Includes bibliographical references (pages 224-236) and index.

Acknowledgements -- Chronology -- Glossary of terms -- Abbreviations -- Introduction -- SECTION ONE: THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY: St. Francis's vocation to live and proclaim the Gospel -- The initial expansion of the order -- The poor followers of St. Francis -- The friars' ministry of preaching -- Preparation for the Apostolate -- Friars and the Papacy -- St. Bonaventure -- The order's role in the Church -- SECTION TWO: THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY: The mission to China -- The growing clamour for reform -- The crisis under Pope John XXII -- The friars and their neighbours -- Giovanni Boccaccio, satire and the friars -- The friars' churches -- Communities of the Friars Minor Conventual -- The emergence of the Observant reform in Umbria -- SECTION THREE: THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY: The preaching of St. Bernardine of Siena -- Toward division, 1400-1446 -- Observants and Conventuals, 1420-1456 -- Conclusion.

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