St. Francis of Assisi: References & Edit History
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Additional Reading
The writings of St. Francis
Critical editions of the works of St. Francis are Caietanus Esser (Kajetan Esser), Opuscula Sancti Patris Francisci Assisiensis (1978); and Regis J. Armstrong and Ignatius C. Brady (trans.), Francis and Clare: The Complete Works (1982).
Early biographies
Regis J. Armstrong, J.A. Wayne Hellmann, and William J. Short (eds.), Francis of Assisi: Early Documents, 2 vol. (1999– ), includes translations of works by Francis and of contemporary biographies of the saint. Thomas of Celano, St. Francis of Assisi: First and Second Life of St. Francis, with Selections from Treatise on the Miracles of Blessed Francis, trans. by Placid Hermann (1963; originally published in Latin, 1928), is a valuable collection of early lives of Francis.
Modern biographies
Among the older but still useful biographies are Johannes Jørgensen, Saint Francis of Assisi: A Biography, trans. by T. O’Conor Sloane (1912, reissued 1962; originally published in Danish, 1907); Omer Englebert, Saint Francis of Assisi: A Biography, 2nd ed., rev. and augmented (1965, reissued 1979; originally published in French, 1947); and, especially, G.K. Chesterton, St. Francis of Assisi (1923, reissued 1990), an engaging study. Leonardo Boff, Saint Francis: A Model for Human Liberation (1982, reissued 1989; originally published in Spanish, 1981), is a sympathetic portrait influenced by liberation theology; Julien Green, God’s Fool: The Life and Times of Francis of Assisi (1985, reissued 1993; originally published in French, 1983), is a beautifully written life by a French novelist; and Raoul Manselli, St. Francis of Assisi (1988; originally published in Italian, 1980), is a good introduction by an important medieval historian. Other useful books include Jon Sweeney, When Saint Francis Saved the Church (2014), and The Complete Francis of Assisi: His Life, The Complete Writings, and The Little Flowers (2015).
Studies
Edward A. Armstrong, Saint Francis, Nature Mystic: The Derivation and Significance of the Nature Stories in the Franciscan Legend (1973, reissued 1976); and Roger D. Sorrell, St. Francis of Assisi and Nature: Tradition and Innovation in Western Christian Attitudes Toward the Environment (1988), are valuable studies of Francis’s interest in the natural world. Regis J. Armstrong, St. Francis of Assisi: Writings for a Gospel Life (1994), provides translation of and commentary on the works of St. Francis; and William J. Short, Poverty and Joy: The Franciscan Tradition (1999), examines the influence of St. Francis and St. Clare on the spirituality of the Franciscan order. A useful introduction to the order founded by St. Francis is John Moorman, A History of the Franciscan Order from Its Origins to the Year 1517 (1968); and technical studies of Francis and his order are published in Greyfriars Review (quarterly).
Article Contributors
Primary Contributors
- Ignatius Charles Brady
- Lawrence Cunningham
-
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Article History
| Type | Description | Contributor | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Added links. | Nov 04, 2026 | ||
| Added links. | Oct 01, 2026 | ||
| Anniversary information added. | Sep 29, 2026 | ||
| Added media. | Sep 24, 2026 | ||
| Invalidated site: University of Notre Dame - FaithND - St. Francis of Assisi. | Sep 14, 2026 | ||
| Add new Web site: Franciscan Media - Who Was St. Francis of Assisi? | May 15, 2026 | ||
| Add new Web site: Heritage History - Saint Francis of Assisi. | Mar 30, 2026 | ||
| Add new Web site: BBC - History's Heroes - History's Youngest Heroes - History's Youngest Heroes: 5. St Francis of Assisi: Teen Rebel. | Jan 12, 2026 | ||
| Add new Web site: University of Notre Dame - FaithND - St. Francis of Assisi. | Dec 02, 2025 | ||
| Added top questions. | Sep 19, 2025 | ||
| Add new Web site: Liberty University - Scholars Crossing - Francis of Assisi: A Reputation Marred Beyond Recognition (PDF). | Aug 01, 2025 | ||
| Article revised. | Jun 18, 2025 | ||
| Questions and answers added. | Feb 12, 2025 | ||
| Add new Web site: Academia - The Story of Francis (PDF). | Feb 12, 2025 | ||
| Media added. | Oct 07, 2024 | ||
| Clarified that St. Francis was a cofounder of the Poor Clares. | Oct 07, 2024 | ||
| First paragraph modernization. | Mar 04, 2024 | ||
| Add new Web site: Newman Ministry - Saint Francis of Assisi. | Feb 20, 2024 | ||
| Add new Web site: Order of Friars Minor - Saint Francis. | Dec 29, 2023 | ||
| Removed an image of St. Anthony of Padua. | Oct 10, 2023 | ||
| Add new Web site: Ancient Origins - St. Francis of Assisi: The Transformation from Spoiled Rich Kid to Saint. | Aug 08, 2023 | ||
| Add new Web site: Catholic Online - Biography of St. Francis of Assisi. | Jun 29, 2023 | ||
| Media added. | Apr 24, 2023 | ||
| Add new Web site: EWTN - Saint Francis of Assisi, Founder of the Friars Minor, Confessor. | Mar 31, 2023 | ||
| Add new Web site: Biblical Cyclopedia - Francis of Assisi. | Oct 06, 2022 | ||
| Add new Web site: Learn Religions - Biography of St. Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of Animals. | Mar 26, 2021 | ||
| Media added. | Jan 08, 2021 | ||
| Add new Web site: Catholi Saints Info - Saint Francis of Assisi. | May 02, 2018 | ||
| Media added. | May 02, 2018 | ||
| Added cross-references throughout. | May 02, 2018 | ||
| Add new Web site: Catholi Saints Info - Saint Francis of Assisi. | May 02, 2018 | ||
| Add new Web site: Christianity Today - Francis of Assisi. | Oct 02, 2017 | ||
| Add new Web site: Sisters of Saint Francis - The Canticle Of Creation by Saint Francis of Assisi. | Oct 02, 2017 | ||
| Add new Web site: Christianity Today - Francis of Assisi. | Oct 02, 2017 | ||
| Add new Web site: The Catholic Company - Spotlight on St. Francis of Assisi and the San Damiano Cross. | Oct 02, 2017 | ||
| Add new Web site: The Catholic Company - Spotlight on St. Francis of Assisi and the San Damiano Cross. | Oct 02, 2017 | ||
| Add new Web site: Sisters of Saint Francis - The Canticle Of Creation by Saint Francis of Assisi. | Oct 02, 2017 | ||
| Add new Web site: Quatr.us - Biography of Francis of Assisi. | Jan 27, 2017 | ||
| In The Franciscan rule section, changed "Laterno" to "Laterano." | Dec 12, 2011 | ||
| Added new Web site: The Catholic Encyclopedia - St. Francis of Assisi. | Dec 06, 2007 | ||
| Added new Web site: Catholic Online - St. Francis of Assisi. | Dec 06, 2007 | ||
| Article revised. | Dec 07, 2000 | ||
| Article added to new online database. | May 04, 1999 |