Twelfth century Italy faced many of the same tendencies and upheavals as modern day America. An affluent society with burgeoning travel and trade at home, the Crusades causing constant conflict abroad, a wealthy church that many felt had lost touch with the people, and everywhere a “pleasure-seeking culture,” according to Glenn Myers, professor of church history at Crown College in Minnesota.

Onto that landscape strode St. Francis of Assisi, who was born into affluence, but in a dramatic moment in the town square tore off his clothes and broke with his old ways and embraced a new life of poverty. Christianity would never be the same.