The Franciscan Institute, located within the Friedsam Library on the campus of St. Bonaventure University, engages in two principal areas of scholarly concern: research and publication. A quick look at these components of the Institute will give a better idea of the extent and richness of the work of the Franciscan Institute.
Research
The Franciscan Institute was founded as an international center of research on the Franciscan intellectual tradition with the highest standards of scholarly production. For the first decades of its existence, the research team of the Institute had dedicated its energies to preparing the critical editions of the works of William of Ockham and Adam of Wodeham. More recently, it turned its attention to completing the philosophical works of John Duns Scotus – a project in collaboration with scholars at The Catholic University of America.
Such projects have been possible due to the fact that the Franciscan Institute Library boasts the largest and finest collection of Franciscan sources in North America. While individual scholars continue to pursue their own research projects on site, further collaborative ventures are soon to be announced.
Research Agenda 2015-2017
The Research Advisory Council (RAC) for the Franciscan Institute met at St. Bonaventure University on June 24-26, 2014, to set the research agenda for 2015-2017. During this time the RAC finalized a multi-year proposal for a series of symposia/workshops that will be held at the Franciscan Institute in conjunction with the Feast of Saint Bonaventure on July 15th.
The 2015 event will follow up on the Franciscan Institute’s decision in 2014 to promote the insights of Peter of John Olivi. At a time when Pope Francis draws attention to the hope found in the Gospel and the plight of countless people around the globe, the RAC is convinced the Franciscan tradition, as evidenced in Peter of John Olivi’s writings, offers a unique voice that needs to be heard, discussed, and critiqued.
Work is already underway to translate the critical edition of his text on the nature of legal contracts published by Dr. Sylvain Piron. Noted Franciscan historian, Fr. Michael Cusato, OFM, is responsible for this translation. Fr. Cusato most recently completed the translation of Andre Vauchez’s
Francis of Assisi for Yale University Press. Simultaneously, Fr. David Flood, OFM, is editing Peter of John Olivi’s
Questions on Evangelical Perfection.
Fr. Flood, who is a resident scholar at St. Bonaventure University, is recognized worldwide as one of the premier experts in the area of Olivi studies. Dr. Sylvain Piron and Dr. David Burr will be in attendance.
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Known for many years for its critical editions of leading medieval Franciscan philosophers and theologians, Franciscan Institute Publications has more recently endeavored to make available to a wider reading public the very best of modern scholarship on the history, spirituality and intellectual tradition of the Franciscan movement.
The newly reinvigorated Bonaventure Texts in Translation Series is a case in point. The latest online version of the FIP catalog reveals a good number of monographs, translations and several new scholarly series that attempt to bridge the medieval and contemporary worlds.