Another significant moment in Francis’ conversion was while he was praying at an ancient, crumbling church at San Damiano. He heard Christ say, “Repair my church.” Taking this literally, Francis stole fabric from his father to sell for money to repair the San Damiano church building. His father caught him and brought him before the religious authorities, who told him to return the money. Ever one for commitment, Francis tore all his clothes off but his undershirt and ran into the forest singing. Most saints and heroes of the faith have untidy stories, and some make us smile.

Francis now lived on his own in poverty, slowly repairing the old church. Others started to join him, attracted by his (literally) stripped-down way of life. His brotherhood was marked by their simple rule of life and heart for the poorest of the poor. A community of women also emerged called The Poor Clares. St Francis believed that poverty strengthened his faith as it removed barriers between him and worshipping God.

St. Francis felt a deep connection with creation, calling all animals “brother” and “sister," as we see in the story of preaching to the birds, described in St. Bonaventure's 1260AD biography.

Another story recounts St Francis befriending a wolf that had been terrorizing a nearby village, saying "Brother Wolf, I make peace with thee." And the wolf is said to have become a tame part of the community, fed and beloved, and mourned when he died of old age. This story reminds us of scripture, where the redeemed and renewed creation is described by the relationship among animals: "The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them" (Isaiah 11:6).

When St Francis began to go blind, he wrote the Canticle of the Sun – a prayer of praise to God for His creation. The prophetic poignancy of his condition draws us into the rich vision of a God soaked world that we are called to voice and contend for.