Spiritual Direction in Francis of Assisi

includes index and biblioraphy

ORD GOD AS FRANCIS` SUPREME DIRECTOR AND GUIDE ........ 21 I. Grace of Vocation ... 26 II. Life of Penance ... 31 III. Francis "in Sin"... 35 IV. Life among Lepers... 38 HAPTER II ... 54 WNCIS` SPIRITUAL GROWTH: INITIATION INTO LIFE OF FAITH 54 I. Francis` faith localised in churches... 55 1. His new attitude towards churches... 58 2. A faith anchored in churches... 61 3. Growth in church-bound faith... 65 II. His faith in priests.. 73 III. Faith under trial... 78 CHAPTER III ] AGENTS OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION AND GUIDANCE IN FRANCIS` LIFE ... 83 I. Persons .. 83 1. Mother Pical...83 2. Clergymen.... 3. Bishop Guido and Cardinal Protectors.... 88 4. Guidance from Brothers..... 92 5. Openness to Guidance from Others.. 96 II. Other Agents... 98 1. Bible as Francis` Guide... 98 2. Nature as Francis` Guide... 103 CHAPTER IV ... 112 FRANCIS AS SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR... 112 I.Beneficiaries.... 113 1. His Friars... 113 2. Clare and Companions... 120 3. Other Beneficiaries... 123 II. His Qualities as Guide... 129 1. A Sense of Mission ... 130 2. Respect towards Beneficiaries... 132 3. Empathetic towards One and All... 136 CHAPTER V CHARACTERISTICS OF FRANCIS` SPIRITUAL DIRECTION .. 140 I. Context of Prayer... 140 II. Francis as Teacher of Prayer..... 144 1. Prayer for Oneself.... 144 2. Prayer for Others... 149 3. Prayer of Praise.... 153 4. Common Prayers... 156 5. Praying together with and through Nature... 158 III. Guidance for Christian Living... 164 1. Gospel - Normative for Life... 164 2. Christ as the Model.. 166 3. Specific Guidelines...