The St. Francis Prayer Book: A Guide to Deepen Your Spiritual Life

by Jon M. Sweeney

Book Overview

This warm-hearted little book is a window into the soul of St. Francis, one of the most passionate and inspiring followers of Jesus. "Prayer was to Francis as play is to a child: natural, easy, creative, and joyful," author Jon Sweeney tells us. "Before it became common to speak in personal terms of a relationship with God, Francis did so and made it seem natural." With this guide, readers will:

Pray the words that Francis taught his spiritual...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1557253528
• ISBN13: 9781557253521
• Release Date: February 2004
• Publisher: Paraclete Press (MA)
• Length: 155 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 4.4" x 7.2"

Customer Reviews

An Excellent Introduction to a Franciscan Prayer Life

This attractive prayer book begins with an introduction and biographical chapter that commends the life and witness of Clare of Assisi before moving into the short daily offices (prayer services). The offices can each be prayed slowly and meditatively in ten to fifteen minutes. There is one separate morning prayer and one evening prayer office for each of seven days, and a quick compline (night prayer) that's the same for each night. Each day includes collects (set prayers) quotations, and Scripture readings that enlarge upon a particular theme in the spiritual life. The St. Francis volume explores these themes: Following Christ / Disregard for possessions / Peace and care in human relationships / Love for all creatures / Preaching the Good News / Passion more important than learning / Joyful simplicity. What I Like. It's important that a breviary (book of short prayers) be accessible and easy to use. While a paperback, it is well bound and attractively designed. The type is reasonably large and the different sections are easy to read. Finding one's place requires only to know what day of the week it is, and the prayer offices require no flipping back and forth. What I Don't Like. It is a common poetic device of Franciscans to thank God in all circumstances by offering prayer of praise to Lady Poverty, et al. You know, like Brother Sun, Sister Moon, and all of that. I don't imagine that Francis, Clare, or any of the Order's members suppose there to be an actual heavenly persona named Poverty, whom we would care to address in real terms. I understand the poetic device and find it pleasant. Christian prayer, however, is addressed to the Father, with the Son, through the Holy Spirit (leaving aside the question of intercessions to departed Saints). The Psalms seem to entreat Creation to praise God along with the worshippers, but when I'm teaching beginning disciples to prayer, I don't want to have to go through the trouble of explaining/defending that particular literary device. Bottom line: The introductory material provides an excellent popular account of this Christian saint and his contributions to the spiritual life of the wider Church. The book itself is easy to use for prayers, aesthetically attractive, and well-priced. If you don't mind the aforementioned literary device, these volumes are an excellent gateway to the practice of regular structured prayer as well as Franciscan Christian spirituality.

St. Francis Prayer Book

This book is a wonderful companion copy to the St. Clare Prayer book by the same author. If you love to pray with Francis of Assisi or want to know more about his spirituality, this book would be a good one to have.