The main character in the book is Francis, and the other minor characters include Clare, the sultan, the crusaders and the Beguines. The theme of the book is selflessness with intent to lead Gospel life. The purpose of the book is to demonstrate the source of Francis Christian spirituality. Indeed, the book was understandable because there is minimal use of complicated language, and the consideration of the works of others heightens the knowledge of Francis. Chapter Summaries Chapter 1: Beginnings at Assisi The chapter gives the background of Francis. He hailed from a well-off family and through the education he was able to access from the priest of his parish church, his spiritually developed. Francis even strips his secular clothes and becomes naked to the public just like “Christ and Adam” (Cunningham 20). The chapter helped me understand the transition of Francis into a performer. In addition, I learned about the importance of education in regard to the Christianity of Francis. The knowledge of this chapter is helpful in appreciating the grandness of education to the life of an individual. Chapter 2: Francis and his companions The chapter talks about the Francis’ associates in Assisi. It is affirmed that Francis’ was not alone in his journey, and his companions included Clare. The political and social …show more content…
Francis is portrayed to be passionate about the whole idea of the birth of Jesus. Furthermore, it is this passionate that sets him off to follow the trails of Jesus. From the chapter, I get to learn that passion is one of the motivating factors for Francis’ Praxis. I also learn that Francis was determined to lead a life of a Christian against all odds. Finally, I learned that Francis was selfless, and that is why he gave up all the material possessions. The know-how developed through the chapter is helpful in the sense that I will ascribe less meaning to material things like Francis
Francis Marbury was considered to be a gifted preacher and teacher. It seems he was quite passionate about it. When he no longer had a public forum for these activities he focused his attentions in this area on ...
The main character of this book is Father Jean Marie Latour. He was consecrated the Catholic Vicar Apostolic of New Mexico and Bishop of Agathonica in partibus at Cincinnati and was destined to reach his Vicarate (Cather 1927) and help the people of the land. When he was given his mission to retrieve the bishopric (Cather 1927) by the Vatican in Rome he accepted it whole heartedly.
Francis of Assisi is one of the most influential personalities in the entire world. In the book ‘Francis of Assisi: Performing the Gospel Life,’ Cunningham recounts the life of this humble monk who lived in the medieval times, and shaped the Christian life, which spread in Western culture throughout the rest of history. I believe Cunningham accurately accounts for the life of Francis of Assisi, and in doing so; he provides a trajectory of the Christian faith from its early and historical proponents through its fusion with western culture, and its subsequent spread throughout the world.
Those who respected him for “all those hours [he] was up [there] working” on his sermons and studies distanced themselves from him because he represents a strict moral compass to which they are held as members of the community: “When they saw me coming, of course the joking stopped, but I could see they were still laughing to themselves, thinking what the old preacher almost heard them say” (5).... ... middle of paper ... ... Ultimately, the novel acknowledges the imperfections of others but does not offer a method of change so much as an emphasis of understanding and forgiveness.
This is a spirituality steeped in monastic theology, aiming at wisdom rather than knowledge, seeking to draw lessons out of scripture to apply practically to a life of contemplation and devotion. The ever-pervasive influence of the Cistercian sermo means his writings assume a shared starting point of faith and outlook and press towards corporate encouragement. To this end, Bernard, with his abbatial burden, seeks to share with the reader, or hearer, the grace he himself has received from the Lord. A careful study leaves the reader assuredly edified towards a greater love for Christ. His emphasis on the will and its attendant desire and love offers a helpful corrective to our contemporary over-emphasis on reason, which often veers towards an evangelical rationalism. Bernard’s view of the Christian life through the metaphors of journey and relationship is useful in engaging the heart and mind and again provide a helpful corrective to contemporary decisionism and easy believism. Bernard presents a view of Christian discipleship not as a program or study plan, but as a headlong plunge into an experiential pursuit of the Spirit of Christ, seeking the threefold kisses of repentance, obedience and contemplative union. A union which through degrees draws the seeker away from a selfish love of God and others, to a divinely empowered love of God and others. Our evangelical minds can shrink back at the heights of love to which Bernard calls us to, even as those who believe the Bible, we are prone to temper his call to love with a divine self-forgetfulness, with rejoinders of the limitations of our fallenness this side of glory. And no doubt, the fullest experience of this perfect will requires glorified, perfected hearts, minds, souls and strength. This side of glory we only experience in part and see through a glass darkly. But our limitations should not cause us to
These feelings push him to attempt to kill himself in a heroic way and joining the army. “And I recognized in her eyes now what I could not deny: betrayal. My betrayal of her in her eyes,” (Cormier 96-97). Throughout the whole story, Francis feels remorseful about Nicole’s corruption, he feels didn’t do anything to help. Guilt and betrayal follow him when he thinks about Nicole because he just stood there and didn’t do anything. Even though there was nothing really for him to do, he still thinks that he is responsible for what has happened to Nicole and thinks he has to do something to fix
Ed accepted recognition for his works, Ed told Sophie he was “another stupid human”, but afterward when Father O'Reilly mentions he is a saint, he allows himself to hear it. Ed’s self-improvement has been communicated through
Giovanni Boccaccio’s Decameron is a series of tales written during the Late Middle Ages that is meant to entertain the reader. While the entertainment value of Boccaccio’s work in undeniable, the Decameron also provides the reader with information about society at the time, and Boccaccio’s own worldview. One of the most prevalent themes throughout the Decameron is the portrayal of clergymen and members of religious communities as negative influences on those around them, constantly behaving in a manner unfit for those who are supposed to be moral and spiritual exemplars. Throughout the tales told by the lieta brigada, many priests, and friars are portrayed as being extremely lustful and greedy, frequently indulging in sex (often with the wives of other men), and living lives more befitting of a minor lord than a monk. Those clergymen who are not portrayed as out rightly immoral are usually stupid, and are unable to stop others from acting immorally because of their ignorance. Despite this, a few of the clergymen in the story are shown as ultimately having good intentions, or improving in morality through the actions of another. To understand all of these criticisms of the clergy, we must look at them through a historical lens, and observe the behavior of members of the Church in the Late Middle Ages. Finally, these analyses of the Decameron’s portrayal of clergymen may give us insight into Boccaccio’s own faith, and allow us to understand the motives of the author. In this essay, I will analyze the portrayal of clergymen and members of religious communities in Giovanni Boccaccio’s Decameron. I will focus on the licentiousness, greed, and stupidity of these members of the Church, while also evaluating the few portrayals of good me...
Francis spent some time working as a cook in a monastery and as a labourer – used all his money on repairing churches. Words of Christ in St Matthew came to him:
St. Francis grew up very wealthy. His family had a lot of money and basically did anything they wanted to. His father was a wealthy cloth merchant and owned a farmland in Assisi. Francis was spoiled as a child. He left school at the age of 14 and was known to be very rebellious and would often break city rules. A little later in Francis’ life he fought in a battle and was imprisoned for almost a year and starting hearing God’s call to him. After he got out of prison he was very ill and had many mental and physical scars. But he continued to hear God’s call which was to repair the Church and live a life of poverty. One day when Francis was riding his horse he saw a leper. Usually he would just pass and mind his own business but this time he felt the need to help. He hugged and kissed the leper and this seemed to be the turning point in Francis’ life. He took on God’s call and abandoned his wealthy life. He then devoted his life to Christianity. St. Francis had to get money some way so he stole some cloth and a horse from his father. He father started noticing his son’s crimes and his ...
Weisheipl, James A. Friar Thomas D’Aquino: His Life, Thought, and Works. New York: Doubleday & Company, 1974.
Francis of Assisi was born in 1182 in Italy, into a rich family due to his father’s wealth from being a cloth merchant, which he wanted Francis to do as well. Francis, being a natural born leader, was loved by everyone and lived a very happy life as a child. Francis was attracted to parties as he grew up, and reflecting back on that time he even stated “I lived in sin”. After 25 years of his life he finally realized his true vocation of being a man of God, and started to pray longer and more often, as well as repenting his sins. Francis recalled his test from God, where he was face to face with a leper, despite their ugly appearance and smell, he kissed their hand, filling himself with joy. Soon Francis was left with nothing, no family, no money, no home, but remained happy as he knew he had God. As he preached, people wanted to follow his way of life by sleeping in the forest, eating garbage and loving God.
Francis was famous for his love of all creation. He called for simplicity of life, poverty, and humility before God. He worked to care for the poor. Thousands were drawn to his sincerity, piety, and joy. In all his actions, Francis sought to follow fully and literally the way of life demonstrated by Christ in the Gospels. He died in 1226, at the age of 44.
Francis was born with the baptismal name of John, to Peter Bernardone and his wife Pica, in the fall of 1182 while Peter was away. A well to do businessman in fabrics, furs and fine apparel, Peter was not pleased with the baptismal name that Pica had chosen in honor of John the Baptist, so he insisted on the name Franciscus or Francis in English. Francis was brought up in the privilege that Peter’s business permitted and Peter was grooming him to take over this business one day. During this grooming process, Francis came across many classes of people and all walks of life learning from each person. While learning the tools of Peter’s trade, Francis was learning that a life of privilege supported his life of parties, partiers, and an elaborate wardrobe. Even though his parents did not discipline or control his lavish behavior, they were concerned for his lack of interest in Peter’s business. However, Francis did take note of his wealth when a beggar came to his father’s shop; Francis dismissed him, but later saw his actions as greedy and was re...
In this lyrical poem, dedicated to the Franciscan nuns’ lives, Hopkins expresses his reactions to the wreck of the Deutschland , which sparked powerful emotions in him. Although Hopkins is a devoted Catholic, he encounters critical difficulties in understanding God’s ways and seeks in his poem to resolve them. “The Wreck of the Deutschland” is, therefore, a theodicy (an attempt to reconcile the existence of tragedy and suffering with belief in a God who is both loving and powerful), set out to justify the ways of God to man. In Part the First, Hopkins confesses his innermost t...