SINNER, SERVANT, SAINT

A novel focuses on St. Francis of Assisi’s transformation from a dissolute youngster into a man of God.

Francesco di Pietro di Bernardone is born in 1182 in Assisi and, from an early age, demonstrates “amiable awareness of others and a love of all things beautiful.” Bored by his studies, he pines for a life more adventurous than his father’s—Pietro is a cloth merchant—and dreams of becoming a troubadour or knight. But he remains a constant source of consternation to his parents—irresponsible and ill-disciplined, he seems destined to waste his life. He grows up during tumultuous times and wants to participate in the military campaigns to protect Assisi, but one night, while suffering from a fever, a disembodied voice tells him it is better to serve God. Later, the voice of God issues him a more specific command: “Francis, go and build up My house, which, as you can see, is falling into ruin.” At first, Francis interprets this literally and devotes himself to the restoration of a country church, but later, he sees a greater meaning in his mission. He articulates a “Rule of Life” that demands an existence of absolute poverty and service to the most disadvantaged. O’Reilly’s book is part of the Mentoris Project, “a series of novels and biographies about the lives of great men and women who have changed history.” The author lucidly reconstructs St. Francis’ extraordinary life as a “profligate-turned-penitent” and the order of friars that formed around him. Her prose is plain, unadorned by literary embellishments, and the plot can be lumbering. One can’t help but wonder why O’Reilly chose to present St. Francis’ life in a novel since she seems to have so little interest in the literary form. But the author’s research is impressive, and she not only furnishes a rigorously synoptic account of the man’s remarkable spiritual journey, but also meticulously covers the turbulent times he endured.

A thorough introduction to an intriguing historical figure.