The Writings of St. Francis of Assisi - + Saints' Works

More documents

Recommendations

Info

THE WRITINGS OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI listeners in their obligations in life and in such cases there are several ways to render this in English. For example, Father Benen Fahy, O. F. M., in his translation entitled The Writings of St. Francis, (Burns & Oats: 1963), renders this construction predominantly with the English helping verb "should," which in English is used to convey a moral obligation less forceful than "ought to" and "must." The difficulty with this approach is the ambiguity of "should" in the English language: it can signify an obligation either of necessity or fittingness; and thus to employ it extensively in the translation of St. Francis' writings would be to considerably obscure the force and intent of his exhortations. In addition the use of the English helping verbs "should," "would," "may," "might," which are regularly employed in the translation of subjunctive verbs in Latin and which have usages particular to the English language, would present considerable difficulties, since they have no strict equivalent in the Latin language. Hence to employ them extensively in translating St. Francis' writings would be to impose levels of meaning that ultimately are derived more from the verbal habits of the English translator than those of the Saint himself. To avoid these possible misunderstandings, which would obscure St. Francis' thought, this translation will retain the standard approach to the translation of the Latin hortatory subjunctive, set forth in textbooks of the Latin language, which is to render this construction into English in the first person plural and third person, singular and plural, with the simple imperative constructed with the English helping verb "let." In other persons and number, and in all other cases where the subjunctive is used to express obligation, and where English does not permit the use of the helping verb "let," the English helping verb "to be" will be employed instead. Moreover, the imperfect subjunctive, which St. Francis occasionally uses in primary discourse, will be translated with the English helping verb "would" to manifest both the conditionality and continual past action expressed by this Latin construction. Similarly, the other Latin verbs, such as debere (ought to/must/be obliged), licet (it is licit to), and oportet (it is proper), will be rendered in a consistent manner. With these provisions the English reader will be able to at once to recognize and distinguish clearly the intent and force of St. Francis' genius. Accepted Abbreviations for St. Francis' Writings included in this translation Adm The Admonitions CantSol The Canticle of Brother Sun BenLeo The Blessing given to Friar Leo BenBern The Blessing given Friar Bernard EpAnt The Letter to Saint Anthony EpCler I A Letter to Clerics: First recension EpCler I A Letter to Clerics: Later recension EpCust I The First Letter to the Custodes EpCust II The Second Letter to the Custodes EpFid I A Letter to the Faithful: First recension EpFid II A Letter to the Faithful: Later recension EpLeo The Letter to Friar Leo EpMin Letter to a certain Minister provincial Page - 18
THE WRITINGS OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI EpOrd The Letter sent to the whole Order EpRect A Letter to the Rulers of the Nations ExhLD An Exhortation to Praise God ExpPat The Exposition of the Our Father FormViv The Form of Living given to St. Clare Frag Fragments of other Rules LaudDei The Praises of God Most High LaudHor The Praises to be said at every hour OffPass The Office of the Passion of the Lord OrCruc A Prayer before the Crucifix RegB The Regula Bullata RegNB The Regula non-Bullata RegEr The Rule given for those in hermitages SalBVM A Salutation to the Blessed Virgin Mary SalVirt A Salutation to the Virtues Test The Testament of Saint Francis UltVol St. Francis' last Will for Saint Clare TestSen The Testament given at Siena VPLaet On true and perfect gladness Abbreviations Used that are particular to this work CSEL Corpus Scriptorum Ecclesiaticorum Latinorum, Viondobonae 1866 ss. fn. footnote fns. footnotes lit. literally PL J. P. Migne, Patrologia cursus completus, Series latina, Paris 1944-64. Gal. Ps. Gallican Psalter Rom. Ps. Roman Psalter Page - 19
Page 1 and 2: The Writings of St. Francis of Assi
Page 3 and 4: THE WRITINGS OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSI
Page 15 and 16: Translator's Forward THE WRITINGS O
Page 17: THE WRITINGS OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSI
Page 25 and 26: 22:21). Chapter XII. On recognizing
Page 29 and 30: The Canticle of Brother Son or The
Page 33 and 34: A Letter to Clerics [EpCler I] Firs
Page 35 and 36: A Letter to Clerics [EpCler II] Lat
Page 69 and 70:
THE WRITINGS OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSI
Page 71 and 72:
Page 73 and 74:
A Prayer before the Crucifix [OrCru
Page 75 and 76:
Page 77 and 78:
Page 79 and 80:
Page 81 and 82:
Chapter X On the admonition and cor
Page 83 and 84:
eighth year of Our Pontificate. 347
Page 85 and 86:
Page 87 and 88:
Page 89 and 90:
Page 91 and 92:
Page 93 and 94:
Chapter XV That the friars are not
Page 95 and 96:
Page 97 and 98:
Page 99 and 100:
Page 101 and 102:
things throughout the ages. Amen. C
Page 103 and 104:
Page 105 and 106:
Page 107 and 108:
Page 109 and 110:
Page 111 and 112:
Fragments of other rules [Frag] THE
Page 113 and 114:
Page 115 and 116:
II. From the writings of Hugo of Di
Page 117 and 118:
Page 119 and 120:
show all

The Writings of St. Francis of Assisi - + Saints' Works

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?