Customer Reviews

The Way of St. Francis: The Challenge of Franciscan Spirituality for Everyone

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Fr. Bodo has been so interested in St. Francis for so many years that his depth of understanding is thought-provoking and often startling. Every chapter has some dimension of Francis, the contemplative life, and the lessons of Francescan living that are informative to me personally and important to me Spiritually. This is a book that I will re-read a number of times to try to absorb as many of the ideas as my mind will permit. I am most thankful to have discovered this gem written about one of the most important mystics of all history.

When I was directed to the Prayer of St. Francis by a friend, I purchased this book to discover more of the spiritual beliefs that this man lived by. Interwoven into the narrative about the historical aspects of the life of St. Francis of Assisi are the spiritual convictions that led this man away from a life of wealth into a life of service and devotion to God. The chapters are brief, yet they are laden with depth, wisdom and selfless spirituality. I particularly found the chapters on prayer to be intensely profound, helpful and also practical. This book is not written as a "how to manual" on living a God-centered life. What it does is, it sets St. Francis as a role model, an example of living a spiritual life, and it is up to the reader to discover how to follow through with those examples in their own lives.

Bodo's "The Way of St. Francis" is a very satisfying read for novices to Franciscan spirituality or veterans. He blends stories and historical data into an applicable creation to a variety of comtemporary issues for modern Christians. It allows us to realize our own humanity and stillstrive to become the saints we are called to. The chapters are concise and the blending of storytelling makes this more of a page turner than your average book on theology or spirituality.

Fr Bodo has created a piece of work that makes St Francis comes alive for us today. The writing is direct and easy to follow. St Francis would be proud of this modern day Franciscan and his views.

This book changed my life 10 years ago and through the narrative life of the little man of Assisi. A must for anyone wanting to learn about the spirtuality and human aspects of Francis' character.

I've only listened once, but left with the impression that this bears repeated listening. Provides profound, yet very practical instruction for bringing peace into your own life as well as the lives of those around you.

St. Francis is a canonized saint of the Catholic Church. Yet I feel that the message of this talk will appeal to persons of a variety of faith traditions. Definitely a bridge builder, as was St. Francis himself.

This is an excellent book for those who are serious about molding their life according to the Franciscan way. The chapters are short and full of contemplation. This book is very thorough, and it requires the reader's complete attention. My only complaint is that the author sometimes wanders in his musings. During those infrequent times, your patience will be well rewarded.

This is a wonderful book by Murray Bodo,one of the great Franciscan theologians. I am a Secular Franciscan and I used this book as a lenten journey with our group. Fr. Bodo's simple, yet profound writings are perfect for all ages and fit wherever you are on your spiritual journey. This is my second reading of this book and I would recommend it to everyone.

This book examines the life of St. Francis from the viewpoint of a modern-day Catholic priest of the Franciscan order.

Technically, I grew up a Catholic (albeit my parents almost never took me to church). In my teens, I became sincerely interested in the Catholic church and even considered the preisthood. My parents discouraged me. After some disappointments having to do with the parish where I grew up , and especially after the sex abuse scandals, my interest in Catholicism stagnated. I became an atheist; then I became interested in Chinese philosophy, Judaism, and I started attending Protestant churches. About twelve years ago, I officially went Protestant when I married my wife who is Protestant (specifically Methodist).

Having gone to church almost every Sunday, I have spent much more time in the Protestant church than I ever spent in Catholic church. Not-with-standing this, at times I feel a hint of nostalgia for the Catholic church. For example, I was watching the stations of the cross on TV with Pope Benedict on Good Friday and found myself becoming deeply moved. I suppose my feelings about Catholicism as the religion of my youth has led me to this book.

Indeed, the book is as much about Catholicsm as it is about St. Francis, and I have come to appreciate the Catholic tradition that is more so based upon the hierarchy, as opposed to Protestantism which is based more towards the individual and the congregation. It is the idea of total and complete submission, that is the essesnce of St. Francis. Indeed, the author, at times describes the union St. Francis and God to be a marital, even a sexual union. Sometimes, as I read this book, I even winced and said to myself, "this is getting weird."

But it is the idea that St. Francis was so holy that he wanted to be in a state of complete submission to the Lord. Francis's defining moment, indeed, is when he denounces his own father and strips naked before the bishop (and the Lord). It is, in fact, a bit unsettling, extreme, and not the image that I always had of St. Francis as this gentle man who preached to the birds. No, St. Francis is a complex, very human, controversial man who is at odds with his earthly father who he rejects completely in order to give his total self to God. God, ideed, becomes his father, mother, brother, sister, and lover.

The author doesn't always present the life of St. Francis chronologically; indeed, he skips around. I was not confused by this; In fact, I thought it added a personal touch. I found myself discovering St. Francis from the outside in, rather than the inside out. As the pages of the book go on, the reader goes on the personal journey with the author as he discovers all the more profound aspects of the life of Francis and how it relates to our understanding of Christ and the church.

Indeed, the author really shares his heart with you. At times, he even ventures to criticize the Catholic church itself and he struggles with the idea of the papacy as an institution that, at times, conflicts with his idea of American democracy. Although, he comes to submit himself to the pope, he admits the conflict within him, which points to this book being written on a very human level as opposed to a beautiful story about a plastered saint and a religious way that is nothing but a beautiful path to God. Indeed, the author focuses on how difficult it is to be a Christian.

It is a very human portrait of a very human man, and a church that is also human, as well. It has deepened my understanding of the Catholic faith, and now that I understand some of the nuances therein, I find that, even though I have a long past of being disapointed by the church, I have also managed to also see the Catholic church to be something beautiful as well.

Bodo has the ability to speak to one's soul and to the heart of the subject. This book really matters if you want to deepen your thoughts, clarify the way, and to study the practical life of Francis. In learning how to live as a secular Franciscan in today's culture, it is very helpful to have the opportunity to reflect on how to access a daily practice beginning where you are and with your own thoughts and reasons.
The journey of reading The Way of St. Francis manages to make it a very personal one simply because while dealing with the pragmatic this book is also a meditation. Bodo is able to shift the course of one's psyche, such as to allow the spirit to rise and do the listening as one reads. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is serious about his or her life and learning how to love.