Franciscan Life
Franciscan life is a love story — with God, with the poor, with the earth, with the stranger. Rooted in the spirit of Francis and Clare of Assisi, these posts explore what it means to embrace simplicity, kinship, and courageous countercultural choices in a world that constantly pushes the other direction. From returning land to Indigenous communities to the spirituality of dumpster diving to what the feast of St. Francis has to teach us today, this is a space for anyone drawn to the Franciscan way — whether you’ve taken vows or are just beginning to feel its pull.
Back to the basics in a time of war
In the light of the epiphany star and the glowing headlines this week, the Spirit is convincing me that it’s time for us to get…
The Goodness of Gray, the Holy Innocents, and the Kairos (Time) of God
It’s a gray day, one of those types where the clouds hang heavy and seem to block out all sunlight. Inside a cozy lamp-lit room,…
Poetry: How do words become flesh?
How do you pray? Do you pray with hands folded? Do you air out your words on the line? Do you clip them down one…
Light in the dark
In the Northern hemisphere, today is the shortest day of the year, the day when we experience the least sunlight. We’re still in the season…
This Advent, may we make room
Months ago, while my mind and heart were whirling after moving from rural Wisconsin to Chicago, I attempted to run a simple and quick errand:…
Advent: watchfulness, waiting and wanting
In Psalm 130, we are taught to pray: “ I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I hope. My soul waits…
We need each other, not more consumption
Every year around this time, companies ramp up marketing campaigns that do their best to connect contentment with consumerism. Feeling lonely? Buy a candy cane…
Meat
When I walked the Camino de Santiago, I survived on a steady diet of ham sandwiches and beer. I subjected my body to a pack…