St. Francis of Assisi, child of privilege, is one of the few ever to take Matthew 10 seriously, but his followers watered even that down, as they always do

St. Francis c. 1228

 

 Friars resort to farmers rich, and bless their halls,

 and exorcise the beds, and cross the walls.

 -- John Dryden

 

And as ye go . . . cast out devils . . . provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses . . .

 

-- Matthew 10:7ff.

 

 

A sermon Francis heard in 1209 on Mt 10:9 made such an impression on him that he decided to devote himself wholly to a life of apostolic poverty. Clad in a rough garment, barefoot, and, after the Evangelical precept, without staff or scrip, he began to preach repentance.