In this course, you are invited to encounter St. Francis of Assisi as never before. Your guide is Conventual Friar J. A. Wayne Hellmann, a leading expert on Franciscan theology and co-editor of Francis of Assisi: Early Documents. You will explore how Francis and his teaching came to be understood in rich and beautiful ways in the centuries that followed his life, making St. Francis deeply relevant then and now. One of the first to write about St. Francis was his friend Pope Gregory IX, who called Francis an "industrious bee" in the vineyard of the Lord. Thomas of Celano presented an image of Francis "who had made his whole body a tongue" as he was carried on a donkey to continue his preaching mission. Even more interesting is the later transition from the image of the "Seraph" to the image of the "Angel of the Sixth Seal. "With Fr. Hellmann as your guide, you will embark on a literary tour through these fascinating images. These expertly taught lectures will introduce you to the vast body of Franciscan literature, delivering you to the heart of Franciscan theology. You will love this course.
