The Message of St. Francis: with Frescoes from the Basilica of St. Francis at Assisi [Hardcover]

Nan (Editor), Maximilian Mizzi (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1999

St. Francis was great in the thirteenth century, but we can say that he has become even more important since," said Pope John Paul II on a 1993 visit to the saint's tomb at Assisi, in Umbria. Only four years later, in that very place of pilgrimage, a devastating earthquake rocked the Basilica of St. Francis, utterly damaging the structure and destroying some of the decorations. Giotto's famous twenty-eight frescoes of St. Francis's life miraculously escaped with only minor damage. In The Message of St. Francis stunning images and details from this fresco cycle illuminate the defining moments of the great saint's life: from his worldly beginnings as a dashing scion of privileged society to his embrace of poverty, simplicity, and humility. Extracts from biographies, ancient and modern, and his own writings--from canticles of praise to spare, incisive admonitions on the gifts of the spirit--convey the heart of his beliefs. Here we see the patron saint of animals and the natural world; the man who has emerged in our times as a major spiritual figure and a symbol of peace, love, and religious diversity--as depicted by Giotto, the "father of the Renaissance." The frescoes are printed on uncoated, textured paper reflecting the rich surface of the original frescoes themselves. In the tradition of Vision, this is an exquisite giftbook for art lovers and for Christians and seekers of every stripe--for Easter, First Communions, and all spiritual occasions.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

It's hard to say what's most important about The Message of St. Francis--St. Francis's words of wisdom; illustrations of scenes from his life; or the elegant, nearly indestructible paper it's printed on. Sister Nan, a member of the Community of St. Francis in London, has selected passages from St. Francis's writings and from his biographies, which are illustrated with photographs of Giotto's frescoes of St. Francis's life in the Basilica at Assisi.

The book would make a fine introduction to St. Francis for young people, an excellent devotional for adults, or a treasured gift for just about anyone who is serious about seeking wisdom and enjoying beauty in life. Many of the excerpts from St. Francis's writings included here will be familiar to readers who have even superficial knowledge of his life. Others, such as "A Signature in the Air," from Murray Bodo's The Journey and the Dream, have the power of fresh revelation. In this passage, St. Francis is watching little lizards running across the walls of the Basilica.

"It was their movement that fascinated him. Their motion was a pattern scribbled in the air which disappeared as soon as it was made. There was no permanence in these tiny signatures, no monument to themselves left behind. That is what he wanted to be: a tiny signature in the air that thrilled someone who saw it, but was as anonymous as a lizard's zigzagged darting on a pink Assisi wall. His movement would be his poem."

--Michael Joseph Gross

Product Details

• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Studio (March 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670883646
• ISBN-13: 978-0670883646
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,390,375 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)