"Prayer was to Francis as play is to a child: natural, easy, creative, and joyful," author Jon Sweeney tells us. "Before it became common to speak in personal terms of a relationship with God, Francis did so and made it seem natural." With this guide, readers will:

• Pray the words that Francis taught his spiritual brothers and sisters to pray.
• Explore Francis's time and place and feel the joy and earnestness of the first Franciscans.
• Experience how it is possible to live a contemplative and active life, at the same time.