Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary holds a special place in Franciscan spirituality, which has perpetuated Saint Francis’ exceptional love for the Mother of Christ over the centuries. The Saint cherished the little church of Santa Maria degli Angeli, which has remained one of the Order’s most important places. This inclination, which began with Saint Francis, was taken up by some significant members of the Order of Friars Minor from the second half of the thirteenth century:  Saint Bonaventure of Bagnoregio (1218 - 1279) and Jacopone da Todi (1233 – 1306). The first encouraged the cult of the Virgin Mary with more intensity than in the past, the second, a Franciscan tertiary, dedicated some of his extraordinary works of poetry called "Laudes" to the Blessed Virgin:
“Donna per quello amore che mm’ a ‘vuto l to figlio
Deveri aver en core de darmi ‘l to consiglio.
Succurri, aulente giglio, veni e non tardare!” (Laude 13, vv. 15-17)

From the end of the thirteenth century and throughout the Renaissance, Mary, a conciliator between man and Christ, sides the suffering human race and becomes the protagonist not only of literary but also of artistic works.  Franciscan spirituality looks up to Mary as the Queen of Heaven and as the earthly Mother of Jesus.