The Story of Saint Francis — Divine Comedy

The futility of earthly pursuits becomes starkly visible from heaven's perspective, where Dante observes mortals chasing empty arguments about statues, aphorisms, political power, wealth, sensual pleasure, and idle indolence. Raised gloriously with Beatrice as heaven's guest, he encounters a spirit who reads his unspoken doubts about religious orders and offers clarification in plain terms. Divine Providence ordained two champions to escort the Church: Francis, seraphic in fervor, and Dominic, cherubic in wisdom, though only Francis's story unfolds here. Born in Assisi (called the East), Francis scandalized his merchant father by wedding Lady Poverty in spiritual court, choosing destitution over inheritance. His mystical marriage inspired followers like Bernard, Egidius, and Sylvester to bare their feet and pursue this heavenly peace. Pope Innocent sealed Francis's religious order, and later Pope Honorius crowned their virtues with a second approval. Francis preached before the Sultan seeking martyrdom, then returned to Italian lands where he received Christ's stigmata on a rocky mountain between the Arno and Tiber rivers. After carrying these sacred wounds for two years, Francis entrusted his beloved Lady Poverty to his brotherhood before his spirit departed to its appointed kingdom. Yet the Franciscan order has since strayed, tempted by hunger for new doctrines that lead them into strange pastures far from their founder's teachings. The farther these stragglers wander from Francis's example, the more spiritually impoverished they become, returning to the fold destitute of the milk of true wisdom. Only a faithful few still cleave to the shepherd's original vision, requiring little material to clothe their simple devotion.