Jay M. Hammond is an associate professor of historical theology at Saint Louis University. His research focuses in three related areas of Franciscan Studies: the writings of Francis of Assisi, the writings of Bonaventure, and the mural decoration of the upper church of the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi. His publications include: Studies on the Early Franciscan Sources, vol. 1: The Writings of Francis and Clare, co-edited with Michale Blastic and Wayne Hellmann (Franciscan Institute, 2011) and The Virtual Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi (Institute of Digital Theology, 2007) among many others. He frequently delivers presentations on Francis and the Basilica to both academic and non-academic audiences.