So I've just finished the works of St Francis - not a major achievement as they only run to 150 pages in the generously spaced 'Classics of Western Spirituality' series, and a mixture of prayers, letters, the two Rules of Life for the order, and his Testament. Some themes:

1) Penance. It's a big deal for Francis. Basically every other letter involves an encouragement to penance. The Earlier Rule quite happily says if you don't do it, you go into eternal fire. It is one of 2 major obligations for the people of God in his 2 Letters to the Faithful.

2) The Eucharist. The second main obligation for the people of God is to attend mass and, after penance, to receive the sacrament. The purpose of the incarnation (according the Second Letter to the Faithful) is that the Son should make a sacrifice and oblation...

... on the altar of the cross, so that we migth follow in his footpprints, and be saved through him and receive him, and we do this through confession and receiving the eucharist.

3) Obedience. Obedience to every duly consecrated religious authority, including both good and bad priests. Obedience to the Pope. Obedience to rulers. FWIW, not obedience to fathers, and very little on the family full stop (except for when husband and wife both join the order).

4) Creation. Actually, there's surprisingly little on creation in Francis, and it is not all that earth-shattering for the 12th century when reams of theology and philosophy see nature as existing in praise of God...

... The canticle of the creatures (best known to us as the hymn 'All creature of our God and King') is still amazing, though, and likewise there are other little bits like the Exhortation in Praise of God. But Francis and creation seems to be partly the result of the hagiography.

5) Poverty. Another story. Francis is big on visible poverty. Friars are to treat coins like stones and ignore them. Both Rules dwell on the types of clothes friars should have to copy the poverty of the apostles. Poverty is, though, primarily about visibly preaching the gospel.

6) Preaching. Francis says do it, if you are licensed, if the bishop allows it, if the Minister General puts you on the approved list. But every brother can preach by his actions. And there is a simple instruction in the first rule that all brothers can memorise to teach others.

... So none of this 'Preach the Gospel. Use words if necessary' business. Francis expects everyone to preach according to their capacity and in obedience to the church.

7) Mary. And you should probably preach on Mary. Francis thinks highly of her. The Office of the Passion contains a prayer addressed to Mary ('Holy Virgin Mary') for use multiple times at every office of the day. She is the 'virgin made church', the model for every Christian.

8) Humility. The friars are, in Francis' eyes, a radical spiritual movement, recovering the lifestyle of the disciples. But they are to be humble with one another, with priests and religious, with lay people, and even with those who wear fine clothes and eat rich foods.

So that's 8 things. I've not covered everything. But definitely not the version of St Francis we get from Sunday School or even from the pulpit. But worth listening to, worth thinking about, and even worth following.