Franciscan Library
 

Much has been written about Saint Francis.
When one wishes to study the life of Saint Francis of Assisi, there are the early documents, and books based on these early documents. We refer to these early documents as Primary Sources.

Primary Sources

• Regis J. Armstrong, ed., Francis of Assisi: Early Documents: The Saint, Vol.1. New City Press, 1999. ISBN: 1565481119. pp.744.

• Regis J. Armstrong, J. A. Wayne Hellmann & William Short, eds., Francis of Assisi, the Founder: Early Documents, Vol. 2. New City Press, 2000. ISBN: 1565481135. pp.832.

• Regis Armstrong, Bill Short & J. Wayne Hellman, eds., The Prophet: Early Documents, Vol. 3. New City Press, 2001. ISBN: 1565481151. pp.915.

• Regis J. Armstrong, Francis of Assisi Early Documents Index. New City Press, 2002. ISBN: 1565481720. pp.200.

• Marian A. Habig, Ed., St. Francis of Assisi, Writings and Early Biographies [Omnibus of Sources], Vol. 1 & 2. Franciscan Press, 1991. ISBN: 0819908622. Note: The 4-volume Armstrong, et al., work encompasses the Omnibus and the sources the latter is based on.

Covered in the above are:

• First Life of St. Francis, and, Second Life of St. Francis by Thomas of Celano

• Major & Minor Life of St. Francis by St. Bonaventure

These are primary sources because the authors knew St. Francis. A number of writings were, in part, based on these sources, for example:

• Regis Armstrong, Ignatius Brady, trans./ed. Francis and Clare: The Complete Works. Paulist Press, 1982.

• Blaiklock and Keys. The Little Flowers of Saint Francis. Servant Books, Ann Arbor, 1985. Note that this volume preceded the more popular Fioretti, and is actually based on the Actus beati Francisci et sociorum eius.

• Ewert Cousins, trans./ed. Bonaventure: The Soul's Journey into God, The Tree of Life, The Life of St. Francis. The Classics of Western Spirituality, Paulist Press. 1978.

• Regis Armstrong. St. Francis of Assisi: Writings for a Gospel Life. Crossroad, 1994.

Secondary Sources

    There are endless lists of secondary sources. Some of the more notable books are:

• John Moorman. St. Francis of Assisi. Franciscan Press

• Mark Hiegner. The Poverello. Franciscan Press

• G.K. Chesterton.  St. Francis of Assisi. Image Books

• Omer Englebert. St. Francis of Assisi, a biography. Servant Books

• Arnoldo Fortini. Francis of Assisi. (Believed to be out of print)

• Murray Bodo. Francis the Journey and the Dream. St. Anthony Messenger Press