Franciscan Spirit

Advent with Richard Rohr: First Sunday

Richard Rohr, OFM December 1, 2019

Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
—Matthew 24:42

“Come, Lord Jesus,” the Advent mantra, means that all of Christian history has to live out of a kind of deliberate emptiness, a kind of chosen non-fulfillment. Perfect fullness is always to come, and we do not need to demand it now. This keeps the field of life wide open and especially open to grace and to a future created by God rather than ourselves.

Proclaiming the Gospel

Roger Lopez, OFM November 8, 2019

“The Gospel always needs to be proclaimed!” says Roger Lopez, OFM. But this friar understands that proclaiming the Gospel in the 21st century can be challenging but also exciting: podcasts, videos, and other forms of digital media can be a ...

Raising Saints: A Message for Parents

Susan Hines-Brigger November 6, 2019

I once heard a priest refer to everyone he met as a “saint.”

St. Francis: Lover of the Eucharist

Christopher Heffron November 5, 2019

The Eucharist was the summit of St. Francis' faith life.

Embracing the Now

Terry Hershey October 16, 2019

“We should do this more often.” A middle-aged man is speaking to a woman somewhat north of middle age standing at his side. I am doing what I do best: Eavesdropping.

Facing Life’s Monsters

David Dault, PhD October 13, 2019

It’s October, and the long sunlight in the afternoons and the coming chill in the air sing the approach of autumn. Fall has always been my favorite season, with hayrides and visits to the apple orchards south of Chicago with ...