The “Canticle” and its Contexts

Abstract

We saw in chapter 5 that all poets write within or in relation to a literary tradition; Francis chose to compose his “Canticle” within the tradition of the Bible and the Church’s liturgy. We saw in chapter 7 that the experience of most mystics is conditioned by the spiritual context within which they live, believe, worship, and pray. Francis’s writings are also influenced by the historic and social context within which he grew up and exercised his ministry. In his case, that context was provided by his enterprising father, a wealthy cloth merchant, and the city of Assisi as a f lourishing center of trade, as well as the Catholic Church.