The Road to Assisi: The Essential Biography of St. Francis - 120th Anniversary Edition

by Paul Sabatier, Jon M. Sweeney (Editor)

Overview

Originally published in French in 1894, Sabatier’s was the first modern biography of Francis of Assisi. It was a worldwide bestseller, and in 2003 when this new edition was first published, it again sold more than 60,000 copies and was a selection of History Book Club.
 
This new 120th anniversary edition includes a dozen additional annotations and a new preface by the editor, putting Sabatier’s influential work into its historical context, showing why it is still the most essential life of the saint.
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781612614632
Publisher:	Paraclete Press
Publication date:	02/01/2014
Edition description:	New Edition, 120th Anniversary Edition
Pages:	220
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Jon M. Sweeney is an independent scholar and award—winning author. His books have been translated into many languages. He's a popular interpreter of the life and work of Francis of Assisi, and author of more than 40 books including St. Francis of Assisi with a foreword by Richard Rohr, and The Complete Francis of Assisi used by Third Order Franciscans. HBO optioned the film rights to Sweeney's book on the medieval Pope Celestine V, The Pope Who Quit.

In 2023, Jon published Sit in the Sun: And Other Lessons in the Spiritual Wisdom of Cats, and Meister Eckhart's Book of Darkness and Light, coauthored with Mark S. Burrows. Jon has been interviewed on CBS News, WGN—TV, Fox News, and CBS Saturday Morning, and by publications online from CNN to Romper. He's a practicing Catholic who also prays regularly with his wife, a congregational rabbi. He loves the church, the synagogue, and other aspects of organized religion. He would never say he's "spiritual but not religious." He is the father of four and lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Sweeney is codirector of The Lux Center for Catholic—Jewish Studies at Sacred Heart Seminary; religion editor at Monkfish Book Publishing; editor of Living City magazine; and contributing editor for books at SpiritualityandPractice.com.

Table of Contents

Preface to the 120th Anniversary Edition xi

Introduction xvii

The Annotated Life of St. Francis of Assist

1 His Youth and Family 3

2 Stages of Conversion (Spring 1204-Spring 1206) 9

3 The Church About 1209-Part One 18

4 The Church About 1209-Part Two 25

5 Struggles and Triumph (Spring 1206-February 24, 1209) 34

6 First Year of Apostolate (Spring 1209-Summer 1210) 45

7 St. Francis and Innocent III (Summer 1210) 52

8 Rivo-Torto (1210-1211) 56

9 Portiuncula, Early Companions, and Their Work (1211) 62

10 Brother Francis and Sister Clare 70

11 Francis's Love for All Creatures (Autumn 1212-Summer 1215) 76

12 His Inner Life and Wonder-Working 83

13 The Chapter-General of 1217 and the Influence of Ugolino 89

14 St. Dominic and St. Francis 97

15 The Egyptian Mission: Preaching to the Sultan (Summer 1218-Autumn 1220) 100

16 Crisis in the Order (Autumn 1220) 107

17 Francis's Doubts and Weaknesses 114

18 The Brothers Minor and Learning (1222-1223) 117

19 The Stigmata (1224) 124

20 The Canticle of the Sun (Autumn 1224-Autumn 1225) 131

21 His Last Year (September 1225-End of September 1226) 138

22 Francis's Will and Death (End of September-October 3, 1226) 155

Four Tales from the little flowers of st. Francis

1 The Source of Joy, or, Francis and Leo Walking in the Freezing Rain 165

2 Francis Saves and Nurtures the Turtle-Doves 166

3 How Francis Delivered a Brother from the Hold of the Devil 167

4 When Francis and Rufino Preached in Their Breeches to the People of Assisi 168

A Few Notes about the Editing of Sabatier 171

Glossary of Terms 173

Summaries of Major Characters 177

Sources/Recommended Reading 181

Index 187

Editorial Reviews

This new, updated edition is nothing short of astonishing in its power to touch the heart and revive the soul.” —St. Anthony Messenger

“Today, under the editorial guidance of Sweeney, this balanced, long—out—of—print work is again in the hands of readers.” —Library Journal

“…offers an excellent introduction, helpful sidebars, notes and fascinating illustrations, [aiding readers] in engaging ‘personally with Francis, the human being.’” —Publishers Weekly

“…offers a clear and temperate introduction to Sabatier’s passionate, controversial engagement with the radical life and message of St. Francis.”  —Valerie Martin, author of Salvation: Scenes from the Life of Saint Francis 

 

From the Publisher