his father. Luke 9:3 — "Take nothing for your journey" — translates directly into the Franciscan vow of poverty. Between reading and action, there is no room for interpretation.
According to Bonaventure, whenever a verse of scripture touched Francis's heart, he inscribed it deep in his memory and returned to it with constant affection and devotion. His method of reading was not the scholar's but the practitioner's. Even when his eyes weakened from illness, he asked others to read the Bible aloud to him, taking particular delight in the prophets and the Psalms. His confession that his soul rejoiced at hearing scripture alone reveals that for him the Bible was not an intellectual object but a sensory experience.
Francis's receptive capacity extended beyond scripture. His sense of God's presence in the birds, the wolf, the water, and the fire of the natural world came to fruition in the Canticle of the Sun. For him the entire world was a text to be read, and the Gospels were its grammar.
According to Bonaventure, whenever a verse of scripture touched Francis's heart, he inscribed it deep in his memory and returned to it with constant affection and devotion. His method of reading was not the scholar's but the practitioner's. Even when his eyes weakened from illness, he asked others to read the Bible aloud to him, taking particular delight in the prophets and the Psalms. His confession that his soul rejoiced at hearing scripture alone reveals that for him the Bible was not an intellectual object but a sensory experience.
Francis's receptive capacity extended beyond scripture. His sense of God's presence in the birds, the wolf, the water, and the fire of the natural world came to fruition in the Canticle of the Sun. For him the entire world was a text to be read, and the Gospels were its grammar.
S i g n a t u r eL i n e s
Quote
“Abandoning worldly wealth and lowering myself endlessly, I simply live as a small friend to the poor and young birds.”
Greeting
“Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.”
“Where there is hatred, I shall sow love; where there is strife, forgiveness.”
“All creatures are brothers and sisters. The sun, the wind, the water.”
Roll Call
“This poor body of mine — I follow gladly.”
“Wherever the Lord calls, I will walk barefoot.”
“I shall be an instrument of peace.”
Deploy
“Preach the Gospel through your life, not your words!”
“Set down your possessions and go forth lightly!”
“Sow peace! That is our weapon!”
Victory
“It is in giving that we receive.”
“We consoled rather than sought consolation, and so we won.”
“All is by the grace of the Lord.”
Draw
“We must seek to understand rather than to be understood.”
“The seed has been sown. The fruit is the Lord's.”
“Worry about nothing. God alone is enough.”
Defeat
“It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.”
“Even in death, eternal life is born.”
“Fear nothing. All things pass.”
Strike
“Burn the darkness with the fire of love!”
“Break through with the force of poverty!”
“Brother, go forward without fear!”
Quote
“Abandoning worldly wealth and lowering myself endlessly, I simply live as a small friend to the poor and young birds.”
Greeting
“Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.”
“Where there is hatred, I shall sow love; where there is strife, forgiveness.”
“All creatures are brothers and sisters. The sun, the wind, the water.”
Roll Call
“This poor body of mine — I follow gladly.”
“Wherever the Lord calls, I will walk barefoot.”
“I shall be an instrument of peace.”
Deploy
“Preach the Gospel through your life, not your words!”
“Set down your possessions and go forth lightly!”
“Sow peace! That is our weapon!”
Victory
“It is in giving that we receive.”
“We consoled rather than sought consolation, and so we won.”
“All is by the grace of the Lord.”
Draw
“We must seek to understand rather than to be understood.”
“The seed has been sown. The fruit is the Lord's.”
“Worry about nothing. God alone is enough.”
Defeat
“It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.”
“Even in death, eternal life is born.”
“Fear nothing. All things pass.”
Strike
“Burn the darkness with the fire of love!”
“Break through with the force of poverty!”
“Brother, go forward without fear!”
P e r s o n aA n a l y s i s
Overview
A self-emptying structure completing the saint of poverty by combining history's highest temperance and humility scores with benevolence. High charm and optimism became driving forces for nature preaching and fraternal community building; loyalty and courage form capability balance for the historic boldness of visiting Islam in peace.
Core Abilities
Command72
Martial36
Intellect80
Charm88
Inner Virtues
Temperance96
Diligence82
Reflection88
Courage82
Outer Virtues
Loyalty88
Benevolence96
Fairness82
Humility96
Core Disposition
Pessimism
Optimism
Conservative
Progressive
Individual
Social
Cautious
Bold
Similar Figures
Overview
A self-emptying structure completing the saint of poverty by combining history's highest temperance and humility scores with benevolence. High charm and optimism became driving forces for nature preaching and fraternal community building; loyalty and courage form capability balance for the historic boldness of visiting Islam in peace.
Core Abilities
Command72
Martial36
Intellect80
Charm88
Inner Virtues
Temperance96
Diligence82
Reflection88
Courage82
Outer Virtues
Loyalty88
Benevolence96
Fairness82
Humility96
Core Disposition
Pessimism
Optimism
Conservative
Progressive
Individual
Social
Cautious
Bold
Similar Figures
G u e s t b o o k
No guestbook entries yet.
No guestbook entries yet.