The Misadventure of Francis of Assisi

Preamble

7 IT IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE that The Franciscan Institute at St. Bonaventure University announces the publication of this English translation of La Malavventura di Francesco d’Assisi, by the eminent French medievalist, Jacques Dalarun, Director of the Institut de Recherche et d’Histoire des Textes in Paris. This is the first of three volumes by Professor Dalarun to be published by the Institute. The other two volumes – Francesco: un passaggio (1994) and François d’Assise ou le pouvoir en question (1999) – are scheduled to follow within the next few years from Franciscan Institute Publications. This trilogy of works by Professor Dalarun represents a highly important and unique contribution to a series of vital questions concerning the Franciscan movement in the Middle Ages. Having appeared originally in either Italian or French, the content of these volumes has hitherto been known primarily to European audiences, making their appearance in English all the more welcome. It is our hope that the publication of this first of three volumes will generate lively discussion and a deeper understanding of the Franciscan phenomenon. After having received his doctorate from the University of Paris I (1985), Professor Dalarun gained scholarly prominence with the publication of two books on the twelfth-century religious reformer, Robert of Arbrissel, whose attempt to gather male and female followers into a single spiritual project resulted in the foundation of the double monastery of Fontevrault. Jacques carried his interest in this same theme into his first major study of the Franciscan movement, Francesco: un passaggio. Simultaneously, he had already accepted the posiPreamble 8 THE MISADVENTURE OF FRANCIS OF ASSISI tion of director of the medieval studies at the École Française de Rome in Italy – a post that he held until 1999 when he returned to Paris as Director of the IRHT. In spite of his multiple administrative duties, he has nonetheless managed to publish no fewer than nine monographs on a variety of medieval religious themes as well as an impressive collection of articles and essays in scholarly journals and conference proceedings . A frequent participant in the annual Medieval Congress at Kalamazoo, Jacques has always shown a keen interest in building bridges between scholars of the Franciscan movement throughout Europe and, more recently, on both sides of the Atlantic – particularly with the members of The Franciscan Institute . We at the Institute have been deeply enriched by our conversations together and eagerly await further opportunities to collaborate with our friend and colleague, Jacques Dalarun, whose publication, The Misadventure of Francis of Assisi, we are now happy to present to you. Margaret Carney, O.S.F. Michael F. Cusato, O.F.M. Jean François Godet-Calogeras ...