Reluctant Saint: The Life of Francis of Assisi

Rating:
Summary: Elegant and insightful
Review: You'd think there would be little left to say about Francis. Thousands of articles, monographs, and books have been written about the little poor man over the last eight centuries. But Spoto has risen to the occasion in his new book. He makes sense of the frequently confusing chronology of Francis' life in a manner that marks him as a master biographer. But along the way he also offers rich insights about Franciscan spirituality and theology in particular and Christianity in general. (Spoto, by the way, has a doctorate in theology from Fordham University.) Here's an example: "Francis could not but surrender to the immediate impact of Jesus' words: indeed, he approached them simply but fully, putting into practice the biblical counsels without waiting to consider their every implication. In other words, in following the lessons of the New Testament he pursued the reverse of the usual means of pedagogy. He did not try to understand what the Gospel meant and then attempt to find ways of carrying out its message. Rather, he dared the experiment of first living that message, and from living it, discovered a new and practical way of understanding it." (p. 68) Reflections such as this alone would make the book worth reading. But Spoto is such a wonderful stylist and penetrating biographer that the entire book is a joy. I'd recommend it alongside Adrian House's recent "Francis of Assisi: A Revolutionary Life."