Franciscan Heritage Series

Early on, CFIT decided that one of its major tasks would be to identify some of the central themes and emphases of the Franciscan Intellectual Tradition, particularly as these were embodied in key theological issues. The result is the Franciscan Heritage Series, which is designed to make some of those basic themes available to people who do not have specialized knowledge of the Franciscan tradition. These small books, averaging 60-90 pages in length, are aimed at a wide general audience: college professors, preachers, formation directors, ordinary Franciscan men and women active in ministry, and lay persons associated with the Franciscan movement. Ten volumes in this series have now appeared:

The Franciscan Intellectual Tradition: Tracing Its Origins and Identifying Its Central Components

Vol. 1 - Kenan B. Osborne, O.F.M., The Franciscan Intellectual Tradition: Tracing Its Origins and Identifying its Central Components (2003). Situates the Franciscan Intellectual Tradition within the broader sweep of the Church’s theological tradition and explains the basic tools used by medieval Franciscan theologians, as well as the major contributions of significant individuals.

The Franciscan Intellectual Tradition

A Franciscan View of Creation: Learning to Live in a Sacramental World

Vol. 2 – Ilia Delio, O.S.F., A Franciscan View of Creation: Learning to Live in a Sacramental World (2003). Elucidates the theology of a diverse yet harmonious creation, flowing forth from the fullness of God, as a foundational starting point for contemporary belief and practice, making connections with contemporary science and environmental studies.

A Franciscan View of Creation: Learning to Live in a Sacramental World (2003)
A Franciscan View of Creation: Learning to Live in a Sacramental World

The Franciscan View of the Human Person: Some Central Elements

Vol. 3 – Dawn Nothwehr, O.S.F., The Franciscan View of the Human Person: Some Central Elements (2005). Building on the insights about creation in general, this volume focuses on the human person in Franciscan thought, focusing on human dignity, individual freedom, and the demands on human beings living in mutual relationship.

A Franciscan View of Creation: Learning to Live in a Sacramental World (2003)
The Franciscan View of the Human Person: Some Central Elements
The Franciscan View of the Human Person: Some Central Elements

The Franciscan Vision and the Gospel of John

Vol. 4 – Michael Guinan, O.F.M., The Franciscan Vision and the Gospel of John (2006). Illustrates the centrality of John’s Gospel to the Franciscan vision through an explanation of the Biblical symbolism in the San Damiano Cross. Accompanied by a CD-Rom.

A Franciscan View of Creation: Learning to Live in a Sacramental World (2003)
The Franciscan View of the Human Person: Some Central Elements
The Franciscan Vision and the Gospel of John
The Franciscan Vision and the Gospel of John

Trinitarian Perspectives in the Franciscan Tradition

Vol. 5 – Maria Calisi, Trinitarian Perspectives in the Franciscan Tradition (2008). For Francis himself and subsequent Franciscan theology, God is always “three-in-one.” Explains the significance of the Trinity for understanding creation as well as the human vocation to live in communion.

A Franciscan View of Creation: Learning to Live in a Sacramental World (2003)
The Franciscan View of the Human Person: Some Central Elements
The Franciscan Vision and the Gospel of John
Trinitarian Perspectives in the Franciscan Tradition
Trinitarian Perspectives in the Franciscan Tradition

Rejoicing in the Works of the Lord: Beauty in the Franciscan Tradition

Vol. 6 – Mary Beth Ingham, C.S.J., Rejoicing in the Works of the Lord: Beauty in the Franciscan Tradition (2009). Through an examination of the thought of Bonaventure and John Duns Scotus, draws out the centrality of aesthetics in the Franciscan tradition, especially the “art” of living.

A Franciscan View of Creation: Learning to Live in a Sacramental World (2003)
The Franciscan View of the Human Person: Some Central Elements
The Franciscan Vision and the Gospel of John
Trinitarian Perspectives in the Franciscan Tradition
Rejoicing in the Works of the Lord: Beauty in the Franciscan Tradition
Rejoicing in the Works of the Lord: Beauty in the Franciscan Tradition

Women of the Streets: Early Franciscan Women and their Mendicant Vocation

Vol. 7 – Darleen Pryds, Women of the Streets: Early Franciscan Women and their Mendicant Vocation (2010). Broadens the study of women in the Franciscan tradition beyond the cloistered Poor Clares to examine some medieval women who pursued a Franciscan vocation in the midst of their world, attaining a significant voice within their communities.

A Franciscan View of Creation: Learning to Live in a Sacramental World (2003)
The Franciscan View of the Human Person: Some Central Elements
The Franciscan Vision and the Gospel of John
Trinitarian Perspectives in the Franciscan Tradition
Rejoicing in the Works of the Lord: Beauty in the Franciscan Tradition
Women of the Streets: Early Franciscan Women and their Mendicant Vocation
Women of the Streets: Early Franciscan Women and their Mendicant Vocation

Knowledge for Love: Franciscan Science as the Pursuit of Wisdom

Vol. 8 – Keith Douglass Warner, O.F.M., Knowledge for Love: Franciscan Science as the Pursuit of Wisdom (2012). Examines the lives of three Franciscan scientists, showing how their conviction that God is present in all of creation led to research that yielded new insights for Franciscan mission.

A Franciscan View of Creation: Learning to Live in a Sacramental World (2003)
The Franciscan View of the Human Person: Some Central Elements
The Franciscan Vision and the Gospel of John
Trinitarian Perspectives in the Franciscan Tradition
Rejoicing in the Works of the Lord: Beauty in the Franciscan Tradition
Women of the Streets: Early Franciscan Women and their Mendicant Vocation
Knowledge for Love: Franciscan Science as the Pursuit of Wisdom
Knowledge for Love: Franciscan Science as the Pursuit of Wisdom

Understanding John Duns Scotus: 'Of Realty the Rarest-Veined Unraveller'

Vol. 9 - Mary Beth Ingham, C.S.J., Understanding John Duns Scotus: 'Of Realty the Rarest-Veined Unraveller' (2017). Introduces readers to the Franciscan vision of this great medieval thinker, as expressed in key areas of philosophy and theology. Illustrates these through the poetry of Gerard  Manley Hopkins, comparing them with the thought of Thomas Aquinas. Longer than the typical Heritage volume.

A Franciscan View of Creation: Learning to Live in a Sacramental World (2003)
The Franciscan View of the Human Person: Some Central Elements
The Franciscan Vision and the Gospel of John
Trinitarian Perspectives in the Franciscan Tradition
Rejoicing in the Works of the Lord: Beauty in the Franciscan Tradition
Women of the Streets: Early Franciscan Women and their Mendicant Vocation
Knowledge for Love: Franciscan Science as the Pursuit of Wisdom
Understanding John Duns Scotus: 'Of Realty the Rarest-Veined Unraveller'
Understanding John Duns Scotus: 'Of Realty the Rarest-Veined Unraveller'

Enduring Presence: Diversity and Authenticity among the First Generations of Franciscan Laity

Vol. 10 - Darleen Pryds, Enduring Presence: Diversity and Authenticity among the First Generations of Franciscan Laity (2018). Written as a companion to Volume 7, presents the faith journeys of six early lay women and men who chose to adopt Franciscan values and adapt them to the particular circumstances of their lives in the world. 

A Franciscan View of Creation: Learning to Live in a Sacramental World (2003)
The Franciscan View of the Human Person: Some Central Elements
The Franciscan Vision and the Gospel of John
Trinitarian Perspectives in the Franciscan Tradition
Rejoicing in the Works of the Lord: Beauty in the Franciscan Tradition
Women of the Streets: Early Franciscan Women and their Mendicant Vocation
Knowledge for Love: Franciscan Science as the Pursuit of Wisdom
Understanding John Duns Scotus: 'Of Realty the Rarest-Veined Unraveller'
Enduring Presence: Diversity and Authenticity among the First Generations of Franciscan Laity 
Enduring Presence: Diversity and Authenticity among the First Generations of Franciscan Laity