Saint Francis, Dante and Islam

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

Saint Francis of Assisi (c. 1181-1226) and Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) were profoundly influential shapers of Western Christianity in the late Middle Ages. Their contributions to religion and literature were monumental and their impact far reaching. It is known that Dante recognized Francis as a “second Christ” in his Divine Comedy, and the connections, contrasts and complementarities between the two are rich and significant. The course focuses on the ways in which they shared parallel cosmic visions of Creation as permeated by divine Love. It also contrasts their respective contributions to “practical” spirituality and “doctrinal” vision, their complementary views and experiences of mysticism and human love -with the two iconic figures of Saint Clare and Beatrice. >br> This course explores the complex relationship of Francis and Dante with Islam, both in terms of intersections and influences. Saint Francis’ spiritual encounter with Sultan Malik al-Kamil in Egypt and Dante’s treatment of the Prophet of Islam in his Inferno already suggest this complexity. The course also takes their positions and interactions as ways of providing an introduction to Islamic spirituality as it echoes Francis and Dante’s contributions, or respond to them. Offered at Villa Le Balze in Florence, Italy