Franciscan Spirituality
Study & Theology: Francis, the Opposite of Practical
“If the degree would look good on your resume, go for it!” That was Dad’s response when I told him that I was thinking about getting a master’s degree in Franciscan theology. As a parent, Dad was particularly concerned about the practical reasons for my embarking on a two-year program of study when I was already just a few years away from retirement. From Dad’s perspective, my decision to go back to school must have appeared impulsive.
‘Come Before Him with Joyful Song’
Francis loved to sing. It freed his spirit and turned the human voice, so often an organ of selfishness and sin, into an instrument of celebration.
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Learning to Let Go
In the spirit of St. Francis, detachment from material possessions and earthly desires is a core principle of Franciscan spirituality.
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Study & Theology: For Space Travelers in Search of the Heart
My wife and I have a tradition of getting each other a Christmas ornament each year. One of the first she got for me was a space shuttle since she sometimes called me “spaceman.” She had already realized that I ...
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Forgiveness Leads to Peace
As others have written, the person who benefits most from forgiving is the one who forgives.
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Study & Theology: A Franciscan Feast
When I was young, Thanksgiving dinners were never held in anyone’s house. My grandmother and her sisters decided that no one’s Philadelphia row house was big enough for the entire clan. Smart women that they were, we always took over ...
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Trust the Goodness You See
While we are quite familiar with being disappointed by the worst we see in the world, we cannot deny the extraordinary heroism of which humanity is also capable.
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