Saint Francis of Assisi

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The Floating Press, Jan 1, 2009 - Religion - 183 pages
G.K. Chesterton lends his witty, astute and sardonic prose to the much loved figure of Saint Francis of Assisi. Grounding the man behind the myth he states "however wild and romantic his gyrations might appear to many, [Francis] always hung on to reason by one invisible and indestructible hair.... The great saint was sane.... He was not a mere eccentric because he was always turning towards the center and heart of the maze; he took the queerest and most zigzag shortcuts through the wood, but he was always going home." A 2002 review in the Franciscan wrote that "his opinions shine from every page. The reader is rewarded with many fresh perspectives on Francis."
 

Contents

Chapter I The Problem of Saint Francis
4
Chapter II The World Saint Francis Found
15
Chapter III Francis the Fighter
37
Chapter IV Francis the Builder
55
Chapter V Le Jongleur de Dieu
71
Chapter VI The Little Poor Man
91
Chapter VII The Three Orders
111
Chapter VIII The Mirror of Christ
131
Chapter IX Miracles and Death
151
Chapter X The Testament of Saint Francis
169
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About the author (2009)

Gilbert Keith Chesterton was born in London, England, in 1874. He began his education at St Paul's School, and later went on to study art at the Slade School, and literature at University College in London. Chesterton wrote a great deal of poetry, as well as works of social and literary criticism. Among his most notable books are The Man Who Was Thursday, a metaphysical thriller, and The Everlasting Man, a history of humankind's spiritual progress. After Chesterton converted to Catholicism in 1922, he wrote mainly on religious topics. Chesterton is most known for creating the famous priest-detective character Father Brown, who first appeared in "The Innocence of Father Brown." Chesterton died in 1936 at the age of 62.

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