St. Francis of AssisiReviews

Fascinating look at 13th century religion. Also interesting to see, in light of Constantine's Sword, what aspects of Jesus both St. Francis and St. Clare thought important.

Primary. This book has an introduction where the author talks about the life of St. Francis. The main part of the book is speaking his prayer and those acts being demonstrate by a wolf with other animals. I may not use this in an actual classroom lesson, but it will be good for my students to see many options of books that represent wide ranges of faith and beliefs.

I bought this because, standing there in the second-hand bookshop, I couldn’t work out what the nature of the text was. My curiosity would have been satisfied if I’d spotted the endnote. It turns out it’s a Medieval amalgamation of various texts, stitched together by a later editor. There’s a fair bit about it on Wikipedia if you’re interested, all of which makes it sound like a bit of a mess. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Whoever edited it together was some sort of genius.

The text as we have it is a collection of short chapters, mostly two or three pages long. Each tells a story either about St. Francis or various early Franciscan monks. Each story exemplifies a thoughtworthy point. The stories are fantastical, full of miracles. There’s little here that you could use for a biography of Francis, but it is a window into what Franciscans at the time believed about him. The section on the stigmata is particularly interesting in this regard. Here St Francis is portrayed as a second Christ, a living God, and after death, a psychopomp with powers of judgement over the dead. How did they avoid being killed as heretics? I don’t know enough about the period to answer that.

It made me consider the reliability of any written historical information from any dead culture. We have a clear dividing line between what we consider possible or impossible, but we cannot simply exclude the miracles and accept the remainder as history because the writers too had a clear dividing line. Their possible clearly differs from ours and includes the miraculous, but that doesn’t mean the remainder is true just because it happens to coincide with our possible. Imagine a testimony from the past that happens not to cross the line into our concept of the impossible. We might take it as a reliable historical account, yet to someone from that culture it might contain the most egregious series of improbabilities. But after all, what is history but a story we tell ourselves about the past?

Anyhow, I read the first 50 or 60 pages straight through like normal book and then, quite organically, my approach changed and I took to reading a chapter here, a chapter there as I had a quiet moment. Because no matter how strange the writers’ view of the universe and their mode of expressing themselves, the points they raise are worthy of contemplation. I think it would be a stretch to describe a hoary old sinner like me as reading anything in a devotional manner, but I can completely see why people are still using this book in this way nearly 700 years later.

I thought it would be more about nature because I knew St. Francis liked animals, etc. Too much Catholic rules, etc. I skimmed a lot of it.½

Francis (c. 1182-1226) and Clare (c. 1193-1254) together shaped the spirituality of early 13th-century Europe. Here for the first time in English are their complete writings, brought together in one volume

A very delightful little book, food for my soul. While this is definitely not for everyone, I found the air of innocent faith that breathed through these tales of St. Francis and his companions to be absolutely inspiring. The only reason I don't give it five stars is because the translator of this particular edition (Jon M. Sweeney) chose to use some jarring anachronisms, like the word "okay." Otherwise, the translation was very readable: simple, even child-like, a style which well fitted the atmosphere of the tales.

The character in it can talk makes the story becomes a fantasy. It is a well-illustrated and meaningful book for children. It is suitable for both young children and older children. It can be used in literature and reading classes.

Canticle of the Sun is a lovely adaptation of St. Francis's poem set to interesting illustrations by Fiona French done in a style mimicking mosaics. A nice way to introduce the poem to younger readers. Older readers will enjoy it as well.

St. Francis walked the earth at the turn of the twelfth century. In the later half of the fourteenth century, this book of stories about his life was published.

The stories are (literally) the stuff of legends. This is where we hear that St. Francis preached to the birds (although I think his evangelism and discipleship of a wolf was much more exciting). This is where we learn of the stigmata St. Francis was blessed with. Here we learn how St. Clare blessed a loaf of bread only to see the sign of the cross on every slice.

What I found most interesting about these stories was not that their creation or collection, but what they reveal about the mindset of the Christians of those centuries. While I found some elements inspiring, I was also saddened by misguided theology. I want to end with the positive, so let's start with the bad.

The Bad

St. Francis and his followers were gripped with the idea of penance and mortification in a very physical way. Chapter 3 provides a good example. One day St. Francis lamented that his companion, Friar Bernard, didn't answer him when he called three times. God proceeded to tell St. Francis that Friar Bernard was busy in Divine communion, so he could not answer anyone on the creaturely plane. Overwhelmingly upset with himself for his frustration with Friar Bernard, St. Francis found his companion, threw himself down before him, and said,

"I command you in the name of holy obedience that, to punish my presumption and the arrogance of my heart, when now I shall cast myself down on my back on the earth, you shall set one foot on my throat and the other on my mouth and so pass over me three times, from one side to the other, crying shame and infamy upon me, and especially say to me: 'Lie there, you churl, son of Peter Bernardone, whence have you so much pride, you who are a most abject creature" (9)?

The Christians of this era seemed to take a perverse joy in being abused. This attitude is miles removed from Jesus' words to sinner caught in the act: "I don't condemn you ... Go home, and from now on don't sin any more" (John 8:11 NIV). Instead of hearing Jesus' words of forgiveness, they chose their own self-punishment.

The Good

The inspiring part of this collection of stories can be seen in the same story: they took their sin seriously. If there was a tendency in their culture to overemphasize the most minute attitude of the heart and take matters into their own hands, there is a tendency in ours to ignore all sin and continue living like nothing is wrong. St. Francis and his followers recognized the diverse ways that pride can infect a community and did everything they could to resist it.

While I firmly believe that every Christ-follower should be rightly called, "saint," it's clear why the Roman church set some Christians apart as shining examples.

I'm not really sure if I approach this classic the right way - with the necessary prayerful devotion. First of all, this is not a reliable biography of Assisi. These are collected legends - the stuff of folklore - when the miracles, dreams and visions just gets more and more fantastical when they are told and retold and eventually one jots them down.

I read it with a smile on my face - a lot of them are quite humorous, inspiring in a childish kind of way - the devotion so extreme it becomes, well, oddly funny.

No doubt, Assisi was a very humble man, serving Christ and others with much devotion. When I read about this man who can tell the destiny of other monks, quiet the birds when he preach to them, calm the fierce wolf of Gubbio, have dreamlike visions of Christ, St. Paul etc. etc. well - I smile. It's just a lot of wonderful stories - we want them to be true…..and some of them no doubt are true, and some of it did happen. Some of it.

This is a 30 days with a great spiritual teacher, Francis of Assisi. It starts out with My Day Begins, then All Through Your Day, and finishes with As Your Day Is Ending.

My Day Begins: set aside a quiet moment in a quiet place to read the meditation suggested for the day. The passage is short. It has been carefully selected to give a spiritual focus, a spiritual center to your whole day.

All Through Your Day: you will find a single sentence which we call a mantra, a word borrowed from the Hindu tradition. This phase is meant as a companion for your spirit as it moves through a busy day.

As Your Day Is Ending: This is a time for letting go of the day. Find a quiet place and quiet your spirit. Breathe deeply. Inhale, exhale-slowly and deliberately again and again until you feel your body let go of its tension. Now read the evening prayer slowly, phrase by phrase. In this way, a simple evening prayer gathers together the spiritual character of the day that is now ending as it began--in the presence of God. It is a time for summary and closure. Invite God to embrace you with love and to protect you through the night. Sleep well.

I have deeped my prayer and found this book to be a great guide for me to work with in praying. Francis of Assisi is one of my favorite Saints and a great spiritual teacher. I feel very blessed having this book. Everyone who wants to learn how to pray should buy this.

I was given this book from ave marie press. www.avemariapress.com

Again the ultimate in calligraphy from the Shambhala Calligraphy Series

I don't want to say that I like the movie better, but I'm glad I saw Roberto Rossellini's dramatization of some of these stories first before I read the book. Since Little Flowers was written in the 13th century it definitely is written for its time, that is full of miracles and an almost competitive piety. That being said there's a lot to learn from Francis and his friars as they take on a life of poverty, serve the poor and worship God with ecstatic joy. The stories often read as parables with Francis teaching the friars with his words and actions in a Zen-like manner. A good little book to read and ponder during Lent.

The Little Flowers of St. Francis of Assisi is also available for online reading in its entirety.

While I was reading various (history, fiction) books, I noticed there were lot of references to Franciscan monks. I read this book to get more information about the Franciscanism (part of Catholism, I'm Lutherian) in order to better understand the other books I read.

Short and concise introduction with his religious prayers of the time. There could have been more historical background to explain the events, but still worth reading.

Truly moving look into the life and beliefs of St. Francis of Assisi. Lessons are delivered in short obtainable parables drawing from memories of St. Francis as well as his writings and sermons.

untouched

Not Yet Read

SAINT FRANCIS, OF ASSISI, 1182-1226] The Almond Tree / St. Francis. 200 copies were printed for Colclave V [of the] Miniature Book Society. Gift of Esther Beamer.

If you would like to share your joy in this book, please Click here

If you would like to share your joy in this book, please Click here

If you would like to share your joy in this book, please Click here

If you would like to share your joy in this book, please Click here

If you would like to share your joy in this book, please Click here

If you would like to share your joy in this book, please Click here

If you would like to share your joy in this book, please Click here

This little book is a treasure trove of the sayings and life of Father Francis. There is a reading for everyday of the year. It is a wonderful way to keep in daily touch with such a holy person.
(TSSF member)