Biographies St. Francis of Assisi

If you would like to know more about St. Francis and the Franciscan Orders, here are some suggested books you might find interesting and helpful.

Looking for a good book about:
St. Francis of Assisi,
Religious Life,
Franciscan Spirituality or
Personal Growth? We Recommend...

The Road To Assisi
The Essential Biography of St. Francis - By Paul Sabatier.

Edited with introduction and annotations by Jon M. Sweeney.
Brewster, Massacgusetts: Paraclete Press, 2003. 178 pages, $19.95

This is an edited version of a review by Mitch Finley.
The first modern biography of St. Francis of Assisi was written by a French Protestant author, Paul Sabatier, and published in 1984. By Sabatier's death in 1928, his biography of Francis has appeared in 45 editions in French alone, plus English, Swedish, German and Italian translations.

The present text is an edited and slightly abridged version of the first English edition, which appeared in 1906. Editor Jon Sweeney updated some of the language while remaining faithful to the original French text. The informative annotations contributed by Sweeney are much more than foot-notes that have moved uptown.

Sabatier's biography remains remarkably contemporary. This new, updated edition of Sabatier's biography of St. Francis of Assisi is nothing short of astonishing in its power to touch the heart and revive the soul.

Recent biographies of Francis (such as Francis of Assisi: A Revolutionary Life, by Adrian House) are invariably superior to most older, merely, pious ones. Still, Sabatier's book retains its prominence; while historically accurate, it has a lyrical quality that makes it a delight.

Contemporary Franciscan Scholarship and the
new Francis of Assisi: Early Documents
Volume I The Saint
Volume II The Founder
Volume III The Prophet
INDEX: This long awaited volume contains a
- Thematic Index
- Names Index
- Places Index
- Bibliography of Sources
- Scripture Index

All three volume's are now available.
A collaborative effort of the entire English-speaking Franciscan family, this series presents new translations of texts about Francis in the early Franciscan tradition. In some instances, these texts are available for the first time in English translation; in all instances they have been annotated in light of recent scholarship.
Editors: Regis J. Armstrong, OFM. Cap.
J.A. Wayne Hellmann, OFM.
Conv. William J. Short, OFM Publisher:
NEW CITY PRESS
Hyde Park, NY 12538
Tel: 800-462-5980

SIMPLY BONAVENTURE
An Introduction to His Life, Thought, and Writings
Author: Ilia Delio, O.S.F.
Published by: New City Press
202 Cardinal Road
Hyde Park, NY 12538

Tel: 1-800-462-5980

SALVATION - (Scenes from the Life of St. Francis)
Author: Valerie Martin
Published by: Alfred A. Knopf, New York

FRANCIS OF ASSISI
Author: Adrian House Published by Paulist Press, Mahwah, NJ

THE LIFE AND TIMES
OF FRANCIS OF ASSISI
Green, Julian. (Harper & Roe, San Francisco 1983)

SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI
Engelbert, Omer. Franciscan Herald Press, Chicago, IL 1965

FRANCIS:
THE JOURNEY AND THE DREAM
Bodo, Murray. St. Anthony Messenger Press, Cinncinati, 1972

THE PERFECT JOY OF ST. FRANCIS
Timmermans, Felix. Image Books, Garden City, 1955

BETWEEN A ROCK
AND A HEART PLACE
Franciscan T.O.R. Poetry Wilson, T.O.R. Didacus, Bro. Scripta Humaistica Press, 1987

FRANCIS AND CLARE
Regis J. Armstrong & Ignatius Brady The complete works, The Classics of Western Spirituality (New York: Paulist, 1982)

CLARE OF ASSISI
Marco Bartoli - trans. Frances Teresa, OSC Quincy: Franciscan Press, 1993

SAINT FRANCIS
A MODEL OF HUMAN LIBERATION
Leonardo Boff - trans. John W. Dierckmeier New York: Crossroad, 1984

THE FIRST FRANCISCAN WOMEN:
CLARE OF ASSISI AND HER FORM OF LIFE
Margaret Carney, OSF Quincy: Franciscan Press, 1993

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI
G.K Chesterton Garden City: Doubleday, 1957

FRANCIS OF ASSISI
Arnaldo Fortini - trans. Helen Moak Crossroad, 1981

THE FRANCIS BOOK
Roy M. Glasnick New York: Collier Macmillan, 1980

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI
WRITINGS AND EARLY BIOGRAPHIES
English Omnibus of the sources for the life of St. Francis Marion A. Habig Quincy: Franciscan Press, 1973

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI: A Biography
Johannes Jorgensen - trans. T. O'Connor Sloane Garden City: Doubleday, 1955

SAINT FRANCIS
Nikos Kazantzakis - trans. P.A. Bien New York: Simon and Schuster, 1962

A HISTORY OF THE FRANCISCAN ORDER
FROM THE ORIGENS TO THE YEAR 1517
John Moorman Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1968

THE FRANCISCAN SISTERS
Raffele Pazzelli, TOR - trans. Aiden Mullaney, TOR
Stubenville: Franciscan University Press, 1993
St. Francis and the Third Order: The Pre-Franciscan and Franciscan Penitential movement.
Quincy: Franciscan Press, 1982

CLARE OF ASSISI:
A BIOGRAPHICAL STUDY
Ingrid J. Peterson, OSF
Quincy: Franciscan Press, 1993

THE FRANCISCANS
William J. Short, OFM
Wilmington, DE , Michael Glazier, 1989

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI AND NATURE
Tradition and innovation in Western Christian
Attitudes toward the Environment.
New Your: Oxford UP, 1988

ST. FRANCIS AND THE FOOLISHNESS OF GOD
Joseph Nangle, OFM, Marie Dennis, Cynthia More-Lobeta,
Stuart Taylor
Orbis Books, Maryknoll, NY 10545

ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI:
WRITINGS FOR A GOSPEL LIFE
Regis J. Armstrong, OFM, Cap.
Crossroad Publishing Co. New York, NY.

THE LITTLE FLOWERS OF ST. FRANCIS
Various editions

Looking for a good book about:
Religious Life,
Franciscan Spirituality or
Personal Growth? We Recommend...

Religious Life
Poverty, Celibacy and Obedience: A Radical Option for Life by Diarmuid O'Murchu, published by Crossroad Publishing Co. 1999. Expands the meaning - and potential for good - of the three traditional religious vows.

The Fire in These Ashes: A Spirituality of Contemporary Religious Life by Joan Chittister, OSB., published by Sheed & Ward 1995. The author summons religious women and men to turn into fire - to become the "searing presence" of God's spirit in the world.

Poets, Prophets & Pragmatists: A New Challenge to Religious Life by Evelyn Woodward, published by Ave Maria Press 1987. A deep and insightful look at religious communities, drawn from individual and community stories, through which readers can see their own stories with keener perception.

New Wineskins: Re-imagining Religious Life Today by Sandra M. Schneiders IHM, published by Paulist Press 1986. Draws on the biblical, historical, theological, psychological, and experiential foundations of religious life and examines religious life in the twenty years following Vatican II.

Religious Life: A Prophetic Vision, Hope and Promise for Tomorrow by Diarmuid O'Murchu, MSC, published by Ave Maria Press 1991. Offers a new model of religious life, outside denominational confines, as the preserver and practitioner of critical values such as justice, love and peace.

Wrestling with God: Religious Life in Search of Its Soul by Barbara Fiand, published by Crossroad Herder 1996. Asks questions and raises issues often ignored and long overdue: celibacy and the meaning of intimacy, what membership means and how it can be expanded, the welcoming of diversity, the need of the feminine for wholeness and health, the fear of death and denial of new life.

Franciscan Spirituality
The Sun and Moon Over Assisi by Gerard Thomas Straub, published by St. Anthony Messenger Press 2000. Tells of an interior pilgrimage that will inspire the modern reader.

Francis and Clare: The Complete Works Translation and Introduction by Regis J. Armstrong, OFM Cap. and Ignatius C. Brady, OFM, published by Paulist Press 1982. The writings of two great saints.

The Way of St. Francis: The Challenge of Franciscan Spirituality for Everyone by Murray Bodo, OFM, published by Anthony Messenger Press 1995. Challenges the reader with a renewed understanding of the saint: a Francis who shows us a way of life both stimulating and troubling, who asks us to look again at the possibilities within us and around us. Chapters on ways of letting go, of achieving poverty, simplicity and nonviolence.

Francis & Clare: Following Our Pilgrim Hearts by Murray Bodo, OFM and Susan Saint Sing, published by St. Anthony Messenger Press 1996. Walk in the footsteps of St. Francis and St. Clare, focusing on the going forth and the going within of the soul's journey.

The Journey and the Dream by Murray Bodo, OFM, published by St. Anthony Messenger Press 1988. Meditations on the life of St. Francis.

St. Francis and the Foolishness of God by Marie Dennis; Joseph Nagle, OFM; Cynthia Moe-Lobeda; Stuart Taylor; published by Orbis Books 1993. For those who long to do something about inequity and poverty, about consuming consumerism and spiritual emptiness. The mystical and the earthly, liberations and faithfulness, literal poverty as well as the blessed poverty of the spirit.

Praying with St. Francis of Assisi by Joseph M. Stoutzenberger and John D. Bohrer, published by St. Mary's Press 1989. Meditations on the life of St. Francis, with ways to reflect and pray over our own experiences in light of what we learn from this challenging, holy man.

General Spirituality
Sacred Identity: Exploring a Theology of the Person by Jane Kopas, OSF, published by Paulist Press 1994. Written for the unbeliever within the believer, who may be unsure about who God is, and for the sometimes ambivalent beliver who yearns to be whole, to be integrated, and to find an identity that is true and lasting.

Pray All Ways by Edward M. Hays, published by Forest of Peace Books, Inc. 1981. Fr. Hays challenges readers to explore the common and ordinary in their lives as the "stuff" from which are made whole and holy people.

Can You Drink the Cup? by Henri J. M. Nouwen, published by Ave Maria Press 1996. Using the cup as a metaphor, Nouwen reflects on three images - Holding, Lifting and Drinking - to articulate basics of the spiritual life.

With Open Hands by Henri J. M. Nouwen, published by Ave Maria Press 1972. These reflections help praying become a joy - a spontaneous reaction to those around you.

Clowning in Rome by Henri J.M. Nouwen, published by Image Books, Doubleday 1979. Reflections on solitude, celibacy, prayer and contemplation.

The Holy Longing: The Search for a Christian Spirituality by Ronald Rolheiser, published by Random House, Doubleday, 1999. For those searching to understand what Christian spirituality means and how to apply it to their own lives.

Little Pieces of Light by Joyce Rupp, OSM, published by Paulist Press 1994. Encourages the reader to approach painful, inner darkness as a help rather than hindrance to personal growth.

May I Have This Dance? by Joyce Rupp, OSM, published by Ave Maria Press 1992. Helps readers connect the routine of their lives with a deeper communion with God.

The Cup of Our Life: A Guide for Spiritual Growth by Joyce Rupp, OSM, published by Ave Maria Press 1997.
Offers six weekly themes based on different images of the cup to revitalize and enrich your relationship with the divine.

Out of the Ordinary: Prayers, Poems and Reflections for Every Season by Joyce Rupp, OSM, published by Ave Maria Press 2000. Contains 125 thoughtful compositions of prayers, rituals, guided visualizations, reflections and poems for individuals or groups.

Fresh Bread and Other Gifts of Spiritual Nourishment by Joyce Rupp, OSM, published by Ave Maria Press 1985. A handbook for spiritual growth structured for reading and praying the scriptures throughout the year.

Personal Growth
Transitions: Making Sense of Life's Changes by William Bridges, published by Addison-Wesley Publishing Co. 1980. Strategies for coping with the difficult, painful, and confusing times in your life.

Praying Our Goodbyes by Joyce Rupp, OSM, published by Ave Maria Press 1988. Designed to help readers recognize, ritualize, reflect on and re-orient themselves - to help heal the hurts caused by goodbyes and the anxieties encountered by change.

Who Moved my Cheese? by Spencer Johnson, M.D., published by G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1998. Strategies for coping with change.

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