Book - 50, God's Pauper: St. Francis of Assissi

God's Pauper: St. Francis of Assissi (1962)

by

Nikos Kazantzakis

Book Read: 11-18 January 2016

Note Written: 25 January 2016

'St. Francis of Assissi' by Kazantzakis is a deeply spiritual book, told from the perspective of Brother Leo, a trusted companion of the Saint. The perspective is observational yet critical. Leo is part of Francis' transformation as well as ascent to a saint. Leo has witnessed everything, Leo has been a part of everything, Leo has struggled with everything. Leo is the true witness to St. Francis. 

I had read the life story of St. Francis of Assissi during my childhood. 'Assissiyile Vaanambadi' (The Skylark of Assissi) was a book which was gifted to me on the day of my Holy Communion. Growing up in a Catholic household, I am no stranger to the stories of saints. This particular book about Francis Assissi made him my favourite saint of the time, maybe even now. Looking at St. Francis in a different light, this time through Kazantzakis, was a thought-provoking experience for me.

The journeys, agonies, and experiences of St. Francis and Leo can be compared to the legendary 'adventures' of Don Quixote de La Mancha and Sancho Panza. The hardships faced and the lack of acceptance, the craziness, can all be seen similar to the experience of the characters created by Cervantes. The crazy knight with an out-worldly mission who would accept all hardships which comes along can be compared to Francis and the devout follower to Leo. They are ridiculed by the society, beaten up, stoned upon, and yet move forward relentlessly. Leo is a staunch follower, like Sancho, even though with a lot of doubts about his master and the mission, yet follows around like a fool. Francis sees his troubles and agonies as prizes of his devotion to God; Don Quixote sees them as his prizes of valour and necessary sacrifice for the love of Dulcinea del Toboso, also imaginary, but believed to be true. 

Yet another thing I would like to mention is that for ascetics and religious monks, religion and salvation are often very patriarchal notions. It is always an exclusive world of men, or of women. Why were there only brotherhoods and sisterhoods and not human-hoods? Why do we need gendered paths of salvation if God created us as one? 

The book left me with a lot of doubts upon St. Francis, on faith, on religion, on life itself; I couldn't agree with most of his (Kazantzakis' Francis) notions or arguments, yet it was an interesting life to experience. The novel was definitely worth reading and reflecting upon.