Defenders and Critics of Franciscan Life: Essays in Honor of John V. Fleming (Medieval Franciscans)

The essays in this volume were presented at a conference honoring John V. Fleming at Princeton University on April 21-22, 2004. The aim of the conference was to revisit Fleming's 1977 book, An Introduction to the Franciscan Literature of the Middle Ages, from a number of different perspectives, including social, religious and literary history, as well as art, exegesis, political thought and the history of education. A prominent, but not exclusive, theme of the contributions is the distinction between "defenders" and "critics" of medieval Franciscanism. Recent scholarship has shown that the dividing line between medieval defenders and critics of Franciscan life was not as sharp or as clear as had once been thought. This, more nuanced approach to medieval Franciscanism is a reflection of the many scholarly developments that have occurred since - and as a result of - Fleming's volume. The present work offers a selection of current approaches to the question CONTENTS......Page 6 Editors' Introduction......Page 8 Contributors......Page 14 Preface: A Literary Apostolate: John Fleming and the Franciscan Literature of the Middle Ages (D. Vance Smith)......Page 18 PART ONE FRANCISCAN EXEGESIS......Page 24 Francis of Assisi, Deacon? An Examination of the Claims of the Earliest Franciscan Sources 1229–1235 (Michael F. Cusato)......Page 26 Tobit's Dog and the Dangers of Literalism: William Woodford O.F.M. as Critic of Wycliffi te Exegesis (Alastair Minnis)......Page 58 PART TWO STUDENTS AND SCHOLARS......Page 70 Franciscan Learning: University Education and Biblical Exegesis (William J. Courtenay)......Page 72 Using, Not Owning—Duties, Not Rights: The Consequences of Some Franciscan Perspectives on Politics (Janet Coleman)......Page 82 Langland and the Franciscans on Dominium (Lawrence M. Clopper)......Page 102 PART THREE FRANCISCAN CRITICS AND CRITICS OF THE FRANCISCANS......Page 120 William of St. Amour's De periculis novissimorum temporum: A False Start to Medieval Antifraternalism? (G. Geltner)......Page 122 History as Prophecy: Angelo Clareno's Chronicle as a Spiritual Franciscan Apocalypse (David Burr)......Page 136 Two Views of John XXII as a Heretical Pope (Patrick Nold)......Page 156 Kicking the Habit: The Campaign Against the Friars in a Fourteenth-Century Encyclopedia (Penn Szittya)......Page 176 "Si sind all glichsner": Antifraternalism in Medieval and Renaissance German Literature (Geoffrey Dipple)......Page 194 PART FOUR FRANCISCAN LEGACIES......Page 210 Imitatio Francisci: The Infl uence of Francis of Assisi on Late Medieval Religious Life (Lester K. Little)......Page 212 Louis IX: Preaching to Franciscan and Dominican Brothers and Nuns (William Chester Jordan)......Page 236 Preaching as Playwriting: A Semi-Dramatic Sermon of the Fift eenth Century (Katherine L. Jansen)......Page 254 Index......Page 266 Editors' Introduction -- Preface: A Literary Apostolate : John Fleming And The Franciscan Literature Of The Middle Ages / D. Vance Smith -- Part I: Franciscan Exegesis -- Francis Of Assisi, Deacon : An Examination Of The Claims Of The Earliest Franciscan Sources, 1229-1235 / Michael F. Cusato -- Tobit's Dog And The Dangers Of Literalism : William Woodford, O.f.m., As Critic Of Wycliff's Exegesis / Alastair Minnis -- Part Ii: Students And Scholars -- Franciscan Learning : University Education And Biblical Exegesis / William J. Courtenay -- Using, Not Owning Duties, Not Rights : The Consequences Of Some Franciscan Perspectives On Politics / Janet Coleman -- Langland And The Franciscans On Dominium / Lawrence M. Clopper -- William Of St. Amour's De Periculis Novissimorum Temporum : A False Start To Medieval Anit-fraternalism? / G. Geltner -- Part Iii: Franciscan Critics And Critics Of Thegranciscans -- History As Prophecy : Angelo Clareno's Chronicle As A Spiritual Franciscan Apocalypse / David Burr -- Views Of John Xxii As A Heretical Pope / Patrick Nold -- Kicking The Habit : The Campaign Against The Friars In A Fourteenth-century Encyclopedia / Penn Szittya -- Si Sind All Glichsner : Anti-fraternalism In Medieval And Renaissance German Literature / Geoffrey Dipple -- Part Iv: Franciscan Legacies -- Imitatio Francisci : The Influence Of Francis Of Assisi On Late Medieval Religious Life / Lester K. Little -- Louis Ix : Preaching To Franciscan And Dominican Brothers And Nuns / William Chester Jordan -- Preaching As Playwriting : A Semi-dramatic Sermon Of The Fifteenth Century / Katherine L. Jansen. Edited By Michael F. Cusato. Essays Were Presented At A Conference Honoring John V. Fleming At Princeton University On Apr. 21-22, 2004. Includes Index. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The essays in this volume present a fresh approach to the different and shifting ways that the Franciscan Order and its apostlolic activities were perceived - positively and negatively - by men and women in Europe in the late Middle Ages and Early Modern Period