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Saint Francis of Assisi: Passion, Poverty & the Man Who Transformed the Church
All Christians know his name. Few truly know the man.
Francis of Assisi was not even five feet tall. He was not well educated. And yet he is the one saint commonly recognized as Alter Christus, the “other Christ.” Francis is not just any saint—he’s a saint for everyone, whatever your place or position in life. But do we really know him?
Who was this man at his core? What was it that thrust this little man from a little town to the heights of sanctity, into a place of high honor among the celestial court?
In this riveting biography, author Bret Thoman accomplishes what few biographers have. He pierces the inner life of Francis, revealing his deepest passions, his unquenchable love for poverty, and his unshakable grip on the core of the Gospel. The life of Francis, so often festooned with spectacle and miracle, is in reality the story of a soul yearning for God in every moment and glimpsing His presence in all creation.
If you want to see the hidden life of the greatest saint, if you want to hear his thoughts, if you want to feel the fervor that blazed within his soul, you must read St. Francis of Passion, Poverty, and the Man who Transformed the Catholic Church.
Francis of Assisi was not even five feet tall. He was not well educated. And yet he is the one saint commonly recognized as Alter Christus, the “other Christ.” Francis is not just any saint—he’s a saint for everyone, whatever your place or position in life. But do we really know him?
Who was this man at his core? What was it that thrust this little man from a little town to the heights of sanctity, into a place of high honor among the celestial court?
In this riveting biography, author Bret Thoman accomplishes what few biographers have. He pierces the inner life of Francis, revealing his deepest passions, his unquenchable love for poverty, and his unshakable grip on the core of the Gospel. The life of Francis, so often festooned with spectacle and miracle, is in reality the story of a soul yearning for God in every moment and glimpsing His presence in all creation.
If you want to see the hidden life of the greatest saint, if you want to hear his thoughts, if you want to feel the fervor that blazed within his soul, you must read St. Francis of Passion, Poverty, and the Man who Transformed the Catholic Church.
- GenresBiography
256 pages, Hardcover
Published May 19, 2016
37 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Bret Thoman
41 books19 followersBret Thoman has a master’s degree in Italian from Middlebury College, a BA from the University of Georgia, and a certificate in Franciscan Studies. He is an FAA-licensed pilot and flew professionally for six years logging over 3,500 hours of flight time. After leaving flying, Bret started organizing and accompanying tours to Italy for St. Francis Pilgrimages, the company he founded in 2004.
Bret has written numerous articles, eight books and translated a dozen more from Italian to English.
He spends his free time reading, watching films, sailing in the Adriatic Sea, hiking anywhere off-road, and wiping noses
Bret lives in Loreto, Italy with his wife and three children.
He can be contacted at: bret.thoman@gmail.com
Bret has written numerous articles, eight books and translated a dozen more from Italian to English.
He spends his free time reading, watching films, sailing in the Adriatic Sea, hiking anywhere off-road, and wiping noses
Bret lives in Loreto, Italy with his wife and three children.
He can be contacted at: bret.thoman@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 9, 2025
Get me at a dinner table with Wendell and Francis and I will listen!
March 14, 2017
Well, this is the first book that I have ever read that might literally be called a hagiography. It was useful for getting some of the biographical details - and perhaps theological motivation - for the life of St. Francis, but I think that I was looking for something slightly more academic.
September 8, 2017
Overall the biography of St. Frances did not meet my expectations. This book left me with even more questions than when I started. Such as:
1. This biography references St. Francis' followers and his personal letters and writings. Within the text there are numerous excerpts that state he wanted to be a martyr and in his youth accounts comments of him trying to fulfill his believed destiny to be a prince. There are, at minimum, 4 accounts of St. Francis discussing this. With that said how can we deny the plausibility that his stigmata was not self inflicted. The Stigmata happened during a hermitage during which St. Francis was alone and partaking in a fast. Additionally, his health was failing and everything he worked for (The Order of Friars Minor) was falling apart. It seems to me to be more plausibility in self infliction rather than God infliction.
2. in the text there is also a point where St. Francis preaches to a wolf and the wolf apologizes for tormenting the city. If this is to be believed as factual this fuels the discussion of animals having a soul or not. If they do in fact have a soul, why do we kill them and eat them?
1. This biography references St. Francis' followers and his personal letters and writings. Within the text there are numerous excerpts that state he wanted to be a martyr and in his youth accounts comments of him trying to fulfill his believed destiny to be a prince. There are, at minimum, 4 accounts of St. Francis discussing this. With that said how can we deny the plausibility that his stigmata was not self inflicted. The Stigmata happened during a hermitage during which St. Francis was alone and partaking in a fast. Additionally, his health was failing and everything he worked for (The Order of Friars Minor) was falling apart. It seems to me to be more plausibility in self infliction rather than God infliction.
2. in the text there is also a point where St. Francis preaches to a wolf and the wolf apologizes for tormenting the city. If this is to be believed as factual this fuels the discussion of animals having a soul or not. If they do in fact have a soul, why do we kill them and eat them?
August 21, 2023
Incredible book! Allowed me to understand who St. Francis truly was and how penitent he was. It inspired me to want to live more simply and grow closer to God. Every page provides inspiration for faith.
October 17, 2025
I enjoyed this biography. It offered a slightly different perspective on St Francis’s life, that deviates a bit from the tree-hugging pacifist character often depicted. It’s not radically different than that, to be clear. But it is more nuanced.
September 4, 2024
Es un buen libro que recoge desde la perspectiva sencilla la espiritualidad franciscana seglar. Pero está bien esbozado y es refrescante sobre el franciscanismo.
December 24, 2024
A very fun and informative read. Hard to tell the difference between truth and legend though.
September 28, 2018
The perfect companion for pilgrims on the Camino di Francesco
April 5, 2017
This book gives an in-depth view of St. Francis, his deepest thoughts, feelings and desires. I am so inspired by his love for Jesus. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews