On Sunday, February 1, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., an important cultural evening took place, centered on the presentation of two books fundamental to the Franciscan tradition and contemporary spiritual reflection. The event was held in the Aula Magna [main lecture hall] of the Franciscan Theological Institute in Roman, Romania.
The first book presented was “Patericul Franciscan (Franciscan Spiritual Stories): The Little Flowers of St. Francis,” translated from Italian into Romanian by Friar Ștefan ACATRINEI, OFM Conv., with a preface by Horia-Roman PATAPIEVICI, a philosopher, essayist, and writer of national and international standing. The second book presented was the sixth volume of the Franciscan Sources series, “Pomul Vieții răstignite a lui Isus Cristos” (Franciscan Sources: The Tree of Life of the Crucified Jesus Christ – Arbor vitae crucifixae Jesu Christi), with a preface by Adrian POPESCU.
The book presentation event was moderated by Professor Ioan Alexandru TOFAN from the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University in Iași, Romania. Others attending included the Mayor of Roman, Laurențiu-Dan LEOREANU, the Vice President of the Neamț County Council, Mihaela-Elena ISCIUC, and many residents of the city and surrounding areas.
The book presentation event was part of a lecture series organized by the Pietro TOCĂNEL Academy, entitled, “Beyond the Screen: Choosing Communion.” The first part of the evening featured a lecture by Horia-Roman PATAPIEVICI, “Europe – The Gift of Christianity.”
Starting from the famous definitions of Europe formulated by Paul VALÉRY (1871-1945) and Nicolae IORGA (1871-1940), Horia-Roman PATAPIEVICI showed how European identity is based on three pillars: Romanization, the Christian faith, and Greek intellectual discipline. He mentioned that, according to VALÉRY, a European is someone who has been Romanized, embraced Christianity, and voluntarily submitted to Greek rationality; and that, fifteen years later, IORGA, in his book “Byzantium after Byzantium,” defined the Byzantine heritage as a synthesis of Roman law, Greek philosophy, and Christian theology immersed in the culture of beauty.
From these perspectives, an increasingly interethnic, intercultural, and interreligious Europe emerges, yet one that cannot renounce its Christian and ecclesial heritage, in its Catholic and Orthodox components, towards which the Roman Pontiffs have repeatedly called for fraternal unity between the Churches. In his lecture, PATAPIEVICI also mentioned the important contribution made by the Franciscans, particularly St. Francis of Assisi and St. Bernardine of Siena.
In the second half of the evening, Friar Stefan ACATRINEI presented the book “Patericul Franciscan: The Little Flowers of St. Francis.” He emphasized how St. Francis of Assisi embodies a movement in Western Christianity that goes beyond the religious dimension alone and opens up to culture and social life. This movement, born in the 13th century, reached its peak with Francis around 1200 and continued to influence Europe until the mid-14th century, when the Renaissance and the Reformation emerged.
Those who read The Little Flowers sense an almost personal closeness with the Saint’s companions—Leo, Angelo, and Ruffino—and can repeat with them, with tenderness and longing: “Nos qui cum eo fuimus” (“We who were with him”).
Friar Stefan ACATRINEI then lectured about the sixth volume of the Franciscan Sources series which is a translation of the Franciscan Sources into the Romanian language. The volume takes its name from Ubertino DA CASALE’s work, “Pomul Vieții răstignite a lui Isus Cristos” [The Tree of Life of the Crucified Jesus Christ] and includes: the Minor Legend by St. Bonaventure, the Lauds by Jacopone of TODI, The Tree of Life by Ubertino DA CASALE, Canto XI of Dante ALIGHIERI’s Paradise, The History of the Seven Tribulations by Angelo CLARENO, papal documents concerning St. Clare, and the normative texts of the Order of the Brothers and Sisters of Penance.
The Romanian language translation was the result of the work of Friar Stefan ACATRINEI and his collaborators—friars, sisters, and lay people—who contributed their expertise and dedication.
The event, organized by Friar Dragoș-Paul MÎRȚ, OFM Conv., concluded at 8:00 p.m. Many people attended; the Aula Magna was packed. The audience followed every moment of the lectures with keen interest. The evening was an opportunity to rediscover key texts of the Franciscan tradition, and more, it was an invitation to reflect on the value of culture, faith, and communion between people and traditions.
Friar Maximilian PAL
Rector of the Franciscan Theological Institute in Roman, Romania
