Little Flowers of St. Francis
Trans. Thomas Okey
So much of St. Francis's attraction is the absolute joy he took in everything given to him by God, even sorrow. But his joy in creation, in the plants and animals, and even in fire and rain, carries a great deal of charm. In addition to his dedicated holiness, these are the stories that most of us know about him: the preaching to the birds, the taming of the wolf of Gubbio. And the Little Flowers of St. Francis, a medieval manuscript, provides the most details about many of these occasions. In addition, the great holiness and beauty of his companions—of Clare, Juniper, and Giles in particular—is lovingly explored in this text. Unfortunately, many know only the “touchy-feely” Francis which has been popularized in the last century or so; this work shows his true nature: that his love for everything, even for the wolf, is centered always and forever on the love of Christ.
Praise be to Christ the King!