Ilia Delio, OSF, PhD, is a Franciscan Sister of Washington, D.C.,and an American theologian specializing in the area of science and religion. Her work often bridges evolution, physics and neuroscience with Franciscan theology. She currently holds the Josephine C. Connelly Endowed Chair in Theology at Villanova University and also holds two honorary doctorates, one from St. Francis University in 2015, and one from Sacred Heart University in 2020. She is the founder of the Center for Christogenesis (https://christogenesis.org), which seeks to deepen the integration of science and religion by understanding the contribution of each discipline to the whole field of knowing and loving. This conversation revolves around themes from two books of hers that were recently re-published by Franciscan Media: "Humility of God: A Franciscan Perspective," which was re-released on June 4, and "Franciscan Prayer: Awakening to Oneness with God," which was re-released on July 2. Though Sr. Ilia wrote these books 20 years ago, you’ll find that they are even more relevant today and are foundational to the work she continues to do around Franciscan theology.

Consider donating (https://www.franciscanmedia.org/donate/) to help us create more content like this. With an 800-year legacy steeped in the values of Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi, your Franciscan Media community embraces its mission of spreading the message of love, compassion, and understanding through books, St. Anthony Messenger magazine, Franciscan Media’s website, online events, videos, and daily emails like Saint of the Day.

(00:00:01) Introduction

(00:02:37) God’s Humility

(00:05:44) Into the Heart

(00:08:23) Bonaventure vs. Aquinas

(00:17:07) Connecting Teilhard and Bonaventure

(00:20:12) The Franciscan Approach to the Incarnation

(00:24:40) In Dialogue with Bonaventure

(00:28:08) Let the Tradition Loose

(00:31:47) Becoming a Living Prayer

(00:36:40) Prayer and Desire

(00:45:00) The Self-Diffusive God Diffused in Our Lives

(00:51:22) Franciscan Prayer

(00:58:23) Conclusion

Fr. Murray Bodo, OFM, is a Franciscan priest and an award-winning author of numerous books including his bestselling Francis: The Journey and the Dream, Nourishing Love: A Franciscan Celebration of Mary, and, most recently, God’s Love Song: The Vision of Francis and Clare, which he co-authored with Susan Saint Sing. His book Song of the Sparrow: Four Seasons of Prayer will be re-published in August 2024 as we near the book’s 50th anniversary. It will feature a new introduction and several new poems, one of which he reads during this two-part interview. All these books can be purchased in the Franciscan Media store: shop.franciscanmedia.org. Fr. Murray is also founding staff member of Franciscan Pilgrimage Programs, where he led yearly pilgrimages to Assisi, Italy, for over 40 years before retiring in 2020. He has had poems, stories, and articles published in magazines and literary journals in the United States, England, and Ireland. Fr. Murray resides in the inner city Over-the-Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio, where he continues to write and minister.

Consider donating (https://www.franciscanmedia.org/donate/) to help us create more content like this. With an 800-year legacy steeped in the values of Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi, your Franciscan Media community embraces its mission of spreading the message of love, compassion, and understanding through books, St. Anthony Messenger magazine, Franciscan Media’s website, online events, videos, and daily emails like Saint of the Day.

(00:01:16) The Poet’s Heart

(00:08:10) Green Sparrow in the Bougainvillea

(00:13:18) Paying Attention as Stories Arise

(00:24:38) Prayerful Creativity

(00:40:15) Praying with the Dalai Lama

(00:49:41) Petting Sally

(01:00:03) Conclusion

Fr. Murray Bodo, OFM, is a Franciscan priest and an award-winning author of numerous books including his bestselling Francis: The Journey and the Dream, Nourishing Love: A Franciscan Celebration of Mary, and, most recently, God’s Love Song: The Vision of Francis and Clare, which he co-authored with Susan Saint Sing. His book Song of the Sparrow: Four Seasons of Prayer will be re-published in August 2024 as we near the book’s 50th anniversary. It will feature a new introduction and several new poems, one of which he reads during this two-part interview. All these books can be purchased in the Franciscan Media store: shop.franciscanmedia.org. Fr. Murray is also founding staff member of Franciscan Pilgrimage Programs, where he led yearly pilgrimages to Assisi, Italy, for over 40 years before retiring in 2020. He has had poems, stories, and articles published in magazines and literary journals in the United States, England, and Ireland. Fr. Murray resides in the inner city Over-the-Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio, where he continues to write and minister.

Consider donating (https://www.franciscanmedia.org/donate/) to help us create more content like this. With an 800-year legacy steeped in the values of Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi, your Franciscan Media community embraces its mission of spreading the message of love, compassion, and understanding through books, St. Anthony Messenger magazine, Franciscan Media’s website, online events, videos, and daily emails like Saint of the Day.

(00:02:04) What is Prayer?

(00:08:46) The Discipline of Prayer

(00:13:24) Behind the Books / Models of Prayer

(00:23:12) Journeys

(00:29:32) Emptiness and Waiting in Prayer

(00:44:34) Conclusion

Rev. Dr. Bruce G. Epperly served as a congregational pastor, university chaplain, professor, and seminary administrator for over forty years. He is the author of more than seventy books including Walking with Francis of Assisi, Simplicity, Spirituality, Service, and his new book Head, Heart, and Hands: An Introduction to Saint Bonaventure. He lives in Potomac, Maryland, with his wife Rev. Dr. Katherine Gould Epperly, where he continues to teach, write, and pastor in his retirement, and daily cares for his grandchildren. He is published widely throughout Franciscan Media.

Consider donating to help us create more content like this. With an 800-year legacy steeped in the values of Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi, your Franciscan Media community embraces its mission of spreading the message of love, compassion, and understanding through books, St. Anthony Messenger magazine, Franciscan Media’s website, online events, videos, and daily emails like Saint of the Day.

(0:00) Introduction

(1:35) What is theology?

(6:46) Importance of good theology

(10:36) Bonaventure's integrative theology

(19:37) Bonaventure's fountain metaphor

(25:44) Where is the flow taking us?

(30:14) A fountain that is not zero-sum

(35:32) Why write this book?

(43:24) God's center and circumference

(46:59) Why Bonaventure is a theologian for our time

(59:28) Conclusion