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.
Radical hospitality and responsible parenthood
While driving home from church last Sunday, I watched a man frantically chase a public bus for an entire city block, only to miss it…
As the insects, like the swans: Living the vow of obedience with a free spirit
I am in the woods on Mount Subasio above Assisi, Italy, at a sacred place of prayer called La Carceri. It’s July 20, 2014. I…
The backwards blessings of being busy
A little bit after my Christmas break began a couple weeks ago, I realized something was wrong with me. Here I was, entering into days that were…
A stinky stable and the giving and receiving of Christmas
“Salvation came to us from the “yes” uttered by a lowly maiden from a small town on the fringes of a great empire. The Saviour…
Paradox, solidarity and these Advent days
For us Christians, our life is a life full of paradoxes. Heaven is now and not yet. Jesus is with us always and is coming again. During Advent, we celebrate…
A hand in a miracle
Imagine you’re making your way throughout your day, doing your job, or maybe just going for a walk. And suddenly, you are dazzled, bewildered, so…
Praying in the dark
The light is dim and the air is frigid. With Advent’s arrival in this part of the world, we continue to feel the days shorten and…
The Real Meaning of Justice
As part of a larger discussion in my classroom yesterday, I asked my students how they define justice. Then, I asked them how they could…