The Franciscans

The Franciscans: Who are they? How did they start? How have they grown? What do they do? What do they believe? Where are they today? 


These are some of the questions this book will try to answer. And in answering those questions it will sketch a family portrait, that of the Franciscans, a picture of a family with its own memories, its own character, its own stories. Some of these stories are familiar to many; other stories, even some of the best, remain unknown. And one good reason for writing a book like this one is to tell those stories to a new audience who may find in them a reason to give thanks, or be surprised, or even smile