Franciscan Spirit

Old wooden floorboards have saved my sanity more than a few times. In the right light, they’re practically a cloister walk.

Through the eyes of love, we see a tree as kin to us, a fellow God-made creature, with its own dignity and its own right to live and grow.

St. Francis lived the spirituality of subtraction. He let go not only of his property, but also of his status, his pride, his ambition, his ego, and his need to be right.

America’s best-known monk is still having an effect on Christian thought, says Richard Rohr, a longtime admirer.

Given the year we've had, finding reasons to be joyful is a challenge. ​​​​​​​But the Bible reminds us that laughter is good for our bodies and our souls.

Easter is a beginning, not an ending. And this Easter story from Thomas of Celano reminds us that for Francis, the challenge to remain true to the Gospel was one that needed to be renewed again and again.