Francis of Assisi: The Life and Afterlife of a Medieval Saint

Francis of Assisi: The Life and Afterlife of a Medieval Saint focuses not only on the life of St. Francis of Assisi, but also on how that life was re-imagined by his followers and society through the years. The book is divided into three sections: a biography of Francis, the evolution of Francis from his death to the modern era, and a study of Francis's writings to try to reveal his true philosophy. The prose is of the dense, continental academic type, but it's not particularly hard, just long. Those who persevere through it will be definitely be rewarded though.

Those looking for a biography of Francis the man, will be better off reading Augustine Thompson's Francis of Assisi: A New Biography, but the books actually complement each show more other nicely, because, while Thompson wrote about his life, most of Vauchez's book is about how Francis's image has been manipulated since his death. He went from being a simple man to a second Christ in the legends and teachings of the Franciscan Order, as it changed from the humble fellowship Francis intended into the learned clerical Order he did not want. Suffice to say, the real Francis became a bit embarrassing, and the cause of quite a bit discord among the Friars Minor (part of which is depicted in The Name of the Rose). The third part was the bit I found most interesting, as the author attempts to show Francis's true philosophy by analyzing the works he left behind/

Overall, it's a very interesting book, if not for everyone. I also could have done without Francis being referred to as "the Poor Man of Assisi" every other paragraph: it got old rather quickly. Recommended for anyone looking for to understand how Francis the Man became Francis the Saint. show less

Vauchez, a consummate medieval historian, captures the unique biography of Francis of Assisi and his charism of Christian evangelical poverty. Francis was a merchant’s son, a layman who set in motion the Friars Minor and the Poor Ladies on a course of extreme poverty hampered by the institutionalization of his communities by the Roman Church and clerical authorities. Francis never waivered in his fidelity to the Papacy but he also never gave up his embrace of “Lady Poverty” to the chagrin of many of his followers. This scholarly biography presents an entirely different picture of Francis the Saint who was very original and revolutionary for his time and a puzzle for contemporary man and women. A book well worth reading.

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