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Secondary sourceDocument2014

The Second Christ, Saint Francis of Assisi and Ecological Consciousness

Hendrik Viviers · 2014

A 2014 academic journal article examining Francis of Assisi's significance for modern ecological thought.

A modern scholarly analysis of Francis's legacy, especially his connection to ecological thought.

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First page of the journal article 'The Second Christ, Saint Francis of Assisi and ecological consciousness' by Hendrik Viviers, showing the title, author details, an abstract box, an Introduction section with body text, and a footnote.
Hendrik Viviers, 'The Second Christ, Saint Francis of Assisi and Ecological Consciousness', Verbum et Ecclesia, 2014.

About this source

What it is

This is the first page of a scholarly journal article titled The Second Christ, Saint Francis of Assisi and Ecological Consciousness, written by Hendrik Viviers and published in the journal Verbum et Ecclesia in 2014.

Why it matters

Written nearly 800 years after Francis's death, this is a modern academic study rather than a historical record from his lifetime. It shows how scholars today reinterpret Francis, often focusing on his relationship with nature, to connect his medieval example to present-day concerns such as environmentalism.

Look closer

  • Why might a modern scholar be interested in Francis's attitude toward nature and animals?
  • What does the title 'The Second Christ' suggest about how some people view Francis?
  • How is a 21st-century academic article different from the medieval stories told about Francis?

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Manuscript page in Latin with black gothic script and red initial letter M and red-highlighted lines, with handwritten marginal notes on the right. The text includes 'Altissimu onnipotente bon signore' and 'Laudes creaturarum', consistent with the Canticle of the Sun.Book

Primary source

Canticle of the Sun

Francis of Assisi · 1226

Photograph of a small, aged parchment sheet sealed in a metal-framed case. It has faded brown ink text in Latin with red headings, a large hand-drawn red and brown Tau cross with a figure-like sketch, and a few lines of writing at the bottom.Document

Primary source

Chartula fratri Leonis

Francis of Assisi · 1224

Book

Secondary source

First Life of Saint Francis

Thomas of Celano · 1230

Gold-background panel painting in a gabled wooden frame. A standing robed friar with a halo holds a book and raises one hand, flanked by two angels above. Smaller framed scenes in the side panels show his life events in colorful architecture.Painting

Secondary source

Saint Francis of Assisi and Scenes of His Life

Bonaventura Berlinghieri · 1235

Aerial view of the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi on a hilltop, with its pink-toned stone walls, a tall bell tower, and a large sloping retaining wall. A parking area and winding road are below, with green valley and hills in the distance under a cloudy sky.Artifact

Secondary source

Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi

begun 1228

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