For nearly 2,000 years, Christian mystics, martyrs, and sages have documented their search for the divine. Their writings have bestowed boundless wisdom upon subsequent generations. But they have also burdened many spiritual seekers. The sheer volume of available material creates a seemingly insurmountable obstacle. Enter the Upper Room Spiritual Classics series, a collection of authoritative texts on Christian spirituality curated for the everyday reader. Designed to introduce 15 spiritual giants and the range of their works, these volumes are a first-rate resource for beginner and expert alike.

Francis and Clare of Assisi, celebrated saints of 13th-century Italy, founded influential religious orders–Franciscans and Poor Clares–that continue to do vital work to this day. Included in this volume are biographical vignettes of Francis and Clare as well as prayers, letters, and other spiritually rich writings from their remarkable lives.