The Writings of Francis of Assisi: Letters and Prayers

Contributors

CONTrIbuTOrS PrOFESSOr dOCTOr luIgI PEllEgrINI, O.F.m. CaP., the 19th recipient of the Franciscan Institute Medal (Summer 2006) is known for significant contributions to Franciscan studies in the areas of the question of the Franciscan insediamenti in Italy, the life of the early Franciscans (especially their eremitical orientation ), the scritti of Francis of Assisi and the manuscript tradition of the early Franciscan sources, with special attention given to the Early Rule. JEaN FraNçOIS gOdET-CalOgEraS is a Franciscan scholar internationally known for his publications on the early Franciscan documents, in particular the writings of Francis and Clare of Assisi, and for his lectures and workshops on early Franciscan history. A native of Belgium, Jean François received his education in classical philology and medieval studies at the Catholic University of Louvain. In the early 1980s he facilitated the international work group which elaborated the text of the new Rule of the Third Order Regular. Jean François has resided in the USA since 1991, and currently serves as a full professor at the Franciscan Institute/School of Franciscan Studies, Saint Bonaventure University. mIChaEl W. blaSTIC, O.F.m., is a Friar Minor of the Holy Name of Jesus Province, New York, NY. He is presently an Associate Professor and the Chair of Franciscan Theology and Spirituality Studies at the Washington Theological Union, Washington DC. He received his Ph.D. in Historical Theology from St. Louis University, St. Louis , Missouri. His research and publications focus on the Writings of General Introduction xviii Francis and Clare of Assisi, the Franciscan Hagiographical Tradition, and the early Franciscan tradition of theology and spirituality. mIChaEl F. CuSaTO, O.F.m. is one of the foremost historians of medieval Franciscan history working in the field today. Having received an M.A. degree in Franciscan Studies from the Franciscan Institute (1984), he went on to earn a doctorate in medieval history at the Université de Paris IV (Sorbonne) in 1991 under the direction of André Vauchez. Author of numerous articles on medieval Franciscan history, with a particular emphasis on the historical contextualization of Franciscan sources and the role of apocalyptic thought in Franciscan self-understanding, he is recognized both at home and abroad for his bold and innovative approaches to the reading of Franciscan texts. Such interests have led him to contribute important studies on pivotal figures like Caesar of Speyer, Elias of Cortona, John of Parma and Arnald of Villanova and texts such as the Epistola ad fideles and Chartula of Francis of Assisi, the Sacrum commercium, the Anonymous of Perugia and the Expositio super Hieremiam. Jay m. hammONd, Ph.D. previously taught at the University of San Francisco (1998-2000) and Quincy University (2000-2003), before moving to Saint Louis University in 2003. Known for his research focused on the early Franciscan documents, especially the writings of Francis of Assisi and Bonaventure and the mural decoration of the upper church of the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi, he also codirects the Center for Digital Theology with Dr. James Ginther. The center’s mission supports research and teaching in Theological Studies and related Humanities disciplines through the creation of multimedia projects, web-based databases and other electronic resources that preserve and/or provide access to historical artifacts and texts that have significant religious or theological meaning. For the past three years he has also directed a grant in the department concerning “Assessment as Proactive Pedagogy.”The grant has enabled the department to recommit itself to excellence in teaching and the ongoing enhancement of student learning. General Introduction xix laurENT gallaNT, O.F.m. is a member of the Franciscan Province of St. Joseph in Montreal. After ordination to the priesthood he pursued postgraduate studies in France resulting in a Doctorate in Sacramental Theology from the Institut Supérieur de Liturgie and the Facultés Catholiques (Paris). His most recent ministries were as the Director of the Inter-Franciscan Center (SIAF) in Montreal, Quebec from 1989 to 1998 and as Instructor in Sacramental Theology at the Newman Theological College in Edmonton, Alberta from 1999-2009. He is now retired and pursuing reasearch in Franciscan and Sacramental Studies. ...