Book Description
Kazantzakis infuses this tale with a fervent vision that is uniquely his own, highlighting the saintís heroic single-mindedness in the face of extreme physical and spiritual suffering. He portrays the saint as a great lover and inspiring leader, who embraced radical poverty in the face of many obstacles and temptations.
Customer Reviews:
A rare pen!.......2007-10-04
I did know Saint Francis before but when i read this book it is with great honor I should say Nikos Kazantzakis is my Saint Francis!!
Lost in the Translation.......2007-02-18
In 1972, I read The Last Temptation of Christ by Nikos Kazantzakis. I will always consider it one of the greatest books ever written. I found it an incredibly faith-affirming book and it changed my life as it changed my outlook on Jesus Christ. Thirty-five years later, I decided to read Saint Francis.
I was very disappointed. Not because it is a bad book, but because it fell way short of what I expected. Over the last three decades, I would say to anyone, "Open The Last Temptation of Christ to any page, and read. The words flow from each page like poetry." Such was not the case with Saint Francis.
I had a similar experience recently with Par Lagerkvist. I read Barabbas 40 years ago and then read The Sybil last year. I'll remember Mr. Lagerkvist for Barabbas, not for the disappointing Sybil. Similarly, I will remember Mr. Kazantzakis for the Last Temptation, not for Saint Francis. I truly believe that my failure to connect with these books recently is because of the translation, not because the author's work was of less value.
Saint Francis is a dark book of personal sacrifice. I continually saw visions of the Opus Dei sect as I read the book. Francis clearly led a life of personal sacrifice dedicated to the glory of God, but the translation left me empty and not inspired. I'll not refute any of the superlative reviews that this book has earned, but from this man's point of view, I'll be cautious in the future when selecting translated material regardless of the author.
One of Kazantzakis most passionate books.......2005-12-08
I am pleased to find that a number of reviewers find this book life-changing. It presents the entire anguish of human being, and it is the book that describes one of the highest concerns of Kazantzakis, an issue that he deals on several other books, but never with such fever: the desire of the human being to talk with God, and the depths that the human mind has to go in believing and disbelieving, in facing irrationality and hearing the voice of God.
You do not have to be religious in the strict christian sense. If that is the case, then this book might be offending, as it presents the passions of man that tries to reach God in an 'uncoventional' way, that does not abide by the doctrine of the church.
Still, I was deeply affected and deeply shaken by this book, more than any other book of Kazantazakis that I have read. Reading it was a 'passion' in itself. I had to reach the same depths, and I felt some of the anguish of St. Francis, as presented by Kazantakis. A lst remark. Do not compare the book with a biography. St. Francis is a tragic hero, an embodiment of mans religious passions, an example of faith.
Grim.......2003-12-16
I have read a lot of books on St. Francis of Assisi, and viewed several films. Kazantzakis presents a "fictional re-creation" St. Francis as an aescetic who travels a journey that few of us would want to take. An aescetic with a disgust for anything having to do with "the flesh" Francis suffers throughout most of the novel from malnutrition, dehydration, and a collection of maladies brought on by the neglect and abuse of his own body, the "temple of the Holy Spirit." This form of mortification of the body has thankfully been abandoned, but was considered a path to salvation coming out of the Dark Ages. His fear/avoidance and mysognistic view of women was unfortunate, and I think this perhaps was a bit overblown and not well researched by Kazantzakis, for I have not found this pathological view in any other writings about St. Francis.
For a deeper understanding of St. Francis of Assisi, and the wide attraction of this most famous saint, please read G.K. Chesterton's biography of St. Francis. Don't get me wrong, I admire and love St. Francis and the revolution he began in Christianity, but I disliked his portrayal by Kazantzakis.
Being with St. Francis.......2002-04-03
I read this book a year ago while on Spring break with my husband and two little daughters. It completely took me away and put me on a higher spiritual level that lasted a long time. Kazantzakis somehow captured the essence of what St. Francis was all about...St. Francis was a man who truly tried to do what Jesus said to do, sell everything you have, give it to the poor, pick up His cross daily and follow Him. The feeling I get when I read the book was one of actually being with St. Francis and understanding why so many followed him and liked him. I am in the middle of reading it again (another Spring break!), and I see why I loved it so much the first time. It's a great novel, even if you aren't a Christian, because the characters and the writing are so good, but being a Christian adds a spiritual level that makes me want to read this book over and over, even though I think I am so far from where St. Francis was! It makes one think about what Jesus really said and what it would be like to TRULY do what He said! I highly recommend it.
Book Description
A creative and compelling examination of the impact-eight hundred years ago and today-of St. Francis of Assisi.
Customer Reviews:
An Old World Solution for Today's Problems and Anxiety.......2007-09-16
Ian Morgan Cron's first book, "Chasing Francis," is a gem. "Chasing Francis" falls into genre called wisdom literature, which is a very delicate balance of fiction and non-fiction, pilgrimage and teaching. Cron, an Anglican priest, centers the story on Pastor Chase Falson, an evangelical pastor, who hits the wall with burn-out and at the urging of his mother's cousin, a Franciscan Friar, encounters an old world saint, St. Francis, in his quest to sort out his faith and Christianity's place in the world today.
"I wasn't sure what a Christian looked like anymore. My idea of what it meant to follow Jesus had run out of gas. I started to feel less like a pastor and more like a salesman of a consumerized Jesus I didn't believe in...I am fed up with all the feuding between the theological conservatives and liberals, the good guys and the bad guys...What if, now and then, we put the drums and guitars away, turned off the projectors, shut down the sound system, and waited quietly for God to emerge from the wood? Do we have enough faith to believe he'd appear to us as a community?"
When Falson reaches the climax of his spiritual crisis in front of his congregation, he is put on leave and embarks on a spiritual journey to Assisi, Italy. He needs to find out what it is to be a Christian, what it means to be the church, and to decide if he wants to stay on the path he has been on. Falson finds a mentor named Saint Francis who teaches him why the church of the future needs to listen to the church of the past and helps him to fall in love with Jesus - and the church - again...but with a different perspective and approach.
"Chasing Francis" captures the values and ideals that Francis held dear. Cron brings them to life throughout the book and narrows them to five categories:
Transcendence - There is a big difference between knowing a lot about God and knowing God. Francis believed in transcendent encounters with Jesus were the key to people's coming to faith. The church must open our eyes and ears to the experiences that can act as portals into the life of God - the Spirit's presence in the community, contemplative prayer and meditation (solitude), the liturgy, and symbol rich experiences like Communion.
Community - We need to be an organism that transmits the expression of Jesus on earth. We can disagree with others and, at times, we should - but whatever happened to gentleness and respect within our churches? Are we not a community of peacemakers - in our homes, our offices, our churches, and, most of all, in our world?
Beauty - Most churches today are designed without any sense of the iconic because moderns like straightforward, unambiguous communication. We want `worship centers' where hominess is more important than holiness. But what about the arts - music, dancing, acting, painting, etc? For God, beauty is its own apologetic. The church should care about the arts. They inspire all of us to think about the eternal.
Dignity - We're all broken people who've lost our dignity, in one way or another. Francis' life was all about giving people their dignity back - poor people, lepers, people who were despised and rejected by society - the very people Jesus sought out to minister to. This means more than hospitality. The church means fighting against anything that robs people of their dignity - racism, sexism, addictions, injustice, and poverty.
Meaning - People are meaning-seekers and want to be part of something larger than ourselves. Our world is filled with people who have no big story that makes sense of their lives and they're hungry for it. Does our earthly ministry create and foster meaning?
People in Francis' time felt the same anxiety that come from living in a rapidly changing society that we do today. "Chasing Francis" offers no new theory but, rather an old practice - the practice of Jesus Christ.
"Chasing Francis" is a book that I will recommend to those who have hit the wall and are searching for meaning in life, to those who are confused in their Christian beliefs, to those who want to deepen their journey within, and, most importantly, to those who have become trapped in today's self-centered and materialistic culture. Along with the author, I urge you to look more closely at the spirituality and ministry of this wild-eyed saint.
(Note: "Chasing Francis" provides a study guide for those who who would like to use this book for group discussion and/or for personal meditation.)
A compelling read!.......2007-08-23
I give this book a top rating of 5. The story is well told, the characters are developed (not 1-dimensional) and the story accomplishes everything a good piece of literature should: it compels you to think about your life and your personal choices and evaluate them. This is a book that changed by life for the better. And a lot of my friends have read it and loved it as well.
Chasing Frances.......2007-05-15
Interesting story with some great insights. Loved going through Italy with the main character and learning about the awesome man St. Francis was!
Fiction with a message.......2007-05-13
I liked this book. The characters were believable, the story had a message, and it was relevant and throught provoking. I am not a Catholic, but I think it is good for non-Catholics to set aside biases and look into the lives and faith of sincere Catholic believers. This is fiction, of course, and can't be taken as a theology book of the Church, but I think Catholics would be comfortable with it. I had a little trouble believing in the compatibility of the couple in the end. The book ended with no promise they would have a future together, but the suggestion was there.
God's Hand.......2006-12-01
If your faith is uncertain, if you've ever been disappointed by or hurt by a traditional church, if you've tried to approach faith through reason and found yourself wanting, this book is for you. The idea is that God's timeless hand must be "encountered," and Chasing Francis draws the reader into such an encounter vicariously through the main character's pilgrimage to the places where St. Francis' exemplary life was lived. It also throws down a challenging prescription for a new modus operandi for the church in a rapidly changing world.
A quote: [Chase is looking up at exquisite medieval frescoes of Peter preaching in Jerusalem, Adam and Eve leaving paradise, and the death of Ananias.] "...And for the first time in years the enormousness of the Story burst forth like an expanding universe in my chest, and I was grateful it was mine."
God's hand is in this book.
Customer Reviews:
The lessons of St. Francis.......2007-07-23
This is a very pratical book, and it is very much aimed at how to bring simplicity and sprituality into a modern life.
Unrewarding.......2007-05-06
I was expecting so much more based on the glorious reviews below but they totally missed the mark. Equivalent to a book report done by a 3rd grader with ADD, this has little to offer.
Quotes seem misplaced and most stories go nowhere. I was hoping this would be more inspiring with USEABLE knowledge and not another pulpit for Christianity.
Wayne Dyer has done a far better job using the teachings of ST Francis.
Lessons of Sarint Francis.......2007-03-13
Well written book discussing prinicples guiding Francis of Assi's daily life. Excellent for personal spiritual growth or in an adult group discussion
John Michael Talbot's The lessons of St Francis.......2007-02-04
This is an excellent book for those trying to live the Franciscan charism in the world. It is full of very practical common sense but linked with a deep spiritual insight. I found it very easy to read and very enlightening.
Worth reading more than once.......2006-03-20
John Michael Talbot captures the essense of Franciscan spirituality in this delightful book. Talbot maintains a deceptively simple writing style while drawing his reader in to savor the depth and breadth of Saint Francis' life and values.
Book Description
An important new study of the way in which St Francis's image was recorded in literature, documents, architecture and art. St Francis was a man whose personality was deliberately stamped on his Order and Rosalind Brooke explores how the stories told by Francis's companions were at once brilliantly vivid portrayals of the man as well as guides to how the Franciscan way of life ought to be led. She also examines how after St Francis's death a great monument was erected to him in the Basilica at Assisi and how this came to reflect in stone and stained glass and fresco the manner in which some Popes and leading friars believed his memory should be fostered. Highly illustrated throughout, including colour and black and white plates, this book will be essential reading for medievalists and art historians as well as anyone interested in St Francis and the Franciscan movement.
Customer Reviews:
Well Worth the Obscenely Expensive Price.......2007-06-24
Anyone going to Europe these days is due for sticker shock...there are just no bargins to be had anywhere. But for someone going to Italy, there is no point in going there and not visiting Assisi. You cannot understand Italy if you don't do it...Italians are an enigma if you do not see them in Assisi. The centerpiece of the town is the Basilica of Saint Francis. I am a Conventual Franciscan, one of the friars who have custody of the Basilica. I worked as a tour guide in that church for a couple of summers and the place is a 'stone marvel'. If you are going to spend money going there, spend the $106.20 on The Image of Saint Francis; it will explain why this poor man ended up being buried in one of the most beautiful museums in the world. The people of Assisi fought for his body and they won and then celebrated. Ms. Brooke explains how it happened, and this book is long overdue. She takes us through the life of the man, the movement, the contradictions, and the rusults. Francis is a lot more than that bird bath in the back yard. He is the untimate Italian. Friar Phil Kelly OFM Conv.
Customer Reviews:
...okay this was on my wish list for waaaay too long..........2003-02-23
I finally bought it, and I'm more than glad I did. This book is not at all what I thought it would be about --- it is so much more. Initially, I thought it would be another book about the life of St. Francis which, of late, I've been quite taken with. This book, though, has more to do with how we can make our faith real --- how we can really respond --- in light of a needy world around us. This is just what the doctor ordered. I say this reluctantly, but reading a chapter is almost better than going to church. I close this book at night with the understanding that I've got to get out there and DO something; I feel like I CAN make some small difference in this world, and that means so much to me. I'm at that point where I WANT to change, WANT to make sacrifices, WANT to be conformed to what God wants me to be. I want desperately not to be an 'average' Christian who longs for the same dusty, lifeless, rusting things the world does. This book reminds me that Francis, in his life, was not afraid to give up personal comfort and familiarity. When he finally overcame the greatest personal obstacle for him --- learning to love the leper -- he was freed from within, freed from that nasty monster that can entangle so many of us. Reflecting on his unique experience, I am compelled to look at my own prejudices, those things about people that keep me from loving them completely. I can't remember the last time a church sermon so compelled me. I highly recommend this book, and encourage you to grow in ways far outside the box.
This is a great book for a reflection group........1998-09-03
St. Francis and the Foolishness of God is not just about St. Francis, but about themes that touch all of our lives. There are reflection questions at the end of each section and an invitation to share stories. I recommend this book for personal and group reflection.
Customer Reviews:
Age of anxiety.......2007-08-04
In an age of anxiety, violence and terrorism, this is a very comforting book, inspiring reading for all.
A timely perspective.......2007-01-09
This book has been used by a morning study group with great success. Father Rohr provides excellent discussion themes and realistic (new) ways to obtain win-win results.
St. Francis is a needed role model in today's time of fear and retribution.
I highly recommend this book to anyone -- red or blue. In fact, it should be required reading!
But then again (and again and again).......2006-07-27
Lenin is said to have had the motto, "One step backward, two forward," as his take on the western notion of progress. Richard Rohr seems to have adapted it into "One step forward, one backward" when it comes to the Church. For every definative opinion he gives in his initial chapters, he cites at least one exception, leaving the reader in a muddle as to what he is actually saying. Rohr is an acute observer of cultural artifacts functioning without an overall structure that places his observations into a useful context. One can imagine all this as great material for homilies, but John Feister, as editor, has a challange on his hands to make it linear enough for the printed page.
The result is reader frustration. In chapter 3, for example, Rohr starts with the theme of three Great Awakenings in USA history but, only three pages on, that theme has dissolved into a broader "sense of History" and then "sense of community". Over a score of pages later, what emerges is "Turn of the TV and have family meals together." Ironically, the Mormans have managed to convey that same message quite effectively in 30-second TV ads.
Rohr is one of those likeable folks with whom you can say you agree--at least 50 percent of the time. But later you wonder if that was because you only heard half of what he intended to communicate.
Deep and thought-provoking.......2006-03-23
Rohr's book challenges us to see our world from a different perspective. We have been using it for a women's spirituality group. Everyone in the group thinks its the best book we've ever discussed. Rohr offers hope and a nonviolent way to navigate our world. Deep, insightful, thought-proking, challenging, transforming.
a wake up call.......2003-07-01
This book blew my hair back as I was reading it.
It turned my parochial understanding of Christianity on it's head and soothed the cynicism I held in my heart toward Christianity.
If you're already a member of the choir, familiar with Rohr and more modern and adult theology, there's nothing I can say to you.
If, however, you're out of the loop like I was this book will change the terrain for you.
There is a lot of language that seemed rather technical or in the vein of Catholic jargon. However, the notions he introduces of what true faith is, the question of being in or out of the system, the system of the church, seeing the universe as sacred, the great chain of being.
These are rich, ancient and vital topics exposed in a new, refreshing and adult way.
Rohr gives us permission, implores us, actually, to put away our crayons and step into an adult understanding of and responsibility for our faith.
I think this book has changed the course of my life.
Book Description
He turned away from his life of wealth and privilege to live with lepers, the "untouchables" of his society. He preached the idea of the sanctity of all life, becoming an advocate of animal rights and environmentalism in a time when even human life often had little value. He found joy in owning nothing, and giving everything away. He was story of Saint Francis of Assisi and the story of his life is inspiring and radical. And now more than ever, it bears important messages for American children living in a culture of casual abundance and waste. Saint Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.-a father, a devout Roman Catholic, a crusader for clean air and water, and a member of a family famous for its dedication to public service. It is no wonder, then, that this saint's story should resonate so powerfully with him. Mr. Kennedy has retold Francis's story as a lesson and inspiration for his own children-and for children everywhere.
Customer Reviews:
St. Francis wasn't just for the birds!.......2007-04-07
Very good for beginners of the study of st. Francis.
Saint Francis of Assisi: A Life of Joy.......2007-03-09
When I visited the Basilica of St. Francis in Santa Fe, NM, recently, I browsed through the collection of illustrated books on St. Francis, but none could compare to this one by Robert Kennedy, Jr. The illustrations in his book capture the eye immediately with boldness of color and design. While I am familiar with the life of St. Francis, this storyline presents the facts in a new way that children of any age will give rapt attention. Especially charming is the insight Mr. Kennedy gives on his family prayerfully honoring this unique Saint.
St. Francis of Assissi.......2007-01-11
Beautifully illustrated and beautifully written book. Makes a very nice gift.
a very special book........2006-08-05
This is a delightful book with high quaility art work. It is a book to keep for generations to come.
Great book for all!.......2006-04-23
I teach second grade in a public school in a large Catholic nieghborhood. I get invited to many first communions. I am not Catholic, but growing up in this nieghborhood I know a lot about this deep faith. The story of St.Francis reaches out to everyone no matter thier religion. It has always interested me. So when this book was released I borrowed it from the library. I was taken back by it. I now buy this book for all of my students that receive their first communion, and I personally inscribe each one. My students love this story!
Book Description
The true story behind the famous novel The Last of the Mohicans-"a vivid account of the raid that gained Rogers fame" (Boston Globe)
In North America's first major conflict, known today as the French and Indian War, France and England-both in alliance with Native American tribes-fought each other in a series of bloody battles and terrifying raids. No confrontation was more brutal and notorious than the massacre of the British garrison of Fort William Henry-an incident memorably depicted in James Fenimore Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans. That atrocity stoked calls for revenge, and the tough young Major Robert Rogers and his "Rangers" were ordered north into enemy territory to take it. On the morning of October 4, 1759, they surprised the Abenaki Indian village of St. Francis, slaughtering its sleeping inhabitants without mercy. When the raiders returned to safety, they were hailed as heroes by the colonists, and their leader was immortalized as "the brave Major Rogers." But the Abenakis remembered Rogers differently: To them he was Wobomagonda-"White Devil."
Customer Reviews:
White Devil--More than just a good overview........2007-04-12
I have been interested for along time in the factual details of Major Robert Rogers' activities during the French and Indian War (Seven Years War). I have lived in New England all my life and many of my ancestors arrived in New England from Old England during the earliest of colonial times. Some of them took part in the events of the French and Indian War. I first saw the 1940 Spencer Tracy movie on TV when I was just a youngster. Later when I was a bit older but still a boy I remember the TV series. I think it starred George Montgomery. So quite a bit of fiction has crept into the story of Rogers over the years. Yet, I always wanted to have the facts seperated from the myths. This book has all the facts on Rogers between two covers. Yet, it is much more than just a summary. The accounts of Rogers and his Rangers and their military missions during the French and Indian War seem to be fully covered and explained in an easy to follow and often vivid narrative. Also outlined are the major events of the Seven Years War in the North American Theather. It was after all a war that had several theaters around the globe and has been called the first world war. The bibliogrphay and notes are also valuable because anyone wanting to read further has now a referecne list.
Must read about Major Rogers.......2007-01-12
Very well reasearched, interesting, sweeping narrative. Highly recommended for everyone who is interested in the French and Indian War.Nothing to add.
Exciting Story of George Rogers and His Rangers .......2006-12-30
The author provides a terrific history of George Rogers and his Rangers along with a finite history of the French and Indian War. The author writes a very readable account of the French and Indian War primarily about Rogers and his Rangers who go well into the wilds behind enemy lines on raids and reconnaissance missions against the French and their Indian allies. These Ranger companies were virtually alone and totally unsupported in their forays risking not just capture but also violent deaths by the French's Indian allies, primarily the St. Francis Abenakis who at one time were the terror among the English settlements. While covering the overall campaign in America, the author covers in detail Roger's amazing exploits. Of particular note is Rogers and over 200 Rangers making a strike against the Abenakis' town over 100 miles from their landing point and then after being discovered having to change direction traveling over 200 miles over rough wilderness terrain while being pursued by the vengeful Abenakis and the French. Incredible hardships and an amazing story of survival and after this harrowing exploit, Rogers goes back into the wilderness to fight again. The War against the French and their Indian allies is violent particularly if their prisoners are not of value or if vengeance is preferred. Capture did not necessarily end up being better than a quick death in combat. The author includes a fascinating discussion of the alliances between the various tribes and the French and English. The first chapter of the book starts off with a thrilling description of the capture and imprisonment of the Johnson family of settlers and their experience traveling through the wilderness with their captors and their experience in captivity. The author describes Rogers as a man highly capable, a leader and motivator in war but literally without a business rudder in peace suffering financially and choosing the wrong side during the revolution due to pension and perhaps mistreatment by his countrymen after the French and Indian War. This is an engrossing book, fraught with adventure with some shocking detail on how the Rangers survive their most brutal campaign. This book is an immensely entertaining history where the truth goes beyond the legend. Spencer Tracey's 1940 classic movie, Northwest Passage, is the subject of Rogers' attack on the Abenakis and the harrowing journey of his Rangers to escape, a movie well worth seeing.
A Mind Gripping True Story of Robert Rogers and The French & Indian War.......2006-11-03
In the book "White Devil", author Stephen Brumwell takes you to the French & Indian War. Where we read about the Abenaki Indians and their brutal ways, and another side the Abenaki's not always heard of. Brumwell gives you the history of the infamous Rogers Rangers, and their historic raid on St. Francis which will keep you on the edge of your seat as you read this book about Robert Rogers and his band of Rangers. I would absolutely recommend this book to anybody looking for a wonderfully detailed and historical novel of the French and Indian War, and Robert Rogers, the Father of America's Special Forces, and the United States Army Rangers.
-George
Stellar research, tricky writing...........2006-05-09
Mr Brumwell, who's jacketnotes describe him as an "independent historian", has done an excellent job researching what for me was a little-known period of America's history...easily 5 stars. I can only begin to imagine and appreciate the depth of research that the author went through in order to synthesize this information.
WHITE DEVIL struck a wonderful balance (for me) between academic research and spinning a lively yarn.
The reason that I gave it three stars was that I found the editing to be somewhat convoluted. While admittedly the cast of characters and behaviors that the author describes is complex and interwoven, I found that the book would jump around from person to person - and from time period to time period - too often for my taste. Individual's stories could have been more tightly woven together.
Overall, though, a fascinating read.
Hoorah for independent scholars!
Amazon.com
St. Francis of Assisi--the saint who preached to birds and wolves, the saint whose vow of poverty changed Christian ethics forever, the saint who repented of his fleshly sins by loving the material world--was also a pretty great writer. His Little Flowers, a series of 53 short chapters ranging in form from wild stories to serene meditations, is perfect bedtime or devotional reading. Before you know it, you'll be reading this one aloud to your cat. And Francis will be very pleased to hear it. --Michael Joseph Gross
Book Description
With a new Preface by the noted writer Madeleine L'Engle, author of nearly fifty books of fiction and non-fiction, including
A Wrinkle in Time. St. Francis of Assisi's ecstatic embrace of a life of poverty revolutionized Christianity even as it transformed the ethics of the West. In this luminous and lively book, St. Francis's followers preserved his legend and those of his first disciples, combining stories of miracles with convincing portraits of men who were no less human for having been touched by God.
"God is our home but many of us have strayed from our native land. The venerable authors of these Spiritual Classics are expert guides--may we follow their directions home."
--Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Customer Reviews:
Great Book.......2007-08-05
I really liked this book, I have waited for years to read this book
again.And I was very pleased.
Thanks Monica C coleman
Life changing.......2004-06-04
Few works have made as strong an impact on my spiritual life as this book. A wonderful compilation of faith building and humbling stories from the life and times of St. Francis of Assisi and his first followers.
Little lessons learned through little flowers.......2001-09-20
Living in an age of weights, measures, logic and reason, a pragmatist may see little reason in reading The Little Flowers of St. Francis of Assisi. However, recent terrorist attacks draws me and--most likely-many of us away from the methodical.
Vintage Spiritual Classics provides us with a preface and introduction of Francis Bernardone, showing us why he needed to become so close to God. They, the preface and introduction, explain this need on a level we may all understand. St. Francis wanted ecstasy and a life not burdened with want, greed, lust and avarice.
Each snippet throughout the body of the book provides a theme, an adventure and a moral that will pull the reader from this world to St. Francis's. Teaching us temperance, piety, and selfless rewards for good deeds and prayer.
I am hopeful that this book and others provided by Vintage will help provide solace and peace to those affected by the recent, tragic events.
Good stories.......1999-02-27
One doesn't have to be Catholic to enjoy these amusing tales about the life of St. Francis, collected by a slightly later church writer. It's no wonder this gentle soul is among the most beloved figures in Christianity.
a moving spiritual classic.......1998-02-14
St. Francis has to be the greatest saint who ever lived. This book is so inspiring, that I can't describe it. It tells of St. Francis in his youth and how he spent time in prison and became disillusioned with the world. He then gave up the world and followed God. The book tells of the many adventures of St. Francis and his monks. Some are serious, but some are very funny. Anyone, who is thinking about what life is all about and how one man had the courage to follow God and not the world, should read this book.
Average customer rating:
- Chesterton never disappoints...
- Not for those seeking a rudmentart history.
- I am sure it's good, but man it's deep!
- Rambling and Overbearing
- More essay than biography, but what an essay!
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Saint Francis of Assisi
G.K. Chesterton
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The Little Flowers of St. Francis of Assisi
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ASIN: 0385029004
Release Date: 1987-11-17 |
Amazon.com
There are certainly many studies of Saint Francis of Assisi that an interested reader might find and many of them immensely praiseworthy. But in reading G.K. Chesterton on Francis, you get two glories for one: first is an enlightening study of this most beloved of Christian saints and second is Chesterton himself, one of the great Christian writers of the 20th century, who converted to Roman Catholicism in 1922 because, it has been said, "only the Roman Church could produce a St. Francis of Assisi." Published shortly after his conversion, Chesterton wrote this book in part to reclaim Francis for the church. There are always those who want to claim Francis for their cause, Chesterton recognized, who also fail to understand the spiritual and intellectual ground upon which he stands. Chesterton would return Francis to Christ. As he summarizes, "however wild and romantic his gyrations might appear to many, [Francis] always hung on to reason by one invisible and indestructible hair.... The great saint was sane.... He was not a mere eccentric because he was always turning towards the center and heart of the maze; he took the queerest and most zigzag shortcuts through the wood, but he was always going home."
As one editor of Chesterton's puts it, "of St. Francis he might have said what he said about Blake: 'We always feel that he is saying something very plain and emphatic even when we have not the wildest notion of what it is.'" --Doug Thorpe
Book Description
Francis of Assisi is, after Mary of Nazareth, the greatest saint in the Christian calendar, and one of the most influential men in the whole of human history. By universal acclaim, this biography by G. K. Chesterton is considered the best appreciation of Francis's life--the one that gets to the heart of the matter.
For Chesterton, Francis is a great paradoxical figure, a man who loved women but vowed himself to chastity; an artist who loved the pleasures of the natural world as few have loved them, but vowed himself to the most austere poverty, stripping himself naked in the public square so all could see that he had renounced his worldly goods; a clown who stood on his head in order to see the world aright. Chesterton gives us Francis in his world-the riotously colorful world of the High Middle Ages, a world with more pageantry and romance than we have seen before or since. Here is the Francis who tried to end the Crusades by talking to the Saracens, and who interceded with the emperor on behalf of the birds. Here is the Francis who inspired a revolution in art that began with Giotto and a revolution in poetry that began with Dante. Here is the Francis who prayed and danced with pagan abandon, who talked to animals, who invented the creche.
Customer Reviews:
Chesterton never disappoints..........2006-11-20
G.K. Chesterton ranks high among the most entertaining and insightful Christian writers in history. His singular wit infuses his work bringing mirth to what might otherwise be solemnity. His style is playful, yet earnest and, though his era has passed, he remains as readable now as ever. Indeed, Chesterton resides not far behind the venerable CS Lewis as an icon of Christian literature. His St. Francis of Assisi proves no exception.
Chesterton's intent is cleary not a comprehensive biography, but an introduction to the remarkable career of Francis Bernardone. The author hits only the highlights expecting these examples to accurately portray the whole. He easily succeeds. St. Francis of Assisi is a concise, enjoyable look at a saint who brought the principles of Christ back to a Catholicism which had long before started to wander. Read this and other works of Chesterton. You may find they all bear a 5-star ranking.
Not for those seeking a rudmentart history........2006-08-14
Chesterton writng is for the scholarly reader. His discourse is more question and answer to the theological and philosifcal issues surrounding Francis than a history or biography. As my readings enlarge my scope I will go back to this title and hopefully appreciate the discourse more than at it's first reading.
I am sure it's good, but man it's deep!.......2006-04-01
I have just finished reading "St. Francis of Assisi" by GK Chesterton, and I know that it was pretty good. In fact, it may be very good, but I don't really understand it! If you know anything about GK Chesterton then you know that his books are deeper than the ocean. This one is no exception. If you are looking for a biography (the story of St. Francis throughout his entire life) then this is not the book for you. (I would suggest buying St. Boneventure's biography from Tan Books) This book is really an essay on the life of St. Francis. It is difficult reading, and not a bed-time story for your kids. I think for your benefit, it would be good to read a normal biography on St. Francis (like the one mentioned above) and then read this essay. That way, you will not be frustrated in not getting many stories of St. Francis's life, and you will have perhaps better understandings of what GK Chesterton is talking about. Anyway, if your a Chesterton fan, then I'm sure you will like this, but remember--- this is HARD TO READ.
Rambling and Overbearing.......2005-06-07
This book was arcane and verbose which made it very difficult and unenlightening. The author digresses often and seems to add-in superfluous commentary on unrelated subjects. His references often point to "current events" which have long since lost relevance and the entire text has a dated, maze-like feeling.
If you're looking for an account of the life of St. Francis of Assisi, I would not recommend this book. If you are familiar with the life of St. Francis and are looking for a commentary on the events of his life you may find this work helpful due to its supposed eminence among works about the saint.
More essay than biography, but what an essay!.......2004-07-21
Chesterton's book on St. Francis of Assisi was "avowedly only an introduction to St. Francis or the study of St. Francis. Those who need an introduction are in their nature strangers. With them the object is to get them to listen to St. Francis at all ... ." [Chpt. 9] But Chesterton, in 1924, expected an audience familiar with a variety of subjects--the Investiture Controversy, the Adamite Heresy, The Provencal Moment, for example--unfamiliar to most of us today. I think, therefore, that "St. Francis of Assisi" can no longer serve as a general introduction for the general reader.
If you are only interested in a chronological outline of St. Francis' life, this book is probably not yet for you.
Nonetheless, you would be remiss if you pass on this book because it is a wonderful work of art.
Intellectually "St. Francis of Assisi" serves mostly as a brilliant meditation on the man, his role in the Catholic Church, and his influence on the intellectual history of the West. But it best serves as an example of how one might write and write well. Nearly every sentence is a delight and nearly every page a piece of rhetorical flash and filigree.
Chesterton sometimes chooses sound--especially alliteration--over sound reasoning and makes more than one straw man argument. But you need not be a Christian to appreciate the skill with which he makes his case. Sometimes it sounds so good or so funny that you simply wish it true. To whit:
"In short, he [the writer attempting to write a life of St. Francis] may try to tell the story of a saint without God; which is like being told to write the life of Nansen and forbidden to mention the North Pole." [Chpt. 1]
"To write history and hate Rome, both pagan and papal, is practically to hate everything that has happened. It comes very near to hating humanity on purely humanitarian grounds." [Chpt. 2]
"It was a rude and simple society and there were no laws to punish a starving man for expressing his need for food, such as have been established in a more humanitarian age; and the lack of any organized police permitted such persons to pester the wealthy without any great danger." [Chpt. 3]
"Shelley, when he wished to be a cloud or a leaf carried before the wind, might have been mildly suprised to find himself turning slowly head over heels in mid-air a thousand feet above the sea." [Chpt. 6]
"The modern mind is hard to please; and it generally calls the way of Godfrey ferocious and the way of Francis fanatical. That is, it calls any moral method unpractical, when it has just called any practical method immoral." [Chpt. 8]
"A man in Voltaire's time did not know what miracle he would next have to throw up. A man in our time does not know what miracle he will next have to swallow." [Chpt. 9]
Whatever you think of Chesterton's broader themes, "St. Francis of Assisi" is a profound and insightful investigation into the psychology of the saint which would be helpful to anyone trying to figure how to think about the man. It is also wondrous writing.
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