Saint Francis: A Model for Human Liberation

by Leonardo Boff

Book Overview

In this classic work, Brazilian theologian Leonardo Boff examines the relevance of St. Francis to contemporary spirituality and to the construction of a new church. Eschewing sentimental images of the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0824506715
• ISBN13: 9780824506711
• Release Date: January 1984
• Publisher: Crossroad Publishing
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

Free to have nothing; free to have everything

Leonardo Boff's biography, 'Saint Francis: A Model for Human Liberation', examines Francis of Assisi's selfless and complete devotion to the love of humanity expressed through the love of God. He further develops this into an examination of Franciscan spirituality as it was expressed by Francis, and how it can be incorporated into today's society.Boff begins his biography with an analysis of the theoretical aspects of making a response to the call of God. Contrasting it to more modern pursuits of a scientific, economic, political or even artistic and socially responsible variety, Boff argues for an unreservedly simple approach to looking at Francis' pattern of life and response to the divine call.Quoting Bonaventure, he says:'Franciscan spirituality is Saint Francis. And who is Saint Francis? It is enough to utter his name and everyone knows who he is. Saint Francis was a man of God. And because he was a man of God, he always lived what is essential. And so he was simple, courteous, and gentle with everyone, like God in His mercy.'Boff distinguishes this kind of gentleness from sentimentality that is often associated with the image of Francis. This was no weak man. This was someone who would be unswervingly gentle, more akin to Gandhi who refused both to submit to evil and to give in to evil in response to evil.One of Francis' achievements was the creation of a rule of spirituality that could exist in society that included opposition both from within and without the church. However, a rule of spirituality is not supposed to be set of chains, but rather a liberating force. 'Rule is not meant to substitute for life, but rather to give it strength and form.'There is enormous freedom in making a radical commitment to compassion and gentleness, for it liberates one from other cares. Few of us admittedly can make the complete approach from worldly cares that Francis seemed able to achieve, but learning from various aspects of his life and witness can lead us to a more full spirituality in our own lives.'He seems to us to be something new and something of the future we are all searching for.... But this feeling does not cause bitterness, because his message contains so much sweetness that the mediocre feel pushed to be good, the good to be perfect, and the perfect to be holy.'To work to be at one with nature, with the universe in all its diversity, in all its humanity, is the ideal of Franciscan spirituality. Boff captures both a theoretical and a practical aspect in this biography.

This book could change your life

I can not believe this book is out of print. If you can find a copy, do so and read it. Boff takes as his subject St. Francis and uses him as a starting point for an exploration of Christianity which will defy much of what you have been taught about the religion. In this book, you can see the tenets of liberation theology in such episodes as the one in which Francis exorts the monks to feed the starving men who have been forced into thievery THEN attempt to save their souls. The chapter about Francis's death, called Integration of the Negative, is a beautiful discussion of a topic dear to the hearts of members of 12 Step Programs--how do you live joyfully in a world in which you have no control and in which death is inevitable? St. Francis's death bed words, "Welcome, Sister Death" will ring true as one man's affirmation of life and all it entails.

Lectura franciscana de la crisis actual

Leonardo describe con su habitual genialidad las causas de la crisis actual y expone cómo el pensamiento de Francisco de Asis puede servirnos de base para dar una respuesta a la crisis que vivimos como humanidad. La ternura y el vigor con que Francisco asumió su cristianismo, le permitió dar una respuesta original en un contexto de fuertes cambios como los que hoy vivimos. Este libro está recomendado para todos aquellos que aun siguen creyendo en la santa locura del Evangelio.