They have but built their own egos, their own reputations. Whatever symbolism there was in St. Francis rebuilding churches, that was for others to attribute, not for him to articulate. Everything he did, he did with authenticity. I ask you to reflect upon that. Perhaps it is not a word or a concept that you have thought of in conjunction with St. Francis, I have reflected much on his poverty with my own Sisters for Life.
Poverty is the ultimate freedom.
And you practice that, or you attempt to practice it fully. And this of course is to walk in the footsteps of St. Francis. But even poverty can be practiced without authenticity. Even poverty can become a sham. St. Conrad was canonized because of his authenticity in one of the most horrifying, most frightening periods in human history.