The Role of the Meditationes Vitae Christi in Franciscan Spirituality

Abstract

The final article in our collection on the Meditationes vitae Christi (MVC) approaches the work from the perspective of Franciscan history and spirituality. The article outlines the founder of the order, St Francis of Assisi’s relationship with theology, beginning with an analysis of his preaching practices. Then, it examines, through the cases of Pietro di Staccia and St Anthony of Padua, the kind of theological engagement Francis deemed appropriate. No tably, the MVC was for a long time attributed to St Bonaventure, an association that greatly enhanced the work’s authority. While Franciscan theologians integrated St Francis’ thought into the broader theological tradition, the author of the MVC contributed to transmitting Franciscan spirituality to his contemporaries.