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
He is perhaps the most beloved of the Roman Catholic saints: Italian friar SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI (1182-1226), founder of the Franciscans and patron saint of animals and nature. And this is perhaps the most beloved book in Catholic literature: the Little Flowers.
A compilation of the legends and folklorish stories that grew up around the saint after his death, it was not, obviously, written by Francis, though many assume it was; the author is generally believed to have been BROTHER UGOLINO OF MONTEGIORGIO (c. 1210-1274). This edition is a replica of the classic 1906 translation by WILLIAM HEYWOOD (1857-1919).
Here, in this charming work--essential reading for students of religious folklore as well as for seekers after spiritual comfort--read tales of:
* St. Francis's 40-day Lenten fast
* how God appeared to the saint
* Francis's blessing of grapes that produced more wine than ever before
* how the saint tamed wild turtledoves
* how Francis set free a friar who was in sin with a demon
* how the saint caused a rich man to give up his wealth and become a friar
* how Francis tamed a ravenous wolf
* and much more.