The earliest dramatic and well-known example comes from the thirteenth century when the nobleman’s son who one day became Saint Francis heard God’s voice say, “My house is in ruins. Restore it!”11 Between Francis and Luther, there were numerous figures within the church who had tried to bring reform, although some of them, far from being lauded like Francis, had rather because of their efforts been denounced as heretics and excommunicated and gruesomely immolated.
