The Church celebrates the feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4th. The first installment of the 2008-2009 St. Anselm Institute lecture series focuses on this very popular saint.

On Wednesday, October 8th at 5:30 p.m., Fr. Augustine Thompson, O.P. and UVa Professor of Religious Studies and History will speak on his latest and most luminous work: "In Search of the Historical St. Francis of Assisi." Fr. Thompson is the author of the widely acclaimed Cities of God: The Religion of the Italian Communes, 1125-1325 (2005), numerous articles on medieval Italian history, and the translator of several important medieval texts, including The Medieval Canon Law of Marriage. The talk is open to the public and will be held at Minor Hall Auditorium at the University of Virginia. Please consult the map for the location.