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Francis of Assisi is one of those rare figures who still appeals to Christians of many denominational and theological stripes. Christian History asked Conrad Harkins, O.S.F., a scholar at the Franciscan Institute at Saint Bonaventure University in New York, to talk about Francis’s continuing attraction. Harkins is one of America’s leading scholars of Francis and editor of Franciscan Studies.

Christian History:There were many traveling preachers in Francis’s day. Why is Francis remembered when others have been long forgotten?

Conrad Harkins: First, because Francis was utterly committed to God. Everyone says the great problem in Western society today is our collapse of values. For Francis the supreme value, the value that gave value to everything else, was God.

Francis was so committed to Christ, he took the Gospels as a manual of Christian life. When he heard that the Gospel said not to possess money, wear shoes, or own more than one tunic, Francis obeyed.

In addition, and just as important, he obeyed joyfully. There was a tremendous optimism and enthusiasm about Francis. For him a life of Gospel poverty was never depressing or sorrowful.

As Francis was being converted to God, he went with some young friends singing, dancing, and cavorting through the streets of Assisi. At one point, he fell behind the group. They turned back to find him and saw a dreamy look in his eyes. They teased him: “Oh, Francis, you’re in love!”

Francis replied, “You’re right. And I shall take a bride more beautiful and more lovely than any you can even begin to imagine.”

He was talking about God. That’s what transformed him. His joy in God, his love for God, was and is infectious.

What did Francis preach about? How was his theme different from preaching then and now?

Francis considered John the Baptist his patron saint, and like John he dedicated himself to penitential preaching. But even though Francis spoke about punishment for sin, he mainly exhorted people to see the goodness and love of God.

Sometimes while preaching to crowds, he would turn and look at some birds and address them: “Look how God feeds you! How good God is to you, because he gives you wings to get from place to place. He gives you the sky to fly around in. And you praise God by singing!”

Then he would turn to the people and say, “How do you people praise God for all the good gifts he gives to you?”

Instead of hearing about a vengeful deity, people heard about a loving God, and they would respond, “Yes, Francis! We want to make God the center of our lives. What do we do?”

What counsel did Francis give?

His earliest advice included six items:

• Love God with your whole heart, soul, strength, and mind.

• Love your neighbor as yourself.

• Control your body lest it lead you into vice and sin.

• Receive the Eucharist.

• Confess your sins.

• Bring forth fruit—good works—in penance.

Vast numbers of people began dedicating themselves to this God-centered, God-fearing life. In one town, after hearing Francis preach, an entire group of men suddenly renounced their property and joined him as friars. Of course, most hearers didn’t go so far, and without abandoning their property and family, they started living simple, frugal lives of good works.

Didn’t Francis expect everyone to live in poverty?

Francis never said that the world at large should live without property. Many itinerant preachers in Francis’s day condemned anyone who did not live exactly as they lived. Francis, on the other hand, strictly forbade his friars to condemn those who did not live in voluntary poverty. By no means did he expect married people to give up their property and money. Otherwise, the whole world would starve to death!

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