Biographical sketch, 1182-1226 -- Francesco di Bernardone -- Brother Francis: a layman in the Christianity of the early thirteenth century -- Death and transfiguration of Francis, 1226-1253 -- Becoming Saint Francis, 1226-1230 -- Second death of Francis, 1230-1253 -- Images and myths of Francis of Assisi: from the Middle Ages to today -- Medieval interpretations of Francis: thirteenth to fourteenth centuries -- Francis between history and myth: sixteenth to twentieth centuries -- Originality of Francis and his charism -- Writings of Francis -- Experience of God -- New relationship to scripture: the spirit of the letter -- Francis, nature, and the world -- Francis and the church: the charism within the institution -- Gospel in the world: a transformation of religious anthropology -- Cultural mediator of a new religious sensibility -- Francis, prophet for his time ... or for ours? -- Testament of Francis of Assisi, september 1226.