Saint Francis of Assisi continues to be counted among the most
important personalities of history. The life and ideals of this
humble, semiliterate medieval figure have had a shaping influence
on the Christian church that has spilled over into Western culture
at large. This biography by Lawrence Cunningham looks anew at St.
Francis's life and legacy, seeking to counter efforts to
romanticize him yet without diminishing his deep piety or abiding
significance.
Drawing on peerless scholarship, Cunningham argues against
common stereotypes that sentimentalize Francis as a "blesser of
animals," as a church rebel, or as the precursor of the
"spirituality" movement. According to Cunningham, Francis was a
devotedly orthodox Catholic whose life must be understood as a
response to reforming elements abroad in the church of his day.
Francis's originality derived from his success in articulating the
"ideal gospel life": his message and actions were a kind of "acting
out" of the scriptures. Really seeing Francis requires the lens of
theology rather than the lens of quaint spirituality so often
used.
In constructing his portrait of Francis, Cunningham follows the
saint's life in chronological order, placing him within his
culture, exploring official developments within the Catholic
Church, and highlighting the many conversions of Francis as his
life played out. Cunningham also reflects on the modern rediscovery
of the Franciscan charism, including its relevance to contemporary
Christian social action.
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