The essays in this volume were presented at a conference honoring John V. Fleming at Princeton University on April 21-22, 2004. The aim of the conference was to revisit Fleming's 1977 book, An Introduction to the Franciscan Literature of the Middle Ages, from a number of different perspectives, including social, religious and literary history, as well as art, exegesis, political thought and the history of education. A prominent, but not exclusive, theme of the contributions is the distinction between "defenders" and "critics" of medieval Franciscanism. Recent scholarship has shown that the dividing line between medieval defenders and critics of Franciscan life was not as sharp or as clear as had once been thought. This, more nuanced approach to medieval Franciscanism is a reflection of the many scholarly developments that have occurred since - and as a result of - Fleming's volume. The present work offers a selection of current approaches to the question.

This volume, Ordo et Sanctitas: The Franciscan Spiritual Journey in Theology and Hagiography, which celebrates the life and legacy of J. A. Wayne Hellmann, is comprised of articles written by colleagues, former students, and associates. The authors were invited to contribute their own articles within three broad categories corresponding with the areas in which Wayne has made a longstanding scholarly contribution: Franciscan hagiographical texts (especially Thomas of Celano); medieval theology and the Bonaventurian theological tradition; and the retrieval of the Franciscan tradition in a contemporary context. All of the essays in the volume build upon and expand in new directions the contributions of our honoree in these areas. Contributors are Regis J. Armstrong , Joshua C. Benson, Michael Blastic, Joseph Chinnici, Michael F. Cusato, Jacques Dalarun, J. Isaac Goff, Jay M. Hammond, Timothy J. Johnson, John Kruse, Steven J. McMichael, Juliet Mousseau, William Short, Laura Smit, and Katherine Wrisley Shelby.

This volume is a collection of essays written by colleagues and friends in honor of Michael W. Blastic, O.F.M., on the occasion of his 70th birthday. The contributing scholars endeavored to address significant issues within the academic areas in which Fr. Blastic has taught and published. Three essays are devoted to the Writings of Saint Francis; seven are dedicated to particular issues in Franciscan history, hagiography, spirituality and several texts; five deal specifically with women during the Middle Ages; and three final essays explore aspects of Franciscan theology and philosophy. Fr. Michael Blastic has taught at the Washington Theological Union, the Franciscan Institute at St. Bonaventure University and Siena College and served as a widely-respected retreat master.Contributors are Maria Pia Alberzoni, Luciano Bertazzo, O.F.M. Conv., Joshua C. Benson, Aaron Canty, Joseph Chinnici, O.F.M., Michael F. Cusato, O.F.M., Jay M. Hammond, J.A. Wayne Hellmann, O.F.M. Conv., Timothy J. Johnson, Lezlie Knox, Pietro Maranesi, Steven J. McMichael, O.F.M. Conv., Benedikt Mertens, O.F.M., Catherine M. Mooney, Luigi Pellegrini, Michael Robson, and William J. Short, O.F.M.

The essays in this volume were presented at a conference honoring John V. Fleming at Princeton University on April 21-22, 2004. The aim of the conference was to revisit Fleming's 1977 book, An Introduction to the Franciscan Literature of the Middle Ages, from a number of different perspectives, including social, religious and literary history, as well as art, exegesis, political thought and the history of education. A prominent, but not exclusive, theme of the contributions is the distinction between "defenders" and "critics" of medieval Franciscanism. Recent scholarship has shown that the dividing line between medieval defenders and critics of Franciscan life was not as sharp or as clear as had once been thought. This, more nuanced approach to medieval Franciscanism is a reflection of the many scholarly developments that have occurred since - and as a result of - Fleming's volume. The present work offers a selection of current approaches to the question.

This volume, Ordo et Sanctitas: The Franciscan Spiritual Journey in Theology and Hagiography, which celebrates the life and legacy of J. A. Wayne Hellmann, is comprised of articles written by colleagues, former students, and associates. The authors were invited to contribute their own articles within three broad categories corresponding with the areas in which Wayne has made a longstanding scholarly contribution: Franciscan hagiographical texts (especially Thomas of Celano); medieval theology and the Bonaventurian theological tradition; and the retrieval of the Franciscan tradition in a contemporary context. All of the essays in the volume build upon and expand in new directions the contributions of our honoree in these areas. Contributors are Regis J. Armstrong , Joshua C. Benson, Michael Blastic, Joseph Chinnici, Michael F. Cusato, Jacques Dalarun, J. Isaac Goff, Jay M. Hammond, Timothy J. Johnson, John Kruse, Steven J. McMichael, Juliet Mousseau, William Short, Laura Smit, and Katherine Wrisley Shelby.

This volume is a collection of essays written by colleagues and friends in honor of Michael W. Blastic, O.F.M., on the occasion of his 70th birthday. The contributing scholars endeavored to address significant issues within the academic areas in which Fr. Blastic has taught and published. Three essays are devoted to the Writings of Saint Francis; seven are dedicated to particular issues in Franciscan history, hagiography, spirituality and several texts; five deal specifically with women during the Middle Ages; and three final essays explore aspects of Franciscan theology and philosophy. Fr. Michael Blastic has taught at the Washington Theological Union, the Franciscan Institute at St. Bonaventure University and Siena College and served as a widely-respected retreat master.Contributors are Maria Pia Alberzoni, Luciano Bertazzo, O.F.M. Conv., Joshua C. Benson, Aaron Canty, Joseph Chinnici, O.F.M., Michael F. Cusato, O.F.M., Jay M. Hammond, J.A. Wayne Hellmann, O.F.M. Conv., Timothy J. Johnson, Lezlie Knox, Pietro Maranesi, Steven J. McMichael, O.F.M. Conv., Benedikt Mertens, O.F.M., Catherine M. Mooney, Luigi Pellegrini, Michael Robson, and William J. Short, O.F.M.