According to Chesterton, St Francis of Assisi anticipated all that is most sympathetic in the modern mood, he exceeds Wordsworth in his love of nature and Tolstoy in his social compassion. However St Francis' love of people was not based on a worldly obsession but was the expression of his complete love of Christ. It is perhaps his key inspiration and legacy that the material things most valued by humanity diminish to insignificance in the light of this love.
Chesterton provides a commentary to the life of St Francis. As for his legacy Chesterton concludes 'He was above all things a great giver; and he cared chiefly for the best kind of giving which is called thanksgiving. He knew that we can best measure the towering miracle of the mere fact of existence if we realize that but for some strange mercy we should not even exist.'
