Recruitment

Francis's vocation reflected contemporary aspirations for a clearer expression of Christian values. His literal response to the Scriptures injected a freshness and vitality into a society which was searching for new ways of giving authentic expression to its Christian vocation. Fidelity to the Gospel, an ascetical life and the pursuit of goodness, which had previously been perceived as the preserve of a spiritual elite residing in monasteries, were brought to the market-place and piazza by Francis. The friars' fervour and dedication were rooted in apostolic zeal and a community life whose hallmarks were simplicity and cheerfulness. The striking levels of recruitment between 1212 and 1220 facilitated the spread of the order and caught the attention of contemporary chroniclers. Vocations were drawn from a broad spectrum of society, including on the one hand Leonard, whose parents were of a higher social rank in Assisi than Francis's family, and on the other converted robbers in the region of Borgo San Sepolchro, amongst many others.

Following Francis's first attempt to reach the Holy Land about 1211 he undertook a preaching tour which brought several good and suitable men, both laymen and clerics, to the order. Their diversity is illustrated by Hermann, a chaplain of the Teutonic Knights, and Alexander of Bremen, a scholastic in his local cathedral.