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The Secrets of Francis of Assisi: A Meditation

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The Secret of Francis of Assisi is a wonderful book to read about Saint Francis' childhood. It is a book unlike any other about Saint Francis of Assisi. It not only gives a whole new view on this blessed saint but also of God. The Secret of Francis of Assisi is not only about his life, but it is also about the world Saint Francis lived in. It is a heart felt book that is bound to have an affect on theoligions and Fransiscans alike

This is an amazing book that sparked a wonderful peace deep within me. I would describe this book as an epiphany between two covers. It is written in the style and beauty of a poem that speaks very deeply to the soul. Do not by this book if you are looking for a historical account of the life of st. francis. This book is a meditation. Do not read this book with a critical heart, the truth it speaks of isn't historical it's spiritual.

In general, we human beings will do nearly anything in response to our spiritual teachers - except pay attention to what they do and say. Brother Francis, like his master Jesus of Nazareth, is a perfect example. We have made Francis a saint, built a basilica to house his body, and have sentimentalized him into a quaint animal-lover, a medieval nature mystic, or a proto-flower child. We've even sold his image (in the form of concrete garden ornaments) around the world - but listen to him? We'd much rather create a Francis we can live with: one that edifies and amuses, without disturbing how we live our lives.

Christopher Bobin's book is the latest development in this fine, old tradition. Here, the historical Francis is so submerged by a tidal wave of literary rhapsody that he would scarcely recognize himself were he to read the book by some miracle. Francis will be scarcely more recognizable to those of you who know the historical sources - and this is the heart of my criticism. Bobin's treatment of the Francis stories is cavalier and irresponsible. Many events and episodes essential for understanding him are omitted and those included are edited freely to serve the author's purposes, which are purely literary, not biographical, historical, or even religious. Worse, the author adds much nonsense that cannot be countenanced by anything we know about the real Francis. The result is a false portait of the Poverello that leaves out nearly everything that is puzzling, inconvenient, and challenging for a modern audience, and includes much that is misleading or just plain wrong. Playing so fast and loose with the facts may be acceptable in the realm of creative literature, but it is it a major disservice to Francis himself - for whom the truth ALWAYS mattered - and to those of us who wish to get to know him.

Where did Christian learn to write like this? The fact that this is a translation makes the prose even more astounding. Truly a contemplation on the mystery of life itself, using Francis as the anchor for a rhapsody of wonder, finding the sacred in rapt attention with the secular.

Length:: 0:50 Mins

If you want to learn more about St. Francis of Assisi, look somewhere else. If you want to have your heart lightened and gain a wonderful new perspective on God and His relationship to His creation, this book is a great source. It's worth buying just for the description of the Bible in the first chapter.

This book is a meditation from start to finish and should not be misconstrued as a biography, but if you aapproach it without expectations, it will lead you through a wonderful wandering.