Above the high altar in the lower church at
Assisi is a picture by Giotto representing the
marriage of Saint Francis to poverty, the most
touching of all the frescoes of that wonderful
building. In it we see a woman, thin and rag-
ged, holding out her hand to Saint Francis, to
whom she is united by Christ. Before her a boy
is casting stones, another points a long rod at
her in scorn, while a dog is barking at her
feet This picture illustrates the ruling passion
and most significant feature of the life of Saint
Francis: his humility and his abnegation of
those things— riches and honor —for which all 9
men are struggling. He required in his fol-
lowers the same things he required in himself:
to sell all they had to feed the poor, and then,

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in lowliness and humility, to beg or work for
the simple food necessary to existence.
