The Prophet - Early Documents

Francis of Assisi remains one of the most popular and yet also most elusive of saints. For a century and a half after his death, the early Franciscans wrestled over the image of Francis as epitome of poverty of life, as perfect imitator of Christ, and as apocalyptic prophet. The Prophet, the third volume in the new omnibus of sources about the saint, presents an important body of materials about the struggle over the meaning of Francis, dating from the second half of the thirteenth to the late fourteenth century. Some of these texts, especially the Little Flowers, are well known; others have been little studied and are made available in English for the first time. All are of singular importance in understanding Francis and the movement to which he gave birth.’