Francis of Assisi, one of the most popular saints and the patron saint of ecology, is an enigma. He was born into a wealthy family but gave it all up when he felt called by God to live a life of extreme poverty. He dreamed of becoming a knight but ended up preaching peace and reconciliation. He sought spiritual solitude but found himself head of a large religious order. He was a radical but remained loyal to the Catholic Church. His life and works hold many lessons for us today, as we seek ways of living that are informed by the gospels and rooted in integrity.
