Aviad Kleinberg
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- May 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780231174701
- eISBN:
- 9780231540247
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Columbia University Press
- DOI:
- 10.7312/columbia/9780231174701.003.0010
- Subject:
- Religion, Philosophy of Religion
Where the finger of Doubting Thomas ends up in the flesh of St. Francis of Assisi.
Where the finger of Doubting Thomas ends up in the flesh of St. Francis of Assisi.
Roger D Sorrell
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195386738
- eISBN:
- 9780199852413
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195386738.001.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Philosophy of Religion
One of the best-loved saints of all time, Francis of Assisi is often depicted today as a kind of proto-hippie or early environmentalist. This book — the most comprehensive study in English of ...
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One of the best-loved saints of all time, Francis of Assisi is often depicted today as a kind of proto-hippie or early environmentalist. This book — the most comprehensive study in English of Francis' view of nature in the context of medieval tradition — debunks modern anachronistic interpretations, arguing convincingly that Francis' ideas can only be understood in their 13th-century context. Through close analysis of Francis' writings, particularly the Canticle of the Sun, the author shows that many of Francis' beliefs concerning the proper relation of humanity to the natural world have their antecedents in scripture and the medieval monastic orders, while other ideas and practices — his nature mysticism, his concept of familial relationships with created things, and his extension of chivalric conceptions to interactions with creatures — are entirely his own. The author insists, however, that only by seeing Francis in terms of the Western traditions from which he arose can we appreciate the true originality of this extraordinary figure and the relevance of his thought to modern religious and environmental concerns.Less
One of the best-loved saints of all time, Francis of Assisi is often depicted today as a kind of proto-hippie or early environmentalist. This book — the most comprehensive study in English of Francis' view of nature in the context of medieval tradition — debunks modern anachronistic interpretations, arguing convincingly that Francis' ideas can only be understood in their 13th-century context. Through close analysis of Francis' writings, particularly the Canticle of the Sun, the author shows that many of Francis' beliefs concerning the proper relation of humanity to the natural world have their antecedents in scripture and the medieval monastic orders, while other ideas and practices — his nature mysticism, his concept of familial relationships with created things, and his extension of chivalric conceptions to interactions with creatures — are entirely his own. The author insists, however, that only by seeing Francis in terms of the Western traditions from which he arose can we appreciate the true originality of this extraordinary figure and the relevance of his thought to modern religious and environmental concerns.
Patricia Appelbaum
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- May 2016
- ISBN:
- 9781469623740
- eISBN:
- 9781469624990
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- University of North Carolina Press
- DOI:
- 10.5149/northcarolina/9781469623740.001.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Religious Studies
How did a thirteenth-century Italian friar become one of the best-loved saints in America? Around the nation today, St. Francis of Assisi is embraced as the patron saint of animals, beneficently ...
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How did a thirteenth-century Italian friar become one of the best-loved saints in America? Around the nation today, St. Francis of Assisi is embraced as the patron saint of animals, beneficently presiding over hundreds of Blessing of the Animals services on October 4, St. Francis's Catholic feast day. Not only Catholics, however, but Protestants and other Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, and nonreligious Americans commonly name him as one of their favorite spiritual figures. Drawing on a dazzling array of art, music, drama, film, hymns, and prayers, Patricia Appelbaum explains what happened to make St. Francis so familiar and meaningful to so many Americans. Appelbaum traces popular depictions and interpretations of St. Francis from the time when non-Catholic Americans "discovered" him in the nineteenth century to the present. From poet to activist, 1960s hippie to twenty-first century messenger to Islam, St. Francis has been envisioned in ways that might have surprised the saint himself. Exploring how each vision of St. Francis has been shaped by its own era, Appelbaum reveals how St. Francis has played a sometimes countercultural but always aspirational role in American culture. St. Francis's American story also displays the zest with which Americans borrow, lend, and share elements of their religious lives in everyday practice.Less
How did a thirteenth-century Italian friar become one of the best-loved saints in America? Around the nation today, St. Francis of Assisi is embraced as the patron saint of animals, beneficently presiding over hundreds of Blessing of the Animals services on October 4, St. Francis's Catholic feast day. Not only Catholics, however, but Protestants and other Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Jews, and nonreligious Americans commonly name him as one of their favorite spiritual figures. Drawing on a dazzling array of art, music, drama, film, hymns, and prayers, Patricia Appelbaum explains what happened to make St. Francis so familiar and meaningful to so many Americans. Appelbaum traces popular depictions and interpretations of St. Francis from the time when non-Catholic Americans "discovered" him in the nineteenth century to the present. From poet to activist, 1960s hippie to twenty-first century messenger to Islam, St. Francis has been envisioned in ways that might have surprised the saint himself. Exploring how each vision of St. Francis has been shaped by its own era, Appelbaum reveals how St. Francis has played a sometimes countercultural but always aspirational role in American culture. St. Francis's American story also displays the zest with which Americans borrow, lend, and share elements of their religious lives in everyday practice.
Laura M. Hartman
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- January 2012
- ISBN:
- 9780199746422
- eISBN:
- 9780199918751
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199746422.003.0002
- Subject:
- Religion, Theology
The ascetic tradition of Christianity suggests that consumption can be sinful, and virtuous Christians should avoid greed, gluttony, envy, exploitation, and complicity in structural sin when they ...
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The ascetic tradition of Christianity suggests that consumption can be sinful, and virtuous Christians should avoid greed, gluttony, envy, exploitation, and complicity in structural sin when they consume. Three exemplary figures, Francis of Assisi, Quaker abolitionist John Woolman, and contemporary evangelical Ronald Sider, are analyzed for their views on asceticism, poverty, and simplicity; their treatment of the problem of complicity and their economic solutions for this problem; and for their emphasis on avoiding sin and pursuing holiness through proper consumption.Less
The ascetic tradition of Christianity suggests that consumption can be sinful, and virtuous Christians should avoid greed, gluttony, envy, exploitation, and complicity in structural sin when they consume. Three exemplary figures, Francis of Assisi, Quaker abolitionist John Woolman, and contemporary evangelical Ronald Sider, are analyzed for their views on asceticism, poverty, and simplicity; their treatment of the problem of complicity and their economic solutions for this problem; and for their emphasis on avoiding sin and pursuing holiness through proper consumption.
Richard Viladesau
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- February 2006
- ISBN:
- 9780195188110
- eISBN:
- 9780199784738
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/019518811X.003.0004
- Subject:
- Religion, History of Christianity
The crucifix, painted by Giunta Pisano for the basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, represents the triumph of Franciscan spirituality of devotion to Christ’s humanity, along with a new style of ...
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The crucifix, painted by Giunta Pisano for the basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, represents the triumph of Franciscan spirituality of devotion to Christ’s humanity, along with a new style of representation that would develop into the Gothic image of the suffering but beautiful Christ. The theological theories of atonement developed during the period of high Scholasticism by Bonaventure, Thomas Aquinas, and John Duns Scotus combined elements of Anselm’s “satisfaction theory” with a more theoretical emphasis on grace, developing a “sacramental” model of salvation. Medieval methods of exegesis and new “revelations” led to the introduction of further detail in the portrayal of the crucifixion. The humanism of the period also extended to an increasing emphasis on the suffering of Christ’s mother Mary, as seen in the famous hymn “Stabat Mater”.Less
The crucifix, painted by Giunta Pisano for the basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, represents the triumph of Franciscan spirituality of devotion to Christ’s humanity, along with a new style of representation that would develop into the Gothic image of the suffering but beautiful Christ. The theological theories of atonement developed during the period of high Scholasticism by Bonaventure, Thomas Aquinas, and John Duns Scotus combined elements of Anselm’s “satisfaction theory” with a more theoretical emphasis on grace, developing a “sacramental” model of salvation. Medieval methods of exegesis and new “revelations” led to the introduction of further detail in the portrayal of the crucifixion. The humanism of the period also extended to an increasing emphasis on the suffering of Christ’s mother Mary, as seen in the famous hymn “Stabat Mater”.
Patricia Appelbaum
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- May 2016
- ISBN:
- 9781469623740
- eISBN:
- 9781469624990
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University of North Carolina Press
- DOI:
- 10.5149/northcarolina/9781469623740.003.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Religious Studies
The introduction begins by describing Francis's popularity, the many different images of him, and the ways interpretations have changed over time. It then lays out the two main arguments of the ...
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The introduction begins by describing Francis's popularity, the many different images of him, and the ways interpretations have changed over time. It then lays out the two main arguments of the book--that interpretations of Francis are historically and culturally conditioned, and that they often, paradoxically, represent alternatives to the conditions that form them. Noting that the book is not primarily about spirituality, the introduction encourages spiritually-minded readers to broaden and deepen their knowledge. It introduces the broad themes of sainthood, place, and the uses of history. After a brief description of terminology and sources, it summarizes the life and legend of Francis and outlines the chapters to come.Less
The introduction begins by describing Francis's popularity, the many different images of him, and the ways interpretations have changed over time. It then lays out the two main arguments of the book--that interpretations of Francis are historically and culturally conditioned, and that they often, paradoxically, represent alternatives to the conditions that form them. Noting that the book is not primarily about spirituality, the introduction encourages spiritually-minded readers to broaden and deepen their knowledge. It introduces the broad themes of sainthood, place, and the uses of history. After a brief description of terminology and sources, it summarizes the life and legend of Francis and outlines the chapters to come.
Sara Ritchey
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- August 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780801452536
- eISBN:
- 9780801470950
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Cornell University Press
- DOI:
- 10.7591/cornell/9780801452536.003.0005
- Subject:
- Literature, Early and Medieval Literature
This chapter examines the tradition of arboreal imagery in Franciscan spirituality as it emerged from the earlier meditational work of Clare of Assisi and Bonaventure of Bagnoregio. It explains how ...
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This chapter examines the tradition of arboreal imagery in Franciscan spirituality as it emerged from the earlier meditational work of Clare of Assisi and Bonaventure of Bagnoregio. It explains how the first generations of Francis of Assisi's followers drew on associations of the tree in fresh new ways, choosing to emphasize his shared material being with Christ. Franciscan writers, poets, and artists repeatedly made use of the image of trees in order to explain Francis's bodily transformation into Christ. They reasoned that he had so replicated the material condition of God in Christ that he was in fact Christ's mirror image or copy, the alter Christus. This chapter also considers how poverty was interpreted by the Spiritual Franciscans as a means of making the self into holy matter and how Clare and Bonaventure supplied a powerful image of a tree that linked Christ's incarnation to his crucifixion.Less
This chapter examines the tradition of arboreal imagery in Franciscan spirituality as it emerged from the earlier meditational work of Clare of Assisi and Bonaventure of Bagnoregio. It explains how the first generations of Francis of Assisi's followers drew on associations of the tree in fresh new ways, choosing to emphasize his shared material being with Christ. Franciscan writers, poets, and artists repeatedly made use of the image of trees in order to explain Francis's bodily transformation into Christ. They reasoned that he had so replicated the material condition of God in Christ that he was in fact Christ's mirror image or copy, the alter Christus. This chapter also considers how poverty was interpreted by the Spiritual Franciscans as a means of making the self into holy matter and how Clare and Bonaventure supplied a powerful image of a tree that linked Christ's incarnation to his crucifixion.
Carolyn Muessig
- Published in print:
- 2020
- Published Online:
- March 2020
- ISBN:
- 9780198795643
- eISBN:
- 9780191836947
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/oso/9780198795643.003.0003
- Subject:
- Religion, Religion and Society
Chapter 2 looks at the stigmatization of Francis of Assisi in the thirteenth century and how his reception of the stigmata was mainly understood as a miraculous event. The chapter also traces how the ...
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Chapter 2 looks at the stigmatization of Francis of Assisi in the thirteenth century and how his reception of the stigmata was mainly understood as a miraculous event. The chapter also traces how the miracle met with acceptance and resistance during the following centuries. Some theologians argued that the cause of the wounds was strictly divine, while others emphasized that Francis’s love for Christ initiated the stigmata. The power and function of prayer, however, featured in most explanations that sought to understand the nature of Francis’s wounds. A series of papal bulls promulgated by a number of thirteenth-century popes, which secured widespread support for the Franciscan claim of stigmatic supremacy, are also considered in this chapter.Less
Chapter 2 looks at the stigmatization of Francis of Assisi in the thirteenth century and how his reception of the stigmata was mainly understood as a miraculous event. The chapter also traces how the miracle met with acceptance and resistance during the following centuries. Some theologians argued that the cause of the wounds was strictly divine, while others emphasized that Francis’s love for Christ initiated the stigmata. The power and function of prayer, however, featured in most explanations that sought to understand the nature of Francis’s wounds. A series of papal bulls promulgated by a number of thirteenth-century popes, which secured widespread support for the Franciscan claim of stigmatic supremacy, are also considered in this chapter.
Alessandro Vettori
- Published in print:
- 2004
- Published Online:
- September 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780823223251
- eISBN:
- 9780823240913
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Fordham University Press
- DOI:
- 10.5422/fordham/9780823223251.003.0001
- Subject:
- Literature, Poetry
In 1205 Francis of Assisi stood naked before the people and naked before God. This publicly is a crucial occurrence in the Saint's life that later became a cultural icon of the Franciscan movement. ...
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In 1205 Francis of Assisi stood naked before the people and naked before God. This publicly is a crucial occurrence in the Saint's life that later became a cultural icon of the Franciscan movement. The stripping action carries strong symbolic connotations. Theologically, it is significant that the naked Francis received refuge and shelter in the bishop's open cloak, which stands for the arms of the Church welcoming a convert. Clothing protects human beings and separates them from one another and from the environment by constructing an anthropological and social barrier between body and space. This function of clothing punctuates biblical accounts of early mankind. Franciscans attempt to reach back to the pure state of humanity as portrayed in the Book of Genesis and to join the initial Fall with the advent of redemption on the cross. Nudity stands as the protagonist of both occurrences.Less
In 1205 Francis of Assisi stood naked before the people and naked before God. This publicly is a crucial occurrence in the Saint's life that later became a cultural icon of the Franciscan movement. The stripping action carries strong symbolic connotations. Theologically, it is significant that the naked Francis received refuge and shelter in the bishop's open cloak, which stands for the arms of the Church welcoming a convert. Clothing protects human beings and separates them from one another and from the environment by constructing an anthropological and social barrier between body and space. This function of clothing punctuates biblical accounts of early mankind. Franciscans attempt to reach back to the pure state of humanity as portrayed in the Book of Genesis and to join the initial Fall with the advent of redemption on the cross. Nudity stands as the protagonist of both occurrences.
Alessandro Vettori
- Published in print:
- 2004
- Published Online:
- September 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780823223251
- eISBN:
- 9780823240913
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Fordham University Press
- DOI:
- 10.5422/fordham/9780823223251.001.0001
- Subject:
- Literature, Poetry
St. Francis of Assisi (c.1181–1226) and Jacopone da Todi (c.1236–1306) were but two exemplars of a rich school of mystical poets writing in Umbria in the Franciscan religious tradition. Their ...
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St. Francis of Assisi (c.1181–1226) and Jacopone da Todi (c.1236–1306) were but two exemplars of a rich school of mystical poets writing in Umbria in the Franciscan religious tradition. Their powerful creations form a significant corpus of medieval Italian vernacular poetry only now being fully explored. Drawing on a wide range of literary, historical, linguistic, and anthropological approaches, the author crafts an innovative portrait of the artists as legends and as poets. He investigates the essential features of emerging Franciscan tradition, in motifs of the body, metaphors of matrimony, and musical harmony. He also explores the relationship of Francis's poetic mission to Genesis, the relationship between erotic love and ecstatic union in both poets' work, and the poetics of the sermon.Less
St. Francis of Assisi (c.1181–1226) and Jacopone da Todi (c.1236–1306) were but two exemplars of a rich school of mystical poets writing in Umbria in the Franciscan religious tradition. Their powerful creations form a significant corpus of medieval Italian vernacular poetry only now being fully explored. Drawing on a wide range of literary, historical, linguistic, and anthropological approaches, the author crafts an innovative portrait of the artists as legends and as poets. He investigates the essential features of emerging Franciscan tradition, in motifs of the body, metaphors of matrimony, and musical harmony. He also explores the relationship of Francis's poetic mission to Genesis, the relationship between erotic love and ecstatic union in both poets' work, and the poetics of the sermon.
Roger D. Sorrell
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195386738
- eISBN:
- 9780199852413
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195386738.003.0003
- Subject:
- Religion, Philosophy of Religion
This chapter discusses the following topics: the eremetic mode of life, Francis' eremetic life as one source of his attitudes toward creatures, the interpretation of creatures as demon-possessed, the ...
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This chapter discusses the following topics: the eremetic mode of life, Francis' eremetic life as one source of his attitudes toward creatures, the interpretation of creatures as demon-possessed, the creature as teacher, saint as thaumaturge, Francis' affectionate interactions with animals, and early reactions to Francis' traditionality.Less
This chapter discusses the following topics: the eremetic mode of life, Francis' eremetic life as one source of his attitudes toward creatures, the interpretation of creatures as demon-possessed, the creature as teacher, saint as thaumaturge, Francis' affectionate interactions with animals, and early reactions to Francis' traditionality.
Roger D. Sorrell
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195386738
- eISBN:
- 9780199852413
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195386738.003.0004
- Subject:
- Religion, Philosophy of Religion
This chapter discusses the following topics: the fusion of wandering evangelism with eremetic ideals, the Sermon to the Birds and its relationship to the emerging Franciscan ideal, Francis' first new ...
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This chapter discusses the following topics: the fusion of wandering evangelism with eremetic ideals, the Sermon to the Birds and its relationship to the emerging Franciscan ideal, Francis' first new ideas, Francis' specific new conceptions in the Sermon, and the effects of the encounter upon Francis.Less
This chapter discusses the following topics: the fusion of wandering evangelism with eremetic ideals, the Sermon to the Birds and its relationship to the emerging Franciscan ideal, Francis' first new ideas, Francis' specific new conceptions in the Sermon, and the effects of the encounter upon Francis.
Roger D. Sorrell
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195386738
- eISBN:
- 9780199852413
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195386738.003.0009
- Subject:
- Religion, Philosophy of Religion
This chapter argues that the impact of Francis' expressions concerning creation varied during the centuries immediately following his life. The record reveals striking losses of some elements of his ...
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This chapter argues that the impact of Francis' expressions concerning creation varied during the centuries immediately following his life. The record reveals striking losses of some elements of his vision that were not widely accepted into Western Christian tradition, yet others had a dramatic and profound effect. When one can see Francis in terms of the Western traditions from which he arose, the way is open not only for a better appreciation of his tremendous originality, but also for the perception that the Western Christian tradition of thought about the relationship between humankind and other creatures is not static and rigid, but contains abundant potential, a constant ability to grow and to absorb profound innovation while remaining true to its fundamental values.Less
This chapter argues that the impact of Francis' expressions concerning creation varied during the centuries immediately following his life. The record reveals striking losses of some elements of his vision that were not widely accepted into Western Christian tradition, yet others had a dramatic and profound effect. When one can see Francis in terms of the Western traditions from which he arose, the way is open not only for a better appreciation of his tremendous originality, but also for the perception that the Western Christian tradition of thought about the relationship between humankind and other creatures is not static and rigid, but contains abundant potential, a constant ability to grow and to absorb profound innovation while remaining true to its fundamental values.
Roger D. Sorrell
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195386738
- eISBN:
- 9780199852413
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195386738.003.0005
- Subject:
- Religion, Philosophy of Religion
This chapter discusses Francis' characteristic special regard for creation. Francis not only showed his high regard for creatures through his preaching to them and his sincere affection for them. He ...
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This chapter discusses Francis' characteristic special regard for creation. Francis not only showed his high regard for creatures through his preaching to them and his sincere affection for them. He also showed how much he valued them in the way he applied standards of chivalric behavior to them, in his beliefs about the proper use of creation's bounty as food, and in his contemplative experiences amid the glories of creation.Less
This chapter discusses Francis' characteristic special regard for creation. Francis not only showed his high regard for creatures through his preaching to them and his sincere affection for them. He also showed how much he valued them in the way he applied standards of chivalric behavior to them, in his beliefs about the proper use of creation's bounty as food, and in his contemplative experiences amid the glories of creation.
Roger D. Sorrell
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195386738
- eISBN:
- 9780199852413
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195386738.003.0006
- Subject:
- Religion, Philosophy of Religion
This chapter examines Francis' Canticle of Brother Sun. The Canticle is considered the best known and most appreciated of all the written work of the saint, and it would be impossible to do justice ...
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This chapter examines Francis' Canticle of Brother Sun. The Canticle is considered the best known and most appreciated of all the written work of the saint, and it would be impossible to do justice to the many appraisals of it in the most diverse fields. Not only is it important to the fields of theology and philosophy, but it “can lay legitimate claim to an important and lasting place in the history of the literature of the Western world”, due to its stature as one of the first great Italian poems, and in terms of its later literary influence. The other influences on the Canticle and the progression in Francis' poetry are discussed.Less
This chapter examines Francis' Canticle of Brother Sun. The Canticle is considered the best known and most appreciated of all the written work of the saint, and it would be impossible to do justice to the many appraisals of it in the most diverse fields. Not only is it important to the fields of theology and philosophy, but it “can lay legitimate claim to an important and lasting place in the history of the literature of the Western world”, due to its stature as one of the first great Italian poems, and in terms of its later literary influence. The other influences on the Canticle and the progression in Francis' poetry are discussed.
John Tolan
- Published in print:
- 2014
- Published Online:
- May 2015
- ISBN:
- 9780823263868
- eISBN:
- 9780823266302
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Fordham University Press
- DOI:
- 10.5422/fordham/9780823263868.003.0011
- Subject:
- History, European Medieval History
In the eleventh canto of the Paradiso, Dante paints a vivid portrait of Francis of Assisi, a new rising sun in the Orient. A key episode in the spiritual itinerary of the saint, for Dante as for many ...
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In the eleventh canto of the Paradiso, Dante paints a vivid portrait of Francis of Assisi, a new rising sun in the Orient. A key episode in the spiritual itinerary of the saint, for Dante as for many other authors and artists, is his preaching Christ in the “proud presence” of the sultan, into whose presence he was driven by his “thirst for martyrdom”. To what extent is Dante’s vision of this central event in Francis’ life shaped by what he read, heard and saw in Florence, particularly in the Franciscan Convent of Santa Croce? How did this shape both his understanding of Francis and of Francis’ mission to the Egyptian sultan? In this as is many things, Dante borrows extensively from earlier models but shows considerable originality and innovation. In order to comprehend the key place given by Dante to Francis’ preaching to the sultan, I first briefly study the presence of the two mendicant orders in thirteenth-century Florence and of representations of Francis—and particularly of his encounter with the sultan—in the texts and pictorial representations with which Dante was familiar. Finally, I take a close look at Dante’s portrayal of Francis to see what he does with these sources.Less
In the eleventh canto of the Paradiso, Dante paints a vivid portrait of Francis of Assisi, a new rising sun in the Orient. A key episode in the spiritual itinerary of the saint, for Dante as for many other authors and artists, is his preaching Christ in the “proud presence” of the sultan, into whose presence he was driven by his “thirst for martyrdom”. To what extent is Dante’s vision of this central event in Francis’ life shaped by what he read, heard and saw in Florence, particularly in the Franciscan Convent of Santa Croce? How did this shape both his understanding of Francis and of Francis’ mission to the Egyptian sultan? In this as is many things, Dante borrows extensively from earlier models but shows considerable originality and innovation. In order to comprehend the key place given by Dante to Francis’ preaching to the sultan, I first briefly study the presence of the two mendicant orders in thirteenth-century Florence and of representations of Francis—and particularly of his encounter with the sultan—in the texts and pictorial representations with which Dante was familiar. Finally, I take a close look at Dante’s portrayal of Francis to see what he does with these sources.
Roger D. Sorrell
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195386738
- eISBN:
- 9780199852413
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195386738.003.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Philosophy of Religion
This introductory chapter first sets out the purpose of the book, which is to explore some of those areas of medieval thought which are the most misunderstood and misrepresented in the modern era — ...
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This introductory chapter first sets out the purpose of the book, which is to explore some of those areas of medieval thought which are the most misunderstood and misrepresented in the modern era — medieval reactions to the natural environment, and, in particular, St. Francis' reactions to nature. It then describes the sources used in the study and Francis' conception of nature and ecology.Less
This introductory chapter first sets out the purpose of the book, which is to explore some of those areas of medieval thought which are the most misunderstood and misrepresented in the modern era — medieval reactions to the natural environment, and, in particular, St. Francis' reactions to nature. It then describes the sources used in the study and Francis' conception of nature and ecology.
Roger D. Sorrell
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195386738
- eISBN:
- 9780199852413
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195386738.003.0008
- Subject:
- Religion, Philosophy of Religion
This chapter discusses the levels of appreciation in the Canticle nature-segments, biblical links, and traditional attitudes found in the poem. It also considers structure as a vehicle for emotional ...
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This chapter discusses the levels of appreciation in the Canticle nature-segments, biblical links, and traditional attitudes found in the poem. It also considers structure as a vehicle for emotional originality, as well as interdependence, harmony and reconciliation, and humanism in the poem.Less
This chapter discusses the levels of appreciation in the Canticle nature-segments, biblical links, and traditional attitudes found in the poem. It also considers structure as a vehicle for emotional originality, as well as interdependence, harmony and reconciliation, and humanism in the poem.
Michelle Harrington and Daniel P. Sulmasy
- Published in print:
- 2015
- Published Online:
- January 2016
- ISBN:
- 9780262029124
- eISBN:
- 9780262328579
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- The MIT Press
- DOI:
- 10.7551/mitpress/9780262029124.003.0006
- Subject:
- Biology, Bioethics
Michelle Harrington and Daniel Sulmasy interweave philosophy, theology, and medicine in an exploration of the role of spiritual preparation in a contemporary art of dying. Building on Lysaught’s ...
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Michelle Harrington and Daniel Sulmasy interweave philosophy, theology, and medicine in an exploration of the role of spiritual preparation in a contemporary art of dying. Building on Lysaught’s observation in chapter 5 that the rituals and practices of the Ars moriendi are meant largely for spiritual preparation for death, they address the aims of the patient autonomy movement to take control of dying and death. Through a narrative account of the life of Saint Francis of Assisi, they show that there is a freedom to be gained in choosing how to live in such a way that we may die well. The repercussions of death itself, they contend, might produce the greatest freedom.Less
Michelle Harrington and Daniel Sulmasy interweave philosophy, theology, and medicine in an exploration of the role of spiritual preparation in a contemporary art of dying. Building on Lysaught’s observation in chapter 5 that the rituals and practices of the Ars moriendi are meant largely for spiritual preparation for death, they address the aims of the patient autonomy movement to take control of dying and death. Through a narrative account of the life of Saint Francis of Assisi, they show that there is a freedom to be gained in choosing how to live in such a way that we may die well. The repercussions of death itself, they contend, might produce the greatest freedom.
Roger D. Sorrell
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780195386738
- eISBN:
- 9780199852413
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195386738.003.0007
- Subject:
- Religion, Philosophy of Religion
Given that the Canticle is an attempt to propagandize, this chapter considers what interpretation of creation did Francis intend to disseminate? What happens in the poem compared with Francis' ...
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Given that the Canticle is an attempt to propagandize, this chapter considers what interpretation of creation did Francis intend to disseminate? What happens in the poem compared with Francis' earlier works and with the liturgical sources from which the Canticle arose? To answer these questions, the chapter looks at some crucial sections of the poem which have aroused a controversy with roots that go back as far as the 13th century.Less
Given that the Canticle is an attempt to propagandize, this chapter considers what interpretation of creation did Francis intend to disseminate? What happens in the poem compared with Francis' earlier works and with the liturgical sources from which the Canticle arose? To answer these questions, the chapter looks at some crucial sections of the poem which have aroused a controversy with roots that go back as far as the 13th century.
