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Primary sourceBook1906

The Writings of Saint Francis of Assisi

Francis of Assisi · 1906

An English translation of Francis's Rule, Testament, letters and prayers, published in 1906, with an introduction on the early manuscripts.

This book collects Francis's own writings, making it a direct primary source for his teachings and rule of life.

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The Writings of Saint Francis of AssisiPDF · 259 pages
Francis of Assisi, The Writings of Saint Francis of Assisi, English translation, 1906. Internet Archive.

About this source

What it is

This is a 1906 English translation of the surviving writings of Francis of Assisi, including his Rule for the friars, his Testament, letters and prayers. The book also includes an introduction describing the early manuscript collections of his works.

Why it matters

Francis wrote very little compared to other founders of religious movements, so these texts are some of the only direct evidence of his own words and ideas. They show how he wanted his followers to live, in his own voice rather than through later biographers.

Look closer

  • Why might someone translate and republish these texts centuries after they were written?
  • What can you learn about Francis from his Rule that you could not learn from a story about him?
  • What might be lost or changed in translation from the original language?

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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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

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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

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Chartula fratri Leonis

Francis of Assisi · 1224

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Secondary source

First Life of Saint Francis

Thomas of Celano · 1230

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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

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