This guidebook describes the Way of St Francis a 550km month-long pilgrimage trail from Florence through Assisi to Rome. Split into 28 day stages, the walk begins in Florence and finishes in the Vatican City. Stages range from 8km to 30km with plenty to see, including ancient ruins, picturesque towns, national treasures, and stunning churches. This comprehensive guidebook fits in a jacket pocket or rucksack, and contains information on everything from accommodation and transport in Italy, to securing your credential (pilgrim identity card), budgeting, what to take, and where to do laundry. Stories of Francis of Assisi's life are also included. Although the route includes climbs and descents of up to 1200m, no special equipment is required - although your hiking boots and socks definitely need to get along. Following the steps of heroes, conquerors and saints on this pilgrim trail is manageable all year round, but is best done from April to June and mid-August to October. Route maps are given for every stage, and basic Italian phrases are included in the guidebook.

From a pilgrimage through the streets of Assisi to contemplative walks on the beaches near his home, Bruce Epperly has pondered the questions of privilege, prayer, and social justice while walking with the teachings of Francis of Assisi. From his roots in reformation traditions, he has a deep understanding of the call Francis received to rebuild the church and the need for constant reformation not only in our personal lives but also in our society and in our religious institutions. He knows that change comes from within, from listening to the spirit of God as we engage in contemplative listening.

The St. Francis Camino (also known as the Way of St. Francis) is a spiritual walking pilgrimage in the footsteps of St. Francis through central Italy between Laverna and Rome. It can be walked either north or south. This edition conceives of the walk beginning in Greccio, site of the first Nativity scene, and finishing with the goal of Assisi. Divided into ten stages, the 160-km trek is an intimate way to connect spiritually with the humble saint from Assisi by walking on the same land he walked. This guidebook offers practical tips regarding packing, traveling in Italy, setting up GPX tracks, as well as obtaining the Pilgrim's Passport and Testimonium. Each stage includes daily distances, altitude gains and losses, surface type, duration, and level of difficulty. Next is a brief description of the stage with useful notes as well as a succinct textual description of the route. Lastly, there is a list of Franciscan and spiritual sites along each day's route. Yet, this book is intended to serve more as a spiritual, or Franciscan, companion book. As such, it focuses less on step-by-step instructions and more on the spiritual aspect of pilgrimage. With a foreword by the Archbishop of Lucca, Mons. Paolo Giulietti, this book includes essays on spirituality, daily Franciscan reflections, writings and prayers by St. Francis as well as the early Franciscan biographers. Additionally, there are traditional Catholic and Franciscan prayers for guidance before, during and after the journey. Walking in the footsteps of the "Poverello" -- from Greccio, representing the birth of Christ, to Assisi, his city -- is an unparalleled journey into the heart and spirit of St. Francis. And this book will bring it to life.

Francis (c. 1182-1226) and Clare (c. 1193-1254) together shaped the spirituality of early 13th-century Europe. Here for the first time in English are their complete writings, brought together in one volume.

In Walking with Jesus: A Way Forward for the Church, Pope Francis urges us to make Jesus central in our individual lives and in the collective life of the Church—to walk toward him, and ultimately to walk with him at all times and in all places. With a foreword by Archbishop of Chicago Blase J. Cupich, Pope Francis’s first major appointment in the United States, Walking with Jesus offers the Church a much-needed way forward, past its inner and outer walls, as it fearlessly follows Christ toward the future.

Through stories and songs let us journey back to the dawn of the Renaissance, to the Umbrian Valley of medieval Italy. Storyteller Brian "Fox" Ellis retraces the life of this blessed little poor man. From the miracle of his conversion to his rebuilding of the church, Fox shares the joys and struggles of one of history's most influential leaders. Fox dons a monk's robe and steps into the character of Saint Francis' so the audience can have a personal encounter through story and song. With Francis we will explore the saint's love of nature and ecological philosophies, and his work for the poor, social mission and struggles for peace, and his impact on the history of the Western world, art, history and literature. Few have had such a profound influence on so many aspects of our culture as this patron saint of saints. Let us travel to Assisi, Italy into the earliest portion of the 13th century. Let us welcome the little brother from Assisi, Francis di Bernardone: Brian "Fox" Ellis is an internationally renowned storyteller, author and naturalist. He is a frequent speaker on the modern Chautauqua circuit. In researching this program he spent several weeks in Assisi, Italy literally walking in the footsteps of this saint, sleeping int he caves where Francis went to fast and pray, and visiting the places where miracles occurred. Fox is a museum consultant who has worked with The Field Museum and The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library. Fox is the author of more than twenty books including the critically acclaimed Learning From the Land: Teaching Ecology Through Stories and Activities, (Libraries Unlimited, 1997/2011), and The Web at Dragonfly Pond, (Dawn Publications, 2006). He has hosted, produced written and researched several documentaries for PBS and has recently launched a podcast Fox Tales International. He is the author of more than 2 dozen books including the critically acclaimed Learning From the Land: Teaching Ecology Through Stories and Activities, (Libraries Unlimited, 2011), a series of Chautauqua style autobiographies, History In Person and a collection of Fox Tales Folklore. He and his wife run a Bed and Breakfast in Bishop Hill, Illinois, The Twinflower Inn, where he also leads bird watching adventures!This book is part of a growing series of live performances available as audio-books, video, ebooks and print on demand paperbacks. Look for other books in the History In Person series. Subscribe to the Fox Tales International podcast and YouTube channel to collect all of these unauthorized autobiographies