Franciscan Prayer (Paperback)

by Ilia Delio (Author) "Every person has a need to talk, to express himself or herself..." (more)
Key Phrases: crucified spouse, prayer that leads, crucified love, Clare of Assisi, Francis of Assisi, Jesus Christ (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"This is a book on Franciscan prayer written by a theologian who strives to define more clearly the path of Franciscan prayer and as one who seeks God in a complex world. It is my belief that an understanding of prayer in the Franciscan tradition, that is the spirituality of prayer, can offer new vitality to Christian life today because it is a path of relationship with God that strives to live in the fullness of the Incarnation."

Product Details

• Paperback: 198 pages
• Publisher: Saint Anthony Messenger Press (September 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0867166142
• ISBN-13: 978-0867166149
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #225,480 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Prayer Tips from Francis, Clare, and Bonaventure, February 3, 2005

By	Carol Blank (USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

The goal of Delio, a theologian, in writing this book is to define more clearly the role of Franciscan prayer in making Jesus Christ alive in the believer. To accomplish this aim, she relies on three major voices from the Franciscan tradition: Francis of Assisi, Clare of Assisi, and Bonaventure of Bagnoregio.

The book addresses specifics such as Clare's fourfold path to prayer (gazing, considering, contemplating, and imitating), and the Franciscan practices of poverty, friendship with Christ, and unceasing prayer as a way to live more deeply in Christ. These topics are fleshed out with background on the cultural climate leading to and encompassing the time of Francis, Clare, and Bonaventure and also details of their lives and teachings.

The entirety of the book is informative and inspiring, but its greatest richness lies in the author's gift for expressing spiritual concepts; example, "We pray not to acquire a relationship with God as if acquiring something that did not previously exist. Rather, we pray to disclose the image of God in which we are created, the God within us, that is, the one in whom we are created and in whom lies the seed of our identity.... We pray not to `ascend' to Go but to `give birth to God' to allow the image in which we are created to become visible."

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Franciscan Prayer by Ilia Delio--Well Worth Reading, August 2, 2005

By	Marian the librarian "Franciscan Sister" (Sylvania, OH USA) - See all my reviews

This book is well written and will appeal to non-Franciscans as well as Franciscans. The format--with questions at the end of each chapter--readily appeals to persons who wish you use the book for a discussion group. I have used one of the chapters with college undergraduates. They understood the message and found it readily applicable to their own lives. These students are all non-Franciscans; half of them are non-Catholic Christians.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Want to deepen your prayer life? Read this book., January 4, 2009

By	David J. Seitz "David Seitz, SFO" (Waterford, Michigan) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have been reading a book titled "Franciscan Prayer" by Ilia Delio, OSF, a Franciscan Sister. It is very good. I have been reading it for a couple of months, only because I keep running across these gems that just make you sit back and ponder. It is not a book to be read lightly and quickly, but savored over time. I'd highly recommend it for anyone interested in growing deeper in their prayer life.

Here are a couple of my favorite quotes so far.

"When I pray, when I breathe with God, I become part of the intimacy of God's life. The Spirit of God who breathes within me draws me inot the circle of love between the Father and Son. Through prayer, I am drawn inot the dance of the Trinity."

"prayer is the breath of God still breathing in us when we ourselves may be struggling for air."

Wow! Good stuff.