Product Description

Written shortly after his death, this is the Franciscans' official biography of their great founder. His unusual vocation, life, miracles and greatness--all portrayed briefly, with love and honesty. Learn about the founder of one of the largest religious orders in the world. Inspiring!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #43658 in Books
• Published on: 2009-05-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 190 pages

Customer Reviews

Review from the Publisher
Taken from the Legenda Sancti Francisci and edited, with a preface, by Henry Edward Cardinal Manning. The life of a Saint, written by a Saint, speaks to the heart with a vital power which no work of merely natural genius can command. It has a twofold operation of the Spirit of God with it, both in the subject and in the writer. Among uninspired books there are few that breathe more sensibly the love of God than this famous work. "There is a light and a sweetness about it which is not of this world," says Cardinal Manning. St. Thomas writes about finding St. Bonaventure in his cell writing this work in ecstasy, and drawing back from the door exclaiming, "Let us leave a Saint to work for a Saint." St. Bonaventure conveys a picture of St. Francis through his miracles (including turning water into wine, raising people from the dead, commanding water to flow from bare rock and even curing the author of a childhood illness), his sayings (even the animals were exulted at the sound of his voice) and his holy life that renders an indelible impression of a man totally transformed in God and by God. In short, St. Bonaventure presents the life of a man who was like a seraph - an angel in human form - for no other word but "angel" can truly describe the beloved St. Francis of Assisi.

Beautiful portrait of a very special man
This book goes over the life of St Francis of Assisi about 15 times, each chapter reflecting a different aspect of his life. I found the format very easy to understand and I think if it were to be written any other way it would not have done this Saint justice because we would not have been able to concentrate each and every one of his virtues.
It is written by another Saint, St Bonaventure, so it is highly impressive in it's credentials. I chose St Francis as my confirmation Saint after reading this book. He was a humble Christian who took God's Word very seriously and he is a perfect example of God's love to be seen here on earth. It is impossible to read this book and not be touched by it. My life has literally changed by St Francis, the poor servant of Christ who's love for Christ sets a new standard for us all.

A Saint's Biography of A Saint
St. Bonaventure, cured of a childhood illness by St. Francis, writes a vivid biography of St. Francis.

I think because it is written by a great Saint, this biography perceptively considers St. Francis through his spirituality above all. It is not the most complete memoir of anecdotes about St. Francis' life, but a compendium of anecdotes about St. Francis is not St. Bonaventure's purpose.

St. Francis is perceived through his faith in God; in going from Gospel to life and life to Gospel. He is portrayed as the man who gave all to attain the pearl of great price. He was all of these things.

As far as biographies go, this one can be classified as not only a chronicle of St. Francis' life, but also spiritual reading which will edify the reader and draw him or her closer to Christ.

As St. Francis said, "What a man is in the eyes of God, that he is and no more." St. Bonaventure portrays this truth of St. Francis exeedingly well. Buy this book and, perhaps, it will assist you in going from the Gospel to life and life to the Gospel.