St. Francis of Assisi: The Legend and the Life

Contents......Page 4
Introduction......Page 7
Acknowledgements......Page 13
Abbreviations......Page 14
Glossary......Page 16
Chronology......Page 21
Christianity and medieval Assisi......Page 28
Francis's family......Page 34
Troubled relations between Assisi and Perugia......Page 39
Military ambition thwarted by sickness......Page 42
Francis and the leper......Page 45
Beginnings of a vocation......Page 49
2 Bishop Guido II of Assisi......Page 58
Episcopal appeal and Francis's renunciation......Page 59
Guido as the vicar of San Rufino and patron saints of Assisi......Page 65
Guide's defence of his episcopal heritage......Page 68
Benevolent episcopal intervention......Page 70
Incipient fraternity......Page 73
Guido at the papal court......Page 75
Guido, Francis and Clare......Page 78
Francis's respect for bishops and priests......Page 81
Francis's death and canonization......Page 83
The papacy and St Francis......Page 89
Innocent III and reform groups......Page 96
Francis's quest for papal approval......Page 98
Lateran IV, ecclesiastical reform and Francis......Page 104
Franciscans and the restoration of the Church......Page 113
Poverty and the conversion experiences......Page 121
Wealth and divisions in society......Page 125
The monastic world and Francis......Page 127
The reappraisal of the apostolic life......Page 130
Gospel texts and poverty......Page 132
Poverty embraced......Page 139
Imitation of the Poor Christ and nuptial imagery......Page 142
Medieval perception of Francis and his fraternity......Page 145
The growth of the fraternity......Page 153
The meeting in Florence......Page 157
Appointment of a cardinal protector......Page 159
Cardinal and Francis......Page 164
Francis instructs Ugolino......Page 166
Interventions by Ugolino......Page 169
Approval of the Rule......Page 171
Gregory IX and the Franciscans......Page 174
Anthony's early life......Page 185
An Augustinian canon at Lisbon and then Coimbra (c. 1210-20)......Page 187
Friar Anthony......Page 192
The ministry of preaching......Page 195
Measures to combat the spread of heresy......Page 197
Francis and the need for theological study......Page 199
The origin of Franciscan schools......Page 201
Anthony, patron of Franciscan schools......Page 203
Franciscan perception of theology......Page 205
The debate about studies......Page 207
Clare's family......Page 214
Manifestations of a vocation and Francis's impact......Page 215
Clare's conversion......Page 218
Temporary refuge and family opposition......Page 222
San Damiano and the vocations of Francis and Clare......Page 226
Francis's reliance on Clare......Page 229
Clare in Thomas of Celano's biographies......Page 232
Clare and the Roman Curia......Page 236
An enlarged cloister......Page 245
Francis's preaching......Page 247
Francis the teacher and actor......Page 251
Francis's praise of God in song and musical instruments......Page 255
Sermons in parishes......Page 257
Sanctification of the piazza......Page 259
Ministry of peace and reconciliation......Page 261
Ecumenical reconciliation......Page 263
Communion with all creation......Page 266
9 St Francis's death, burial and posthumous influence on the fraternity......Page 276
Medieval conventions regarding the burial of saints......Page 277
Arrangements for the death and burial of Francis......Page 281
Francis's death at the Portiuncula and burial at San Giorgio......Page 285
The proclamation of Francis's stigmata......Page 289
Towards canonization......Page 292
Basilica of St Francis and the Sacro Convento......Page 294
Francis's posthumous influence on an expanding fraternity......Page 297
The biographies and the portrait of the exemplary friar......Page 300
Bibliography......Page 308
A......Page 317
D......Page 318
G......Page 319
M......Page 320
W......Page 321