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.
We are endangered species, but Franciscan values could save us
At my new home in Chicago, I can visit the shore of Lake Michigan, and I like to go there to pray. From my spot…
Lucy’s lament, Greta’s anger and hopeful action
It was a bright June day when I heard a sister lament. The sister: she is named for light; we call her Lucy. At a…
In the Christian journey’s four seasons, “All Shall be Well”
For a year of my life, I lived in Northern California, where the seasons felt all out of order, the rhythm of nature a mess…
Sacrifice, not self-care
Make sure to put your own oxygen mask on first. When a plane is experiencing difficulties and the oxygen masks drop, you have to put…
‘A bad guy was killing people’: A parent’s response to the nightmare of gun violence
It’s 3 a.m. and the moon is glowing softly through the wide bedroom window. Why am I awake? I look to the side and see…
The familiar, the new and discernment for daily living
I’ve been wondering: is anything ever totally new? Some say that every seven years we have new bodies — all new cells. The saying, though,…
Inside Mystery Cave
A lifelong friend and I are at the mouth of the cave, about to embark on a guided tour with a naturalist. Along with people…
The holy work of tending to life
“Everything is work. We either accept it or we fight against life.” This was the declaration of the Mother Superior and leader of Regina Laudis,…