"In its poetic and reflective wisdom the book achieves a compelling montage of lessons and spiritual truths for contemporary Christians".....Cross and Crown

Through the Year with Francis of Assisi contains 365 selections drawn from the sayings and writings of Francis as well as from stories about him. These excerpts constitute a personal "day book" for year-round reflection.

In 1972, a young Franciscan friar named Murray Bodo wrote a unique book about the life of St. Francis of Assisi. Francis: The Journey and the Dream offered readers a unique combination of lyrical prose and brief, absorbing vignettes that inspired hundreds of thousands of people all over the world to contemplate the life of the famous saint and see him in a new way. Fifty years and over 200,000 copies later, this book still captivates people everywhere, and Fr. Bodo is still writing about St. Francis and the Franciscan way of life. His poetic style continues to draw readers in, and he himself continues to gaze in wonder at the saint who worked nearly his entire life to rebuild the church. This special anniversary edition includes a new preface in which Fr. Bodo reflects on a half century spent immersed in the Franciscan way.

Following up on Francis: The Journey and the Dream, Murray Bodo offers a maturing of his own friar's spirituality in this dramatic storytelling of Francis' close connection and relationship with Jesus. Here we see a multi-dimensional, yet internal Francis as the ultimate disciple of Jesus: Francis as sufferer, in the wilderness, as itinerant, as misunderstood, in prayer, as teacher, as lover and protector of the poor, in authority while subject to God's authority, in community, as healer, as wounded.

The author's exploration of the spirituality of place makes even the armchair pilgrim understand the meaning of such locales as the streets of Assisi, Rocca Maggiore, San Damiano, La Verna, Greccio, and more.

There was a time at the very beginning when Francis and his brothers lived at a place near Assisi called Rivo Torto...At Rivo Torto they fasted and did penance with all the enthusiasm and sometimes the imprudence of novices in the life of the Spirit, as the following story shows. One night, as they all lay sleeping soundly, a loud cry broke into their dreams: "I am dying! I am dying! Help me!" And the brothers, startled for their sleep, saw St. Francis already at the side of the terrified brother. "What is it, brother? Tell me." And though he was now embarrassed, the brother overcame shame and said: "Forgive me, Father Francis; but I am dying of hunger." Then St. Francis immediately ordered the brothers to light a torch and go out and gather some herbs and vegetables and whatever else they could find for all of them to have a good, nourishing meal. He said this so that the poor brother would not have to be humiliated by eating alone. And so all the brothers set themselves eagerly to the task of preparing a meal and then they all sat down with the hungry brother and ate a midnight supper. Lesson: Distinguish between moderation and excess. We mature in God when we let him come and go as he wills and not try to force him to stay by exaggerated penance.