Francis: A call to conversion

by Duane W.H. Arnold, C. George Fry

From the back "Rarely has the spirit of Saint Francis been captured in a more appropriate style. The serene passion and the luminous song of the Franciscan ideal in its original conception fill each page of the present volume. Written for a broad public, at the same time this book should be welcomed by experts as a refreshing biography and a masterly outlined chapter of Christian spirituality."

Genres: Christian

143 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Duane W.H. Arnold is a church historian and priest. He holds his PhD in Historical Theology from the University of Durham, UK (1989). He has served in academic and parochial posts both in Europe and America, including St. Paul’s Cathedral, Detroit, and St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue, New York. He was named a Senior Research Fellow, The Centre for Reformation Studies, University of Sheffield, UK (1987) and a Fellow of the College of Preachers, the National Cathedral, Washington, DC (1991).

In addition to his academic work, Arnold is a part of the musical collective, The Project, and has recorded two albums, “Martyrs Prayers” and “Mystic Chapel”.

Reviews

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A colleague I admired gave an excellent assembly on Francis. I only knew the well-known and mythical stuff about him (poverty/hermit/ got on well with birds) and I read this to find out more. I suppose it was part of my own conversion as I read it during the five years that I went from adamant atheist to struggling and uncertain believer, but I don't think it played a major part. Had forgotten all about it until I opened a box of books I didn't realise I still had.

[Rev. Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Continuing with my study of the life of St. Francis of Assisi, I found this book to be a bit dry and not as helpful as others I have read so far. The description of St Francis overcoming his fear of lepers when he hugged a leper and kissed his hand was well done, and I liked the quote "Surely by his embracing the afflicted, the Afflicted One of the Cross has embraced him." This title also made many comparisons between the lives of St John the Apostle and St. Francis, and the many physical ailments that St. Francis experienced during his life.