Through the reading of Omer Englebert’s book and our discussions during meetings, there
were ten takeaways about the life of Saint Francis and those around him that resonate with
me.
1. In the first couple of chapters, we get to know a little about Francis’ mother, Lady Pica.
At the time, individuals married within their own class and wealth. Pica, on the other hand,
moved away from convention and wanted to marry for love, despite the fact that her
husband, Francis’ father, was not as wealthy as she. Additionally, she freed Francis from
the dungeon, effectively disobeying Pietro. Both of these acts show just how revolutionary
Lady Pica really was given the time period, when both events would have been unheard of.
Though marrying for love would remain abnormal, Pica was years ahead of her time.
2. A common trait of Saint Francis is his level of generosity, which can often go
misunderstood. While some might believe that he led a life of no belongings, it is so much
more than that. He would always try his hardest to make sure that those around him had
what they needed, even though he always rebuffed any offerings. The most amazing thing
about this is that he still led a full and wondrous life without material things. Though he
lived many years ago, this is a lesson that is still valuable today.
3. Francis showed through his actions and words that it was not just humans that needed
love and caring. The saint loved all living things, including animals and especially birds.
