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Primary sourceBook1908

The Little Flowers and Life of St. Francis, with the Mirror of Perfection

1908

A 1908 English translation combining the Little Flowers legends about Francis with the Mirror of Perfection, an intimate account by his companion Brother Leo.

This book preserves an eyewitness-based account of Francis's life by his companion Brother Leo, alongside popular legends about him.

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About this source

What it is

This 1908 volume brings together two texts about Francis of Assisi: the Little Flowers, a collection of legends and stories about him, and the Mirror of Perfection, a close account written by Brother Leo, one of his companions.

Why it matters

Because Brother Leo knew Francis personally, his account is considered an especially close and detailed source for Francis's daily life and character, even though it was written down after Francis died. It helped shape how later generations imagined the saint.

Look closer

  • Why might an account by someone who knew Francis be treated differently from a legend written much later?
  • What kind of details might Brother Leo have included that an outsider would not know?
  • How might the purpose of preserving Francis's memory have shaped what Brother Leo chose to write?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Saint Francis on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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