Saint Bonaventure

Saints Maligned Misunderstood and Mistreated

It is said of St. Francis of Assisi that he didn't trust books and never wanted his friars to get distracted and influenced by the words of authors, whose works he also didn't trust. He trusted the Bible, but not certain people's interpretations of it. He was finally willing to bend in his staunch stand against book learning on the advice of St. Anthony of Padua, who was not only brilliant, but whom St. Francis trusted. And yet, if you look at one of the frescoes in the upper Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, which depicts St. Anthony teaching the friars, you will see St. Francis, looking down from heaven, checking up on St. Anthony.

©2004 Journeys of Faith (P)2004 Journeys of Faith