Showing results by publisher "Franciscan Media" in All Categories

St. Francis had a deep and lifelong devotion to Mary, the Mother of God, committing his order to her care. Franciscan Murray Bodo explores that relationship in this evocative and deeply spiritual encounter with Marian devotion across the centuries.

In The Franciscan Saints, spiritual trailblazers span the centuries from Francis and Clare to Solanus Casey and Mychal Judge, with representatives from every walk of life and corner of the world. Each entry features the essential biographical facts and adds the insight and depth only Ellsberg can provide. The author’s sharp eye for signs and stories of holiness in the gritty, messy real world informs his selections, making his work unique.

Learn the formula for motivation that all great achievers use in their lives. See immediate results as you integrate the formula into your own life. Dave urges the elimination of runaway self-esteem, which he critiques with force and conviction, debunking other popular self-help theories. Having cleared the way, he encourages the pursuit of balance so that every listener can become a legacy achiever through exercising appropriate influence, developing innate creativity, and infusing a dash of humor.

Here are four of Richard Rohr's classics on the life of the Church! Talk 1 is "Catholicism: More Than a Head Trip". Rohr fears that many Catholics are not getting a healthy, integrated and holistic teaching but simply a head trip. Many are missing the richness of our tradition. He addresses the current struggles of a Catholicism that Robert Barron says, "is in some ways bland, abstract and culturally accommodating."

Radical Saints: 21 Women for the 21st Century features 21 saints who walked the earth in the 20th century and were canonized in the 21st. Each chapter tells the story of one woman’s radical gift and the world in which she lived. You’ll also find stories of everyday women who are living these gifts in ways large and small today.

In this provocative spiritual autobiography, Diarmuid O'Murchu explores the many paschal journeys in his personal life as well as in the life of the church and the world. He shows how the paschal paradox—the movement through death and resurrection—is at the heart of God's creation and gives meaning to all life.

Whether you’re considering a religious vocation or simply trying to lead a Christ-centered life, Franciscan friar Casey Cole has news: Christian life doesn't end with a profession of faith or hearing of God's call. That's when it begins. Called: What Happens After Saying Yes to God reflects on realities that are common to anyone who is serious about living a sincere Christian life and trying to follow the message of Jesus in the Gospels.

Francis and Jesus is the story of how the poor and humble St. Francis of Assisi gave away all to gain all, sharing in God's kingdom on Earth. Francis' life exemplifies what it means to be a genuine disciple of Jesus, walking in Christ's footsteps to show how ultimate truth is lived in small, unique ways. Franciscan Father Murray Bodo takes us on the journey with Francis, as we see his pain, his suffering, his dying to self. On that difficult road we are reminded that death to self creates new life....

In this retreat experience, Richard Rohr explores the role of men in society and religion. Father Rohr focuses on the yearning to rediscover passion in masculine identity and in the purpose of life. He uses archetypes (symbolic images) to transmit his powerful message about male spirituality and integration. He challenges listeners to encounter their archetype (king, warrior, magician, or lover), recognize its dark side, and empower their journey through drumming, dialogue, and discovery.

The wisdom of the early Franciscan saints—Francis, Clare, and Bonaventure—continues to resonate in the spirituality of many in the twenty-first century. Their approach to life can lead us to new solutions to the chaos of our time and new ways to appreciate and celebrate the joy of God’s creation, human and nonhuman alike.

In this spiritual memoir, writer Maureen O'Brien reflects on the many ways in which she found a home and a refuge in the biblical psalms, drawing strength from them in a wide variety of experiences and seeking in them a safe shelter from life's storms.

Deepen your devotion to the Blessed Mother with this unique look at Mary’s relationship with her son throughout Jesus’ life - and beyond. Fr. McBride invites us to know Mary not only as the young mother of a newborn but also as the nurturer and caretaker of her son through his adolescence and into his adult ministry. We see Mary in grief at Christ’s death, and we meet her as the mother of the infant Church at Pentecost. These 42 reflections help us understand the whole picture of Mary as a mother.

Richard Gaillardetz creatively draws on the deep wisdom of our Christian tradition while reflecting on the lived experience of marriage. Chapter 1: The Shape of Christian Spirituality; Chapter 2: Marriage and the Life of Communion; Chapter 3: Marriage and Conversion; Chapter 4: Marriage and Sexuality; Chapter 5: Marriage and Parenthood.

Spend seven days letting St. Anthony of Padua guide you on an interior journey to find yourself and your way to God. Through guided prayer activities and probing questions drawn from his preaching and the stories of his life, you will learn about this Franciscan saint but even more important, you learn about your own spiritual life.

Three Minutes with God features hundreds of inspiring reflections and prayers that will remind you to rejoice and praise God! Each day’s entry features a scripture passage, a thoughtful reflection, and a brief prayer to revive your spirit. The book is divided into three sections: “Encouragement,” “Inspiration,” and “Motivation,” so you can choose how you will be uplifted each day.

In this memoir, Maureen O'Brien reflects on the gospel story of the miracle of the loaves and fishes and what she learns about herself, the people around her, and a fragmented but still beautiful world. While she’s sharing her story of finding God’s love, she’s also sharing the stories of so many others, known and cherished by God even when the world leaves them shattered, finding their way through the world and feasting on the fragments of grace that are always in abundance if we learn to look, to see, to accept, to share.

In the town of Status, across the river from Quo, nothing ever changes. Children are taught to memorize facts but not to think for themselves. Adults live by the motto "work, produce, stay the same." And as long as everyone follows the rules, there is harmony in the two communities. The shops hum, and all ceremonies for the worship of God are appropriately formal and well organized. The past is revered, and the future seems to be secure. Then the Stranger comes to town.

Through her autobiography and an extensive collection of letters, St. Thérèse helped people understand nothing was too little to give Jesus, and nothing done out of love for him was insignificant. Perhaps this is why so many lives still resonate with hers. It is easy to feel insignificant and unimportant. Yet, the clear and compelling language of her story and her letters remains the perfect antidote to such feelings.

It might seem shocking to compare our relationship with God with the notion of "dating." But with fresh insight and a deep personal spirituality, Franciscan Father Dan Horan points out that the desire, uncertainty, and love we experience in relationship with God resembles our earthly relationships. We set aside time for the people who are most important to us. Horan reminds us that St. Francis of Assisi understood and even described his relationship with God in a similar way.

Much has been written on the last words of Jesus, the traditional phrases taken from Scripture that depict the final moments of Jesus's life as he dies on the cross. In this new take on the last words, author Dan Horan brings a fresh perspective to this time-honored meditation as he challenges readers to look at their lives through the lens of Jesus s suffering and death. Yet interlaced with suffering, the focus throughout is on the immense love of God for human beings, shown in the gift of Jesus, God made flesh.