Book Review: Francis, The Journey and the Dream

I finished this book a few months ago after a priest recommended it to me. Francis: The Journey and the Dream by Murray Bodo is a loose biography of St. Francis that is written in an almost poetic style. The style becomes a stumbling block at times but overall it is an excellent little book.

Francis is a saint that everyone seems to love. We all think of Saint Francis preaching to the birds and enjoying God's creation. This book goes further and doesn't pull the punches to show how fully Francis lived the virtues of detachment, simplicity, and service. Francis loved so much that he gave it all, just like his model, Christ, gave everything. While that was beautiful, it was not easy.

Perhaps we aren't all called to the level of holiness and charity that Saint Francis was. Even so, this book helps one appreciate the reality of detachment and service to which all Christians are called.

An excellent read.