To my family for giving me life and love - Bilkent University

Sabatier’s position also depended on his approach towards the sources. It
is impossible, therefore, to look into Felder’s or Sabatier’s arguments without
becoming entangled in the famous Questio Francescana. 6 While making use of
the Vita Prima of Celano, Sabatier was slightly critical of it as being written
under the influence of Gregory IX and Brother Elias. 7 However, he praised the
Legenda Trium Sociorum as the only source which, from the historical point of
view, deserved a place next to the Celano’s Vita Prima. 8 He was convinced that
the Legenda Trium Sociorum was only a fragment of an original, bigger Legenda,
parts of which had been suppressed or mutilated. It was that uncorrupted version
which reflected the true Francis. Sabatier further suggested that the second part of
the Vita Secunda, the writing of which had coincided with the period of the
zealous minister general John of Parma, made use of unknown fragments of the
Legenda Trium Sociorum. 9
As the rest of Sabatier’s fortunes and misfortunes are well-known to
students of Franciscan history, we shall only look at the later developments in
establishing the earliest sources of Francis’s life. 10 The most notable step was the
publication of Sources for the Life of S. Francis of Assisi, where J.R.H. Moorman
6
For the discussion of all relevant developments see the introduction to Scripta Leonis, Rufini et
Angeli Sociorum S. Francisci The writings of Leo, Rufino and Angelo Companions of St. Francis,
ed. and trans. Rosalind B. Brooke (Oxford, 1970), pp. 3-78. One of the most recent works on the
subject is Raoul Manselli, Nos Qui Cum Eo Fuimus: Contributo alla Questione Francescana
(Roma, 1980).
7
Sabatier, Un noveau, pp. lii-vi.
8
ibid., p. lxii.
9
ibid., pp. lxvii-xxviii.
10
For a detailed story of Sabatier’s research see R. Manselli, “Paul Sabatier e la ‘questione
francescana’ ” in La ‘questione francescana’ dal Sabatier ad oggi, Atti del convegno
internazionale, Assisi, 18-20 ottobre 1973 (Assisi, 1974), pp. 51-70.
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