General Description:

G.K. Chesterton with an introductions by Ralph McInerny and Joseph Pearce

Here, together in a single volume, are the two biographies that many critics consider both Chesterton's best, and the best short portraits ever written of these two great saints. St. Francis of Assisi is a profoundly Catholic work, explaining and illuminating the life of St. Francis in a way no other biography has. The spiritual kinship the author felt with his subject enables the reader to delve into insights on the character of Francis that have eluded many.

St. Thomas Aquinas is enriched by the author’s unique ability to see the world through the saint’s eyes, a fresh and animated view that shows us Aquinas as no other biography has. Acclaimed as the best book ever written on Aquinas by such outstanding Thomists as Jacques Maritain, Etienne Gilson, and Anton Pegis, this brilliant biography will completely capture the reader and leave him desirous of reading Aquinas’ own monumental work.

“No two lives are more interesting or diverse than St. Francis of Assisi and St. Thomas Aquinas. The St. Francis book is today especially significant because it addresses itself on how to reform a corrupt culture, while the St. Thomas book is important because it addresses the problem of disordered minds. Chesterton makes philosophy intelligible and poverty rich. No two books get at the heart of things better or in a more delightful manner.”
—James V. Schall, S.J., Georgetown University

St. Francis of Assisi

Feast Day: Roman Rite Calendar - 10/04 Tridentine Calendar - 10/04 Patron Of: Animal Welfare Society, Animals, Birds, Catholic Action, Fire, Merchants, Needle Workers, Solitary Death, Zoos Profile Son of Pietro Bernadone, a rich cloth merchant. Though he had a good education and became part of his father's business, he also had a somewhat misspent youth. Street brawler and some-time soldier. Captured during a conflict between Assisi and Perugia, he spent over a year as a prisoner of war. During this time he had a conversion experience, including a reported message from Christ calling him to leave this worldly life. Upon release, Francis began taking his religion seriously. He took the Gospels as the rule of his life, Jesus Christ as his literal example. He dressed in rough clothes, begged for his sustenance, and preached purity and peace. His family disapproved, and his father disinherited him; Francis formally renounced his wealth and inheritance. He visited hospitals, served the sick, preached in the streets, and took all men and women as siblings. He began to attract followers in 1209, and with papal blessing, founded the Franciscans based on a simple statement by Jesus: "Leave all and follow me." In 1212 Clare of Assisi became his spiritual student, which led to the founding of the Poor Clares. Visited and preached to the Saracens. Composed songs and hymns to God and nature. Lived with animals, worked with his hands, cared for lepers, cleaned churches, and sent food to thieves. In 1221 he resigned direction of the Franciscans. While in meditation on Mount Alvernia in the Apennines in September 1224, Francis received the stigmata, which periodically bled during the remaining two years of his life. This miracle has a separate memorial on 17 September. In the Middle Ages people who believed to be possessed by Beelzebub especially called upon the intercession of Saint Francis, the theory being that he was the demon's opposite number in heaven. Born 1181 at Assisi, Umbria, Italy as Francis Bernardone Died 4 October 1226 at Portiuncula, Italy of natural causes; relics in Assisi, Italy All information used with permission of the Patron Saint Index.

St. Thomas Aquinas

Feast Day: Roman Rite Calendar - 01/28 Tridentine Calendar - 01/28 Patron Of: Theologians, Universities, Clear Weather, Pencil Makers, Philosophers, Publishers, Scholars, Schools, Students, Against Storms, Apologists, Booksellers, Catholic Universities, Chastity, Against Lightning Also known as Angelic Doctor; Doctor Angelicus; Doctor Communis; Great Synthesizer; The Dumb Ox; The Universal Teacher Profile     Son of the Count of Aquino, born in the family castle in Lombardy near Naples. Educated by Benedictine monks at Monte Cassino, and at the University of Naples. He secretly joined the mendicant Dominican friars in 1244. His noble family kidnapped and imprisoned him for a year to keep him out of sight, and deprogram him, but he rejoined his order in 1245.     He studied in Paris from 1245-1248 under Saint Albert the Great, then accompanied Albertus to Cologne. Ordained in 1250, then returned to Paris to teach. Taught theology at University of Paris. He wrote defenses of the mendicant orders, commentaries on Aristotle and Lombard's Sentences, and some bible-related works, usually by dictating to secretaries. He won his doctorate, and taught in several Italian cities. Recalled by king and university to Paris in 1269, then recalled to Naples in 1272 where he was appointed regent of studies while working on the Summa Theologica.     On 6 December 1273 he experienced a divine revelation which so enraptured him that he abandoned the Summa, saying that it and his other writing were so much straw in the wind compared to the reality of the divine glory. He died four months later while en route to the Council of Lyons, overweight and with his health broken by overwork.     His works have been seminal to the thinking of the Church ever since. They systematized her great thoughts and teaching, and combined Greek wisdom and scholarship methods with the truth of Christianity. Pope Leo VIII commanded that his teachings be studied by all theology students. He was proclaimed Doctor of the Church in 1567. Born     c.1225 at Roccasecca, Aquino, Naples, Italy Died     7 March 1274 at Fossanuova near Terracina of apparent natural causes; relics interred at Saint-Servin, Toulouse, France; relics translated to the Church of the Jacobins, Toulouse on 22 October 1974 Canonized     1323 All information used with permission of the Patron Saint Index.

 Other Customers Also Purchased

Aquinas's Shorter Summa

An Hour With Jesus Vol. I

Mysteries Of the Rosary Holy Card

 Browse For Similar Items In

• Catholic Books > Saints Books > Biographies
• Franciscan Resources / Gifts > Books
• Catholic Books > Biographies / Autobios > Saints Books

A Tiber River reviewer hasn't written a review for this book yet.
Sign up as a Tiber River reviewer and see your review here!
(Apart from fame, you can also can get free stuff and gift certificates.)

Reviews:

Related Articles

1. Damien of Molokai - Priest of Heroic Kindness 11/02/2009

2. Msgr. Ronald Knox - Priest of Heroic Modesty 10/05/2009

3. Fr. Peter Whelan - Priest of Heroic Generosity 08/31/2009

4. Augustine Tolton - Priest of Heroic Patience 07/30/2009

5. Prayer to St. Mary Magdalene by St. Anselm 07/20/2009

6. Don Carlo Gnocchi - Priest of Heroic Kindness 06/18/2009

7. Fr. Vincent Capodanno - Priest of Heroic Virtue 06/01/2009

8. Our Lady of Fatima 02/26/2009

9. St. Anthony of Padua 02/26/2009

10. St. Mark the Evangelist 02/24/2009

11. St. Joseph 02/23/2009

12. St. Patrick 02/11/2009

13. The Way of the Cross 01/21/2009

14. The Meaning of Lent 01/21/2009

15. St. John Bosco 01/16/2009

16. St. Valentine 01/16/2009

17. St. Anthony the Great, Founder of Monasticism 01/14/2009

18. Archbishop Fulton Sheen 01/14/2009

19. St. Francis de Sales 01/06/2009

20. St. Thomas Aquinas 01/06/2009

21. St. Agnes of Rome 12/17/2008

22. The Conversion of Paul 12/17/2008

23. Children's Resources for Learning About the Saints 12/15/2008

24. About Our Lady of Guadalupe 12/05/2008

25. St. Jude Thaddeus 12/02/2008

26. Pope St. Damasus I 12/02/2008

27. Good King Wenceslas 11/25/2008

28. A Resource Guide to Books by Pope Benedict XVI 11/25/2008

29. St. Lucy 11/24/2008

30. St. Francis Xavier 11/24/2008

31. St. Catherine of Alexandria 11/24/2008

32. Learn About Mary 11/24/2008

33. Saint Cecilia 11/21/2008

34. Devotion to the Saints 11/13/2008

35. St. Albert the Great 11/04/2008

36. St. Martin de Porres, the Saint of the Broom 10/24/2008

37. St. Michael the Archangel 10/24/2008

38. Monthly Dedications of the Church Year 10/24/2008

39. St. Josaphat Kuncevyc 10/21/2008

40. St. Teresa of Avila 10/14/2008

41. St. Margaret Mary and the Sacred Heart 10/14/2008

42. In Remembrance of Pope John Paul II 10/13/2008

43. Resources for the Year of St. Paul 10/13/2008

44. The Franciscan Tau Cross 10/07/2008

45. About St. Dominic  10/07/2008

46. A Letter From Padre Pio 10/01/2008

47. Francis and Clare - A New Feature Film 10/01/2008

48. Mother Teresa's Secret Fire 10/01/2008

49. St. Pio - Padre Pio - A Model for Our Times 09/22/2008

50. The Apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes 07/21/2008

51. About St. Bernadette 07/21/2008

52. The Real St. Nicholas 07/08/2008

53. The Conversion of St. Paul 07/03/2008

54. The Martyrdom of St. Paul 07/02/2008

55. Why a Year of St. Paul? 07/02/2008

56. Our Mother (Our Lady) of Perpetual Help 06/24/2008

57. About the Nativity of St. John the Baptist 06/20/2008

58. About St. Aloysius Gonzaga 06/19/2008

59. The Feast of St. Justin Martyr 05/31/2008

60. Feast of the Annunciation 03/31/2008

61. St. Josephine Bakhita 02/08/2008

62. Feast of St. John Neumann 01/02/2008

63. Feast of St. Sylvester I, Pope 12/30/2007

64. Feast of the Holy Family 12/29/2007

65. Feast of St. Thomas Becket, Bishop and Martyr 12/28/2007

66. Feast of St. John the Evangelist 12/26/2007

67. Feast of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton 12/26/2007

68. Feast of St. Stephen, Martyr 12/24/2007

69. Feast of St. Basil the Great 12/21/2007

70. Feast of the Holy Innocents 12/18/2007

71. All Saints Day 10/22/2007

72. How a Saint is Made 05/19/2007

Have a comment about this product? Please let us know.

If you would like a reply, please include your email address.

The Product Description Is Incomplete The Product Description Is Wrong The Product Image Is Incorrect This Product Should Not Be Carried
Comments:


Enter the text above: