The Riches of Simplicity

by Keith Beasley-Topliffe (Editor), Timothy Jones

Perhaps no one has captivated the hearts of such a wide spectrum of Christians as Francis and Clare of Assisi. These 13th-century Italian saints are depicted through biographical vignettes as well as prayers, letters, and other spiritually rich writings from their remarkable lives. The Riches of Simplicity is sold individually or as part of Upper Room® Spiritual Classics, Series 2.

Genres: Religion

76 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1998

Reviews

[Jonathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had mostly heard about Francis and Clare via 3rd-person summaries of their lives, so it was good to get some 1st and 2nd-hand material to flesh out their real personalities a little more. I was impressed that so much could be shared in such a thin text.

Many of the words of this book are quite harsh on modern ears. Humility, Obedience, Simplicity, and Chastity are not our favorite virtues, but they were Francis and Clare’s passions in life. Some of their statements about such things appear especially sacrificial and bore much fruit in their lives and ministries, but their framework can sound legalistic to us. Their devotion to the Catholic Church runs deep, which may offend some and encourage others. (As a non-Catholic myself, it was a reminder that great men and women of God have come via devotion to many different Christian traditions.)

Overall, I was glad to get a fuller picture of Clare and Francis from this simple book. I would have difficulty agreeing with many of their statements and decisions myself, but I can feel in their stories that they have found paths that I do indeed need to explore further.

[Jonathan]

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