The World of St. Francis of Assisi: Essays in Honor of William R. Cook (Medieval Franciscans)

In The World of St. Francis of Assisi , thirteen scholars from diverse academic disciplines offer accounts of the way in which St. Francis shaped the world in which he lived and trace the saint’s legacy in the intervening seven centuries. The World of St. Francis of Assisi: Essays in Honor of William R. Cook seeks to enrich our collective understanding of the world in which Francis lived and the ways in which Francis, together with his followers, has shaped the world ever since. Composed of thirteen essays by scholars from diverse academic disciplines, The World of St. Francis of Assisi considers Francis's legacy in art, literature, and spirituality, and many of the contributions to the volume focus on the perennial application of Francis's insights to the ills of contemporary society.Contributors are Greg Ahlquist, William R. Cook, Alexandra Dodson, John K. Downey, Bradley R. Franco, John Hart, Ronald Herzman, Weston L. Kennison, Mary R. McHugh, Beth A. Mulvaney, Sara Ritchey and Daniel J. Schultz. The World of St. Francis of Assisi: Essays in Honor of William R. Cook 5 Copyright 6 Contents 7 List of Figures 9 List of Contributors 12 Introduction: The World of St. Francis 15 1 “You are Simple and Stupid”: Francis of Assisi and the Rise of Merchant Capitalism 19 2 The Functions of Early Franciscan Art 37 3 Francis, the Sultan, and Reading an Image in Context 63 4 Trial by Fire: St. Francis and the Sultan in Italian Art 78 5 Illness and Imagination: The Healing Miracles of Clare of Montefalco 98 6 Elevated Vision: Bellini’s Annunciation and the Nuns at Santa Maria dei Miracoli 118 7 Fraternal (Un)Masking: Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure and Dante’s Inferno 27 139 8 The Pilgrimage of the Wolf: St. Francis as Peacemaker in Gubbio and Nicaragua 158 9 The Wolf of Gubbio in Context: The Igreja da Pampulha, Brazil 170 10 Histories of the Present: Interpreting the Poverty of St. Francis 194 11 Eyes Wide Open: Francis of Assisi and the Duty of Poverty 211 12 Creation and Community Consciousness: Il Poverello’s Intercultural and Intergenerational Insights and Inspiration 223 13 My Life with Francis 242 Select Bibliography 259 Index 262 History,General,Religion,Institutions & Organizations "The World of St. Francis of Assisi: Essays in Honor of William R. Cook seeks to enrich our collective understanding of the world in which Francis lived and the ways in which Francis, together with his followers, have shaped the world ever since. Composed of thirteen essays by scholars from diverse academic disciplines, The World of St. Francis of Assisi considers Francis's legacy in art, literature, and spirituality, and many of the contributions to the volume focus on the perennial application of Francis's insights to the ills of contemporary society."--Back cover