1 online resource (xiii, 239 pages) :

St Francis of Assisi is one of the most admired figures of the Middle Ages - and one of the most important in the Christian church, modelling his life on the literal observance of the Gospel and recovering an emphasis on the poverty experienced by Jesus Christ. From 1217 Francis sent communities of friars throughout Christendom and launched missions to several countries, including India and China. The movement soon became established in most cities and several large towns, and, enjoying close relations with the popes, its followers were ideal instruments for the propagation of the reforms of the Fourth Lateran Council of 1215. They quickly became part of the landscape of medieval life and made their influence felt throughout society. This book explores the first 250 years of the order's history and charts its rapid growth, development, pastoral ministry, educational organisation, missionary endeavour, internal tensions and divisions. Intended for both the general and more specialist reader, it offers a complete survey of the Franciscan Order. Dr MICHAEL ROBSON is a Fellow and Director of Studies in Theology at St Edmund's College, Cambridge

Includes bibliographical references (pages 224-236) and index

Acknowledgements -- Chronology -- Glossary of terms -- Abbreviations -- Introduction -- SECTION ONE: THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY: St. Francis's vocation to live and proclaim the Gospel -- The initial expansion of the order -- The poor followers of St. Francis -- The friars' ministry of preaching -- Preparation for the Apostolate -- Friars and the Papacy -- St. Bonaventure -- The order's role in the Church -- SECTION TWO: THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY: The mission to China -- The growing clamour for reform -- The crisis under Pope John XXII -- The friars and their neighbours -- Giovanni Boccaccio, satire and the friars -- The friars' churches -- Communities of the Friars Minor Conventual -- The emergence of the Observant reform in Umbria -- SECTION THREE: THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY: The preaching of St. Bernardine of Siena -- Toward division, 1400-1446 -- Observants and Conventuals, 1420-1456 -- Conclusion

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