Saint Ignatius of Loyola: Drawing from Franciscan Sources
Observers often note how much Pope Francis, a Jesuit, has highlighted the person of St. Francis and emphasized characteristic Franciscan themes in his messsqe. Indeed, his two key encyclicals, on care for the natural environment and on fraternity and social friendship, "Laudato Si" and "Fratelli Tutti," begin with quotations from the writings of St. Francis.
This resonance is nothing new. As the church celebrates the feast of St. Ignatius Loyola and his distinctive charism on July 31, it is interesting to hear this talk by Dr. Franco Mormando of Boston College illustrating just how much Ignatius himself drew from Franciscan sources. This talk was given in November 2019 at the Center for Ignatian Spirituality in Boston. Dr. Mormando himself is known to Franciscan audiences for his masterful study on the sermons of Bernardino of Siena:
Dominic Monti, OFM
Professor of Franciscan Research in the Franciscan Institute of St. Bonaventure University
Dominic V. Monti, OFM, is a Franciscan Friar of Holy Name Province (USA) and currently professor of Franciscan Research in the Franciscan Institute of St. Bonaventure University. He devoted the greater part of his ministry to teaching the History of Christianity, in particular the history of the Franciscan movement. He has contributed two volumes to the Works of St. Bonaventure series and is author of Francis & His Brothers, a popular history of the Friars Minor.