St. Francis was a charismatic crusader
“ Lord Rayner, Prior of St. Michael, has entered the Order of the Lesser Brothers. This Order is multiplying rapidly throughout the world, because it expressly imitates the pattern of the primitive church and the life of the apostles in everything. Nevertheless, this Order seems very dangerous to us, because it sends out Two by two throughout the world, not only formed religious, but also immature young men who should first be tested and subjected to conventual discipline for a time.
The head of these brothers, who also founded the order, came into our camp. He was so inflamed with zeal for the faith that he did not fear to cross the lines to the army of our enemy. For several days he preached the Word of God to the Saracens and made little progress. The Sultan, King of Egypt, privately asked him to pray to the Lord for him, so that he might be inspired by g
God. Colin the Englishemen, our clerk, also has joined this Order, as well as two more of our company, namely Master Michael and Lord Matthew, to whom I had committed the care of the church of the Holy Cross. I am having a difficult time holding on to the cantor and Henry and several others… (Jaques de Vitry, Letter 6: February March 1220, quoted in: Tolan, John: Saint Francis and the Sultan. The Curious History of a Christian-Muslim Encounter. Oxford University Press 2009, p. 19)
