Page:The Lady Poverty - a XIII. century allegory (IA ladypovertyxiiic00giovrich).pdf/222

 the soul. To no man is given the spiritual insight and vision which alone can bring rest eternal to man's spirit, unless he have first put from him the lust of the earth. And according to the measure of his detachment is spiritual achievement possible.

Is then every man to imitate St Francis of Assisi, and cast off all wealth and become dependent upon the labour of his hands or the charity of his neighbour? No such claim is made by Francis, for it was not made by Christ.