St Francis is known as the man who most resembled Christ, 'the first after the only one', as the universal brother, as a man of peace and reconciliation, as the poor man, the lover of the poor, the singer of creation. This is true. Francis of Assisi, however, is first and foremost a mystic, a true contemplative, a lover of Christ, poor and crucified. Francis is not only a praying man, but, as his biographer Thomas of Celano says, he is a "man made prayer". The presence of God transfigures him, to the point of making him another Christ;
Most High, glorious God,
enlighten the darkness of my heart
and give me true faith, certain hope and perfect charity,
sense and knowledge, Lord,
that I may carry out Your holy and true command.
