Franciscans of Halifax Language selection: Active Life Home Spirituality Links Pictures Where to find us Who we are Our History Contemplative Life Active Life Franciscan Life Contact Francis is often portrayed in colours that, if called “romantic” would be an offense to those that really are romantics. Francis is often shown talking to wolves and birds, talking to the fire....almost a hippie-ecologist from a religiously- inclined commercial. Francis was a strong man, having an iron will and graced with a strong persuasive capacity, that made him become famous all over Europe in only a few years. The Franciscan Charism, according to Francis, is the life of the Gospel. What was said above serves to set the frame of the experience of this great saint of the 13th century. The Franciscan religious life starts as a radical way of living the Gospel, in a life that takes the words and teachings of Christ seriously. In the beginning, Francis was not even aware that he was founding a new order. The experience of prayer in solitude and in the highest contemplation alternated with times of pastoral service and preaching. For Francis there was no separation between contemplation and activity; if one could create the word “contempl-active” it would surely belong to St. Francis of Assisi.