30/04/2026
For anyone looking for one of the best classic biographies on St. Francis of Assisi, I highly recommend this one by Danish convert, Johannes Jørgensen. Published originally in 1911, I just republished it, as it is now in the public domain.
Great reading--or good for gifts, especially since 2026 is the Year of St. Francis and eighth centenary of his death.
(Available in paperback and ebook.)
Description:
One of the most celebrated biographies of Saint Francis of Assisi was written not in the Middle Ages, but in the early twentieth century by a man whose own life had become a search for meaning. Johannes Jørgensen was a restless poet, pilgrim, and man of letters from Denmark who moved through the radical intellectual circles of Copenhagen before encountering Francis. That discovery drew him beyond his Lutheran upbringing, out of the uncertainties and angst of modernism, and ultimately into the Catholic Church. From that personal journey came a biography marked by literary brilliance, historical depth, and deep spiritual sympathy. The result is a luminous and unforgettable portrait of the saint from Assisi.
First published to wide acclaim, this classic work has long been regarded as one of the finest biographies ever written on Saint Francis of Assisi. With the eye of a poet and the discipline of a historian, Jørgensen draws readers into the dramatic world of medieval Italy and the astonishing conversion of the young merchant’s son who became the Poor Man of Assisi. Here is Francis in full humanity: joyful and severe, tender and radical, contemplative and courageous.
Readers will encounter the decisive moments of his life:
-the call before the crucifix of San Damiano
-his embrace of Lady Poverty
-the founding of the Franciscan brotherhood
-his love for creation and all creatures
-his meeting with the Sultan during the Crusades
-the reception of the sacred stigmata on La Verna
More than a historical account, this book reveals why Francis still captivates believers, seekers, and readers of every age. His witness speaks powerfully to a modern world marked by anxiety, materialism, and division.
This new edition has been carefully prepared for contemporary readers, with editorial notes, corrected text, and helpful annotations that illuminate historical references, places, and sources. This edition is the definitive modern annotated edition of Johannes Jørgensen’s masterpiece on Saint Francis of Assisi.
Ideal for readers of Christian biography, Catholic spirituality, medieval history, and anyone searching for a life of lasting meaning, peace, and joy.
One of the most celebrated biographies of Saint Francis of Assisi was written not in the Middle Ages, but in the early twentieth century by a man whose own life had become a search for meaning. Johannes Jørgensen was a restless poet, pilgrim, and man of letters from Denmark who moved through the .....
