I, Francis

by Carlo Carretto

Book Overview

A fictionalized first person depiction of the life of Saint Francis of Assisi, the beloved founder of the Franciscans and patron of the environment. The book reflects on Saint Francis's youth, teachings, and the development of his religious order from the intimacy of an autobiographical narrative. Charming and original, I, Francis gives readers new insights and inspires renewed reverence for the "little poor man."

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0883442000
• ISBN13: 9780883442005
• Release Date: April 1982
• Publisher: Orbis Books
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.72 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.3" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

I, FRANCIS

The diary of Saint Francis is very through and very insperational. Perfect for anyone who is looking for book on Saints. I love it.

Inspiring Dialogue with St Francis

I was born in Assisi, in Italy 800 years ago. And eight centuries later I still remember a thing or two. You can tell from that opening sentence of Carretto's book on St.Francis that you are going to enjoy it and find it easy reading. it. Francis is an imaginary dialogue between the reader and the saint of Assisi. The book outlines Francis' life in a chatty and breezy style, and as he tells the bare details of his story, he makes provocative comments on modern issues with a singular simplicity and clarity. Who else but one speaking in the voice of Francis could describe the parodox of the Church with such direct insight? "Until now I had not properly understood what the ministry of the Church consisted of: sinfulness and infallibility; bad example and safety on the march along the road; fearful blindness in the shepherds, and .the certainty "of reaching the Promised Land with them. Now I saw, and was glad to . . . have had Rome's approval. I felt a peace. I felt myself to be on solid rock. I felt myself to be in God's design." There's real comfort to be gleaned from that brutal honesty. I found the book gave great enjoyment by combining the narrative of Francis' life with the comment. The account of Francis' wealthy upbringing and bourgeois aspirations to knighthood, his conversion, the beginnings of his little band is accurate. How the 800-year-old Francis now feels about his young manhood is told with the perspective and amusement of old age. As is usual in Lives of St. Francis, the rest of his life takes less space in the book, but at least Carretto takes the middle years seriously and sees in them more depth and struggle than some other writters have done. The author makes much use of the charming legends in the "Little Flowers of Saint Francis". He takes them with an uncompromising literalness which helped me see greater strength in Francis' spirituality. "Are you astonished if the wood of St Mary of the Angels seems to catch fire at night while we are praying. Does it seem strange to you that roses should bloom in winter? And that wolves grew tame? And that fish would listen to us? No, brothers and sisters, rather be surprised if the opposite occurs,' be astonished if you see the sky unmoved and indifferent to your joy." In an original and entertaining way, Carlo Carretto has given a lot of food for thought on issues as diverse as Christian feminism, non-violence (which he calls the twentieth century expression of true poverty), death and . suffering, and the signs that really speak of the Church's love. "Every Christian house . . . should keep a door open to welcome those in trouble. And if possible, the door should be easy to find and not too frightening for the poorest, with halls not too brilliant, staircases not too mammoth - signs rather of might and grandeur than of humility and truth." An underlying theme in this book deserves mention. Carretto sees in Francis part of the madness of being a saint - a follower of Jesus

Francis Alive in Today's World

This book describes the life of Francis of Assisi, his humanness and his deep spirituality, told through the eyes of Francis in modern times. You truly come to know Francis, and are inspired by his actions to lead a more simple and spiritual existance and to draw yourself completely into the arms of a loving God. This is one of the best short books that I've read in a long time. I'd read it again in a heartbeat and refer to it whenever I need to be rejeuvenated in my faith.

a modern view of the saint life

This book is simply wonderful, written by a man who knew very well and loved the places where Francis lived his life, and knew so much of His spiritualty. This book is a way to discover the life and beliefs of the man of Assisi, to make it nearer to us, to refer his culture to the culture of our days. After having read this Carretto's book you couldn't love Francesco D'Assisi, no matter what your faith or belief is.