The Legacy of the Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi in Franciscan Texts, c. 1305. Three Contrasting Assessments

A re-evaluation of the Sacrum commercium beati Francisci cum Domina Paupertate reveals it as a sharp critique of 13th-century Franciscan practices, not just a narrative about Francis and his brothers. This interpretation contrasts with earlier views, highlighting its role in symbolizing the betrayal of early Franciscan ideals embodied in the Basilica of San Francesco. The study analyzes Ubertino da Casale's 1305 critique alongside two other period testimonies—Jacopone da Todi’s laude and Giles of Assisi’s story—to explain why Ubertino omitted a polemical critique of the basilica despite its significance.

(Ed.). (2021). The Legacy of the Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi in Franciscan Texts, c. 1305. Three Contrasting Assessments. L’épaisseur Du Temps, 323–336. https://doi.org/10.1484/m.stmh-eb.5.125839