Francis of Assisi (1182-1226) was the least dogmatic saint, seeing himself as God's troubadour or fool. His life was full of dramatic events. After a life of indulgence as a young playboy, merchant, and soldier—he fought at the Battle of Collestrada—he stripped naked in court, abandoned everything he owned, and dedicated his life to serving the poorest and the sick.

During his missions, he walked barefoot across the Pyrenees, survived shipwrecks, and crossed enemy lines during the Fifth Crusade to negotiate with the Sultan in Egypt. In 1224, wounds similar to Christ's appeared on his hands, feet, and side, marking the first recorded case of stigmata. Francis's love for creation, exemplified in his sermon to the birds, inspired the realism of Italian Renaissance artists; his vernacular poetry encouraged Dante to write The Divine Comedy in Italian instead of Latin.

The first religious order he established for men had a profound impact on social justice and the development of universities in Europe; his second order, the Poor Clares, for women, quickly grew to include hundreds, including royalty and several saints; his third, for laypeople committed to non-violence, helped dismantle the military power of feudal society. Above all, it is through his universal love that he has inspired the world for nearly eight centuries, attracting over three million visitors annually to his tomb in Assisi.

Pages: 368, Dimensions: 15.4x15.4cm