Publisher's description:
This book provides an in-depth analysis of the virtues of evangelical life according to three major Franciscan authors: Francis of Assisi, Bonaventure of Bagnoregio, and David of Augsburg. It is the first to offer a historical and source-based treatment of early Franciscan virtue discourse, by answering the following questions: How do the authors describe and prescribe the essential virtues for the life in the footsteps of Jesus Christ? How are the spiritual virtues acquired or lost? How do the development and application of these virtues shape “perfect” individuals as well as the “good” of the community?
This work is a valuable contribution to our understanding of how the virtues functioned as central, organizing elements in early Franciscan literature and instruction.

Table of contents:
List of Illustrations
Acknowledgements
List of Abbreviations
1. Virtue
1. Background
2. Material Object
3. Selection – Authors and Sources
4. Selection – Virtues
5. Problems of Research – Contents
6. Problems of Research – Canon
7. Method
8. Formal Object
9. Medieval Virtue
10. Franciscan Virtue
2. Virtues (Francis of Assisi, Bonaventure, David of Augsburg)
1. Charity
2. Obedience
3. Goodness
4. Truth
5. Faith
6. Humility
7. Joy
8. Poverty
9. Penance
10. Peace
3. The Virtue of Virtue
1. Configuration
2. Conceptualization
3. Systematization
4. Elaboration
5. Progression
6. Perfection
7. Contextualization
8. Conclusion
Appendices
1. The Virtues in the opuscula sancti Francisci Assisiensis
2. Bibliographical Overview
3. Instances of habitus datus
Bibliography
Index
List of Illustrations
1. Francis giving his mantle to a poor man. Giotto, San Francesco, Assisi
2. Bonaventure. Victor Crivelli, Musée Jacquemart-André, Paris
3. David of Augsburg. In: Dominicus Custos, Sancti Augustani. Die Augspurgischen Heilligen (Augsburg 1601)