Customer Reviews

The Little Flowers of St. Francis

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Francis is one of the most famous Saints today, although most only know him through his famous prayer ("Lord make me an instrument of they peace..."). This is the book to read in order to find out more about his life. The Little Flowers could in many ways be called the "Acts of Francis and His Followers," as it chronicles their journeys and miracles, and records their wisdom. The stories are not historical accounts in the modern sense, but oral traditions that tend to be on the legendary side (e.g. he communicates with animals, talks to Saints in heaven). This particular translation by Raphael Brown is excellent for the it also has The Considerations of the Holy Stigmata, The Life of Brother Juniper, The Life of Brother Leo, and the Sayings of Brother Giles.

2) Brown has added sixteen additional chapters of material that have never before appeared in English.

3) It contains a lengthy introduction and an appendix to guide those who wish to learn more about the history of the book and the life of St. Francis. The appendix is particularly valuable because it has a biographical sketch of the characters and short annotations that illuminate difficult passages in the book.

4) The translation from Italian and Latin to English is very readable.

If you want entertaining, amusing, and inspiring stories in a quality package, then check out The Little Flowers of St. Francis as translated/edited by Raphael Brown.

The Little Flowers of St. Francis eloquently tells that tales of St. Francis and his brothers and sisters in the Franciscan Orders. Brown offers a lengthy introduction that provides some biography of Francis and explanation about The Little Flowers and additional chapters.

Many of the stories of Little Flowers are based on the previous biography by Thomas Celano. As one reviewer noted, it might be good to read a traditional biography of St. Francis to better enjoy the Little Flower stories; however, Brown's biography in the introduction serves as the basic outline of Francis' life.

The stories are inspiring and eloquent. Francis' life cannot be discovered apart from the miraculous and mystical. His spiritual devotion and charisma defined him and his order. Depending on one's view of the miraculous, these stories might seem quite embellished, but that is not necessarily the case. The impact Francis' life had on the world is a testimony to its power and supernatualness.

The stories are not lengthy and make great light or short reading. There are five sections that fully address the Holy Stigmata of St. Francis. Additional sections include extra stories of St. Francis and the life and sayings of Brother Giles a friend and successor of St. Francis.

Most of these stories can be read to children or to the family. "How St. Francis tamed the very fierce wolf of Gubbio" is a classic story. All of the stories are inspiring and seem to have a touch of the Divine.

Craig Stephans, author of Shakespeare On Spirituality: Life-Changing Wisdom from Shakespeare's Plays

I don't consider the Little Flowers of St. Francis a history book nor is it fiction, rather the book contains stories that plant flowers in ones heart that continue to grow after you've read them, like "What is Joy" or John of Alverna encountering Jesus in the woods. I read these stories to my children as they were growing up in the hope that the seed would sprout and become. They loved them.

I also give this book regularly as a gift, and I know why. Naturally, you have to know to whom you're giving it. Thus far, I've only heard praises for the book.

Enjoy the Little Flowers. They're meant to bloom in hearts.

Pleasant read however historically unreliable. If you compare this account of St. Francis, to the earlier biography by Thomas of Celano you will find several inconsistancies and embelishments which are unsupported by evidence. If you are looking for a more reliable historical account of the life of St. Francis I would recommend that you check out the biography by Thomas of Celano as it was written much closer to St. Francis' lifetime and likely more realistic.

I like to read this one like a novel. To me it's kind of like Cannery Row, only instead of drinking you got self-flagellation. Fun stuff!