Reviewers have judged St. Francis of Assisi: A Biography to be that rarity among books about saints: a popular work of inspiring spiritual reading that is also an acclaimed work of modern scholarship. With spiritual insight and careful historical judgment, Omer Englebert blends the many facets of St. Francis' personality into a portrait of a saint who can inspire men and w Reviewers have judged St. Francis of Assisi: A Biography to be that rarity among books about saints: a popular work of inspiring spiritual reading that is also an acclaimed work of modern scholarship. With spiritual insight and careful historical judgment, Omer Englebert blends the many facets of St. Francis' personality into a portrait of a saint who can inspire men and women today. A Servant Book.
St. Francis of Assisi: A Biography
Reviewers have judged St. Francis of Assisi: A Biography to be that rarity among books about saints: a popular work of inspiring spiritual reading that is also an acclaimed work of modern scholarship. With spiritual insight and careful historical judgment, Omer Englebert blends the many facets of St. Francis' personality into a portrait of a saint who can inspire men and w Reviewers have judged St. Francis of Assisi: A Biography to be that rarity among books about saints: a popular work of inspiring spiritual reading that is also an acclaimed work of modern scholarship. With spiritual insight and careful historical judgment, Omer Englebert blends the many facets of St. Francis' personality into a portrait of a saint who can inspire men and women today. A Servant Book.
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Jenn –
I read reviews that said this book was dry. Can't agree with that. I am in general very leery about saint biographies because the saint always comes off being born with a halo and never having a struggle unless it was from others persecuting them. I found this book very factual without getting syrupy or sentimental. I read reviews that said this book was dry. Can't agree with that. I am in general very leery about saint biographies because the saint always comes off being born with a halo and never having a struggle unless it was from others persecuting them. I found this book very factual without getting syrupy or sentimental.
Peter Cram –
Amazing
Bill T. –
I really enjoyed it, some dull sections but it read almost like a novel to me. I would recommend anyone read it no matter what your religious beliefs, might get something worthwhile from it.
R. Nathan –
Awsome, well written book. If you are interested in his life, or monasticism in general, you will love this book.
Janet –
I read this in preparation for a class I'm teaching this fall. It is a biography of St. Francis that was new to me, but a good 50 years old. It includes details from early documents and the limited writings of St. Francis. I found it fascinating. While I like to believe that saints are just ordinary people who do extraordinary things, this book showed Francis to be far more than ordinary...in fact, pretty off the charts in a variety of ways. I will be interested to get feedback from students on I read this in preparation for a class I'm teaching this fall. It is a biography of St. Francis that was new to me, but a good 50 years old. It includes details from early documents and the limited writings of St. Francis. I found it fascinating. While I like to believe that saints are just ordinary people who do extraordinary things, this book showed Francis to be far more than ordinary...in fact, pretty off the charts in a variety of ways. I will be interested to get feedback from students on how they perceive the Poverello.
Lola –
To be fair to this St. Francis biography, I did not fully read it word for word. Why would I when I have a Franciscan Values professor (because these are the kind of required classes you must take at a Catholic college) who basically recaps each chapter and reads it aloud for us? Also, it's just terribly boring. I'm sure St. Francis is very interesting (maybe? I've yet to see any evidence of that), but Omar Englebert has written a dull, admiration-laced narrative of the Little Poor Man. I'm gla To be fair to this St. Francis biography, I did not fully read it word for word. Why would I when I have a Franciscan Values professor (because these are the kind of required classes you must take at a Catholic college) who basically recaps each chapter and reads it aloud for us? Also, it's just terribly boring. I'm sure St. Francis is very interesting (maybe? I've yet to see any evidence of that), but Omar Englebert has written a dull, admiration-laced narrative of the Little Poor Man. I'm glad I now have the best hits of St. Francis's life, but I wish it had been more engaging. Not recommended unless you're very religious, into St. Francis, or taking a class dedicated to him.
Jake Maguire –
I've been told this biography is the least accessible of the ones currently in print. I believe it, this one was a bit archaic with a dry fact by fact style which disappointed me because I had been encouraged to purchase a book on St. Francis by several different people. It just so happened that when I was at the bookstore, they were out of the other versions, and not wanting to come back another time, rationalized that this one should be fine. It was readable, but I wanted it to be worthy of th I've been told this biography is the least accessible of the ones currently in print. I believe it, this one was a bit archaic with a dry fact by fact style which disappointed me because I had been encouraged to purchase a book on St. Francis by several different people. It just so happened that when I was at the bookstore, they were out of the other versions, and not wanting to come back another time, rationalized that this one should be fine. It was readable, but I wanted it to be worthy of the Saint, which it was not.
Doug –
Hagiography. Every time Fr. Englebert strays into something you'd like to know something about, he rushes back to the hagiography. It does set out the dates and places of St. Francis' life, but not the historical context, his fights with the moderates, particularly Br. Elias, his relationship with Cardinal Ugolino (later Pope Gregory IX) or previous popes, other reform movements both Catholic and heretical (those poor Cathars). Not really worth reading. I wish I'd researched a more scholarly boo Hagiography. Every time Fr. Englebert strays into something you'd like to know something about, he rushes back to the hagiography. It does set out the dates and places of St. Francis' life, but not the historical context, his fights with the moderates, particularly Br. Elias, his relationship with Cardinal Ugolino (later Pope Gregory IX) or previous popes, other reform movements both Catholic and heretical (those poor Cathars). Not really worth reading. I wish I'd researched a more scholarly book on St. Francis. Impulse buy at a Franciscan retreat center. At least it was only $13.
Cara –
Is it equitable to say that this biography, loquacious and inspiring as it may be, is nevertheless maladroitly written? Is the most frustrating aspect Englebert's use of rhetorical questions or his exalted language? Could simply it be that the English translation was ill-done? Anyone? Anyone? Is it equitable to say that this biography, loquacious and inspiring as it may be, is nevertheless maladroitly written? Is the most frustrating aspect Englebert's use of rhetorical questions or his exalted language? Could simply it be that the English translation was ill-done? Anyone? Anyone?
Brian –
It seemed like a lot of other biographies on him.
Scott Cedotal –
St Francis' trust in God and in Jesus' teachings was absolutely complete. St Francis' trust in God and in Jesus' teachings was absolutely complete.
Amy –
Got for a course on St Francis I took at St Louis University in 1979.
FatherBenjamin Ross –
Excellent read! I'm only familiar with the saint and wanted to learn more. I was glad for the approach the author took at reporting largely primary sources with supplemental secondary sources, and allowing the reader to decide how much they believe the legendary accounts. It seemed to hold the balanced position between pious cultic stories and skeptical or doubtful interpretation. I also greatly appreciated the frankness with which he recounted the human tendencies (i.e. comfort, prestige, power Excellent read! I'm only familiar with the saint and wanted to learn more. I was glad for the approach the author took at reporting largely primary sources with supplemental secondary sources, and allowing the reader to decide how much they believe the legendary accounts. It seemed to hold the balanced position between pious cultic stories and skeptical or doubtful interpretation. I also greatly appreciated the frankness with which he recounted the human tendencies (i.e. comfort, prestige, power) of the multitude of followers after Francis and his first small band of brothers; how difficult it is to regulate and codify the way of life they lived, but it doesn't diminish the ideal nor the honor with which the Franciscan order still tries to follow their serafic father. It was a great and easy read, like a novel since it told many stories in sequence.
Sandra –
Anyone who has an interest in St. Francis will find this a good read. It outlines his conversion, his life of poverty, his Order’s philosophy, and his relationship with Clare of the Poor Ladies. The last few chapters follow his last steps and his extraordinary death. Francis had a special relationship with animals and birds and loved nature. Teaches we should find joy in the midst of hardships and suffering.
Amanda –
It wasn't bad...it just wasn't what I expected. The first few chapters were about St. Francis, but then the focus shifted to the order he began and its members. The book turned into more of a history of the Franciscians. But then the last three chapters came back to St. Francis. It just didn't feel like a biography. More of the book was about the order rather than the saint. It wasn't bad...it just wasn't what I expected. The first few chapters were about St. Francis, but then the focus shifted to the order he began and its members. The book turned into more of a history of the Franciscians. But then the last three chapters came back to St. Francis. It just didn't feel like a biography. More of the book was about the order rather than the saint.
William R –
A historical, and of course Catholic recounting of beloved St Francis' life. His upbringing, detachment from his well-to-do family, and then "love of poverty" are the central themes, but it is the treatment of the latter that brings the reader the true essence of his spiritual life. A historical, and of course Catholic recounting of beloved St Francis' life. His upbringing, detachment from his well-to-do family, and then "love of poverty" are the central themes, but it is the treatment of the latter that brings the reader the true essence of his spiritual life.
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Frank –
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