St. Francis was great in the thirteenth century, but we can say that he has become even more important since," said Pope John Paul II on a 1993 visit to the saint's tomb at Assisi, in Umbria. Only four years later, in that very place of pilgrimage, a devastating earthquake rocked the Basilica of St. Francis, utterly damaging the structure and destroying some of the decorations. Giotto's famous twenty-eight frescoes of St. Francis's life miraculously escaped with only minor damage.

In The Message of St. Francis stunning images and details from this fresco cycle illuminate the defining moments of the great saint's life: from his worldly beginnings as a dashing scion of privileged society to his embrace of poverty, simplicity, and humility. Extracts from biographies, ancient and modern, and his own writings--from canticles of praise to spare, incisive admonitions on the gifts of the spirit--convey the heart of his beliefs. Here we see the patron saint of animals and the natural world; the man who has emerged in our times as a major spiritual figure and a symbol of peace, love, and religious diversity--as depicted by Giotto, the "father of the Renaissance." The frescoes are printed on uncoated, textured paper reflecting the rich surface of the original frescoes themselves. In the tradition of Vision, this is an exquisite giftbook for art lovers and for Christians and seekers of every stripe--for Easter, First Communions, and all spiritual occasions.