The Cambridge Companion to Francis of Assisi

by Edited by Michael J. P. Robson

• ISBN13: 9780521757829
• ISBN10: 0521757827
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-01-09
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Francis of Assisi (1181/821226) was one of the most vibrant and colourful personalities in the Middle Ages. The life of this remarkable reformer of the medieval Church was celebrated in art, drama, poetry, music, the new vernacular literature and architecture. His ideal was to enter into a restorative and enriching relationship with Jesus Christ, whom he wished to imitate in the most perfect manner, a direct and immediate goal which captured the contemporary imagination. This Companion explores the life of Francis of Assisi and his enduring legacy throughout the centuries. The first part concentrates on his life and works whilst the second explores the way in which his heritage influenced the apostolic activities of his followers in the century following his death. This book is a must-read for students and scholars of Church history, as well as medieval social and intellectual history.

Table of Contents

List of contributors	p. ix
Acknowledgements	p. xii
Notes on editions and translations	p. xiii
Chronology	p. xiv
List of abbreviations	p. xvi
Introduction	p. 1
Francis of Assisi
Francis and the Franciscan movement (1181/2-1226)	p. 17
The writings of Francis	p. 34
The Rule and life of the Friars Minor	p. 50
Francis and his hagiographical tradition	p. 68
Voluntary simplicity: the attitude of Francis towards learning in the early biographies	p. 84
Francis and the historiographical tradition in the order	p. 101
Francis and Clare and the emergence of the Second Order	p. 115
Francis and the encounter with the sultan (1219)	p. 127
Francis and creation	p. 143
The heritage of Francis of Assisi
Francis and the pursuit of learning	p. 161
The early Franciscans and the towns and cities	p. 178
The Third Order of Francis	p. 193
Franciscan ideals and the royal family of France (1226-1328)	p. 208
Franciscans as papal and royal envoys to the Tartars (1245-1255)	p. 224
Franciscan missions	p. 240
Pope John XXII, the Franciscan order and its Rule	p. 258
The ecumenical appeal of Francis	p. 273
A guide to further reading	p. 288
Index	p. 298
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