Prayers From Franciscan Hearts: Contemporary Reflections From Women and Men

"Some of the writings here aspire to art, some are simply the spontaneous outpourings of the heart confronted with the lives and places of Francis and Clare of Assisi. Some are prayers, others meditations, but all attest to the power of the Franciscan charism to change lives, to inspire and to elicit words of gratitude and joy that the pilgrim soul feels impelled to preserve in the written word."—From the Foreword by Murray Bodo, O.F.M.

Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi were people of prayer who found spiritual inspiration in a variety of places and forms. To help modern-day followers of these two beloved saints who seek similar inspiration, Secular Franciscan Paula Pearce has collected prayers and reflections from Franciscans in several countries and compiled their diverse contributions in Prayers From Franciscan Hearts: Contemporary Reflections From Women and Men.

Pearce organized the contributions around pilgrimage stations dear to Franciscans and that mark significant stages on the saints' journeys back to God, such as San Rufino, the Porziuncola and La Verna. Each of fourteen pilgrimage stations opens with an introduction, giving information about the place and its context within the saints' distinctive journeys.

Prayerful and reflective contributions from Franciscans around the globe, relevant to the theme of the station, follow. Each station closes with simple suggestions for further reflection and pertinent Scripture references.

As Franciscans celebrate the 800th anniversary of the founding of the Franciscan order, Prayers From Franciscan Hearts will be a valuable and welcome addition to anyone's trove of prayer resources.