Francis of Assisi and His World

Mark Galli examines the life and influence of one of the most popular and charismatic figures in Christian history. Galli roots Francis in the context of his medieval world, showing both the violence of the Middle Ages and the corruption of the Church. When Francis rejected the affluent lifestyle he once enjoyed from his father’s prosperous business, he created a new and radical order of poverty and Christian witness. His impact on the times in which he lived and on the Church was immense, as has been his influence on western culture as well. A popular religious figure, Francis of Assisi has also been historically misrepresented. Galli attempts to strip away the modern gloss in order to present the real man. The person revealed here is not the romantic free spirit of popular imagination, but a complex and contentious figure who combined a deep mysticism with radical commitment to live a life that glorified God.