Two years ago, at the initiative of the General Government, a project was launched to create a handbook on Conventual Franciscan spirituality. The goal was to give an updated understanding of Conventual Franciscan spirituality through its essential elements. The handbook was to be easily accessible to friars working around the world.
The handbook’s author is Friar Andrzej ZAJĄC, of the Province of St. Anthony and Bl. James of Strepar in Poland (Cracow), who holds a doctorate in theological sciences with a specialization in Franciscan spirituality and is an academic teacher, preacher, translator, and the Director of the Bratni Zew publishing house.
After some preliminary work, it was decided this text should be addressed to all of our friars and to anyone else interested in the Conventual Franciscan charism.
In 2023, the text was published in Polish and quickly gained popularity among readers, with over 1,500 copies distributed to date. Subsequently, the author began translating it into Italian. The handbook is now available in electronic form for friars, in both Polish and Italian.
It is not a typical academic handbook. Its purpose is not merely to convey clear definitions as it is to inspire reflection on how to live today in the style of St. Francis of Assisi and his followers. It contains material and reflections that can be beneficial for personal formation.
We hope this work will be useful to readers and help them discover how be witnesses of the beauty of God in their lives.
We thank the author for his work and we thank the Superiors for their kindness in making this project possible. We trust that over time we will find individuals willing to translate the book into other languages.
Friar Piotr STANISŁAWCZYK, General Delegate for Formation
Handbook in Polish >>>
Handbook in Italian >>>
