Bienvenue! Willkommen! ¡Bienvenido! Welkom! Aloha! Yōkoso! Benvenuto!
On behalf of the Saint Francis of Assisi Research Library & Spirituality Center, we wish you peace and all good! You are most welcome here!
History
Launched in the summer of 2018 with the gift of just four books on the Poverello, our humble library was set to open to the public in the Spring of 2020 just days before the Covid-19 pandemic arrived in Houston. Sadly, our opening had to be postponed. We are currently completing an expansion and remodel of the library with an official grand opening to the public scheduled for Fall 2023. Details soon to be announced.
The good news is that “down time” was put to good use by launching this new website, acquiring hundreds of new books, working diligently behind the scenes developing new plans and programming, and have since become one of the finest research libraries of its kind in the world dedicated exclusively to the life, history, and study of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Catalog
Our library’s ever-growing catalog of more than 2,000 books, journals, media, and art in more than thirty unique collections (not all displayed on this website) includes the titles of some of the world’s most recognized Franciscan scholars and authors writing on Franciscan philosophy, theology, spirituality, and history from the 13th to the 21st century. As such, the library is a Franciscan athenaeum—a sanctuary for anyone interested in learning about the Franciscan intellectual and spiritual tradition.
Mission
And working from our humble upstairs home within Hope Center Houston, our library’s mission is to celebrate and share the life and legacy of Saint Francis of Assisi with the local community and world through its research, education, advocacy, and personal ministry of Franciscan friar, Allen A. White, OSF.
Spirituality Center
New! Beginning Fall 2023, plans are underway to offer weekly and monthly opportunities to learn, practice, and share contemplative spirituality and prayer through our prayer circles, classes, and lecture series at the library. Details coming soon!
Research
Finally, as a proud member of Atla (American Theological Library Association), we are also a lending library offering most of our catalog, research assistance, and resource materials at little or no charge to registered friends of the library, the world-wide Franciscan family, and both students and scholars alike working on various Franciscan research and writing projects around the world.
Explore
For now, we hope you’ll take the time to look around and enjoy exploring all the resources of this website, including our catalog powered by LibraryThing and TinyCat. But when you are ready, we look forward to meeting you face-to-face, providing you with a personal tour of our world-class Franciscan book collections, and introducing you to our beloved Saint Francis of Assisi whose imitation of Christ and timeless message of humility, peace, and love for all of creation still lives in our minds and burns in our hearts in the twenty-first century today.
Questions?
Ask a librarian! We’re only a phone call, email, or tweet away.
View of our library and adjacent research room where the “Story of Francis in 28 Scenes” by Giotto di Bondone (Circa 1267–1337) are prominently displayed.
