The life of Saint Francis of Assisi; and a sketch of the Franciscan order - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1867 Excerpt: ...suffering, to obtain the perfection of those whom he governed. Peckham was born in Suffolk, of a family in poor circumstances. He received his first education from the Cluniac monks of the Abbey of Lewes. These good religious, perceiving their pupil gifted with unusual aptitude, sent him to prosecute his studies at the university of Oxford, where they supported him until he entered the Order of Friars Minor. After his profession he was sent by his superiors to Paris, where he studied under St. Bonaventura. "Whilo here, he enjoyed the friendship and protection of Margaret, widow of St. Louis. Returning to Oxford, he was made Doctor of Divinity, and, shortly after, provincial minister of the English Franciscans, an office for which his sanctity, prudence, and learning had fully qualified him. The austerity of his life was extreme. He never tasted flesh, and even abstained during a considerable part of the year from fish and eggs, always fasting, except on a few of the great festivals. His prayer and watching were continual, and amid the great cares attendant on his exalted station, he still continued the same severe rule of life. It is truly said that he hungered in the midst of plenty; for he kept a hospitable table and open house for his clergy, or for strangers whom business or devotion might bring to his palace. While superior of the Friars Minor in England, he made all his visitations on foot, and when summoned to attend a general chapter of his Order in Italy, steadily refused to use a horse or carriage on the journey, so great was his love of poverty and mortification. He is said to have worked many miracles, both during life and after death. Of his numerous works, two deserve a word in passing; his Concordance of the Sacred Scriptures, and his Co...