“This volume offers just such a grounding through a systematic study of the sources and developments of our Franciscan heritage. It is systematic without being technical, and a study of the sources without getting lost in the historical details; appealing to the heart-mind rather than just to the analytic-mind. There is a great need for a presentation that speaks directly and passionately to Franciscan students and all who seek to journey in the way of St. Francis. The central spiritual themes of the Franciscan way are insightfully brought to life for a new generation of Franciscans who are called to an ever-deepening of their spiritual vision, and a more heartfelt commitment to follow Christ in the way of the little poor man from Assisi.” – Friar Terence Bateman OFM Conv, PhD, STD, STL is the author of Reconstructing Theology: The Contribution of Francis Schüssler Fiorenza.
“Better that the spring quench your thirst than that your thirst should dry up the fountain”: St Ephrem speaks here of Holy Scripture, but this also applies to St Francis’ sources, as he is a living spring from the divine source. Come and drink from it often, you’ll never run dry.” – Deacon Didier Rance OSF – winner of the 2013 French Grand Prix Catholique de Littérature for his biography: John Bradburne: The Vagabond of God on the eponymous Franciscan martyr of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe).
When St Francis founded his Order, he had no sources to fall back on. But that wasn’t a problem. He created his own. And he left sources for us to return to in the future. This timely book is a new and refreshing take on those sources and will certainly become a handbook for Franciscan undergraduates, those in formation, the Secular Franciscan Order, retreat givers and those seeking new insights on this religious hero of the centuries. Readers will learn that St Francis was given to the world for all peoples, cultures and for all time. Pope Francis in his writings to humankind certainly believes this. That’s why he took the name Francis. Africa, the new centre of the Catholic Church, wake up! This book is for us too. Let’s bring St Francis back to Africa again! And with him the indomitable St Clare… – Patrick Noonan OFM is the author of St Francis Uncensored (Choice Publishing) and other books on crisis ministry in the periphery townships of Apartheid South Africa. His latest book, Benedict, Baltimore and Barbary Pirates (Choice Publishing), tells of the life and times of the first African ex-slave to be canonised.
