It is our hope that the following reading recommendations will help to deepen your understanding of the Franciscan way of life!
A
A History of the SFO in the United States – William Wicks, SFO
Advent with St. Francis (Daily Reflections) – Diane M. Houdek, OFS
A Franciscan View of Creation: Learning to Live in a Sacramental World – Ilia Delio, OSF
An Invitation to Centering Prayer: Including an Introduction to Lectio Divina – M. Basil Pennington, OCSO
Angela of Foligno: Complete Works – Paul Lahance, OFM
B
Bonaventure: The Soul’s Journey into God – The Tree of Life – The Life of St. Francis –
Saint Clare: Beyond the Legend – Bartoli Marco (Medieval Scholar)
Building a More Evangelical World – North American OFM
Build with Living Stones – Daria Mitchell (Sister/Author)
C
Canticle of Brother Sun – St. Francis of Assisi
Catechism of the Catholic Church – US Catholic Church
Clare of Assisi: A Biographical Study – Ingrid J. Peterson, OSF
Clare of Assisi: A Heart Full of Love – Ilia Delio, OSF
Clare of Assisi: The Letters to Agnes – Joan Mueller, OFS
D
Dating God: Live and Love in the Way of St. Francis – Daniel P. Horan, OFM
Day by Day with St. Francis – Peter A. Giersch (Author)
“De Illis Qui Faciunt Penitentiam” The Rule of the SFO: Origins, Development, Interpretation – Robert Stewart, OFM
Dying, As A Franciscan: Approaching Our Transitus to Eternal Life, Accompanying Others on the Way to Theirs – Michael Cusato, OFM and Daria Mitchell, OSF
Franciscan Prayer – Ilia Delio, OSF
E
Early Documents: Clare of Assisi: The Lady – Regis J. Armstrong, OFM, Cap
Early Documents (The Saint, Vol. I; The Founder, Vol. II; The Prophet, Vol. III) – Regis J.
Armstrong, OFM, Cap; J.A.W. Hellmann, Professor of Historical Theology; William J. Short, OFM
Engaged Spirituality: Faith Life in the Heart of the Empire – Joseph Nangle, OFM
Eucharistic Adoration: Reflections in the Franciscan Tradition – Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration
F
Francis of Assisi – Andre Vauchez (French Historian)
Francis of Assisi – Arnoldo Fortini (Historian)
Francis of Assisi: A New Biography – Augustine Thompson, O.P.
Francis of Assisi and the Laity of His Time – Prospero Rivi, OFM Cap
Francis of Assisi: The Hidden Story – Chiara Mercuri (Italian Historian)
Francis and Clare: The Complete Works – Regis J. Armstrong, OFM, and Ignatius C. Brady, OFM
Francis and His Brothers – Dominic Monti, OFM
Francis for Men – Markus Hofer (Austrian Sculptor)
Franciscan History (The Three Orders of St. Francis) – Lazaro Iriarte, OFM Cap
Francis: The Journey and the Dream – Murray Bodo, OFM Francis: The Saint of Assisi (A Novel) – Joan Mueller, OFS Franciscan Daily Companion – Rev. Jude Winkler, OFM Conv
Franciscan Studies: The Difference Women are Making – Franciscan Institute Publications Franciscan Virtues Through the Year: 52 Steps to Conversion from Saint Francis of Assisi – written by members of the Confraternity of Penitents
G
General Constitutions – Secular Franciscan Order – Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, updated year 2000
God’s Fool: The Life and Times of Francis of Assisi – Julien Green (Novelist/Diarist)
Great Christian Thinkers Francis and Bonaventure – Paul Rout, OFM
Greed, Lust and Power: Franciscan Strategies for Building a More Just World – Essays by Joseph Nangle, OFM; Michael H. Crosby, OFM Cap; Darleen Pryds, PhD and Vincent Cushing, OFM
H
Hiking the Camino: 500 Miles with Jesus – Father Dave Pivonka, TOR
I
I, Francis – Carlo Carretto (Author/Catholic Action Leader)
Image of Christ: Saint Francis of Assisi – Dietrich von Hildebrand (German Catholic Philosopher/Theologian)
L
Leadership, the Art of Empowering: Attitudes and Skills for Transformative Leadership –
Keith Clark, OFM Cap
Lessons from St. Francis of Assisi: The Wisdom of God’s Beloved Servant – John Paul Thomas (Catholic Priest)
Light of Assisi: The Story of Saint Clare – Margaret Carney, OSF
Live Like Francis: Reflections on Franciscan Life in the World – Jovian Weigel, OFM and Leonard Foley, OFM
Love in the way of St. Francis – Daniel Horan, OFM
N
New American Bible – Revised Edition (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops)
Nourishing Love: A Franciscan Celebration of Mar – Murray Bodo, OFM
O
Ongoing Formation for Secular Franciscans – Lester Bach, OFM, Cap
On the Way to Work: Stories and Reflections on Living as Christians Today – Vinal Van Benthem, SFO
P
Poverty and Joy: The Franciscan Tradition – William J. Short, OFM
Praying with Francis of Assisi – Joseph Stoutzenberger (Professor) and John Bohrer (Priest)
Praying the Secular Franciscan Rule – Luke Amato, OFS
R
Rejoicing in the Works of the Lord: Beauty in the Franciscan Tradition: Franciscan Heritage Series – Mary Beth Ingham (CSJ/Author), Daria Mitchell, OSF, Joseph P. Chinnici, OFM Reluctant Saint – Donald Spoto (Writer)
Ritual of the Secular Franciscan Order Imitation Leather – Benet A. Fonck O.F.M
S
Sacramental Guidelines: A Companion to the New Catechism for Religious Educators – Kenan Osborne, OFM
Saint Francis of Assisi – C.K. Chesterton
Secular Franciscan Companion – Franciscan Media
Simply Bonaventure: An Introduction to His Life, Thought, and Writing – Ilia Delio, OSF
Sparrow Seed: The Franciscan Poems – T.H.S. Wallace (Author)
St. Clare of Assisi – Bret Thoman, OFS
St. Clare of Assisi – Gianmaria Polidoro (Franciscan Priest)
St. Clare: A Short Biography – Joan Mueller, OFS
St. Francis and the Third Order – Raffaele Pazzelli, TOR
St. Francis of Assisi – Gianmaria Polidoro (Franciscan Priest)
St. Francis of Assisi: A Biography – Omer Englebert (Belgian Catholic Priest/Historian)
St. Francis of Assisi: Brother of Creation – Mirabai Starr (author/translator of Spanish Mystics)
St. Francis and the Foolishness of God – Marie Dennis (Author/ Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace)
Studying the Life of Saint Francis of Assisi (A Beginner’s Workbook) – William R. Hugo, OFM. Cap.
T
The Admonitions of St. Francis of Assisi – Lothar Hardick, OFM
The Canticle of the Creatures – St. Francis of Assisi
The Daily Labor of the Early Franciscans – David Flood, OFM
The Divine Office for Dodos –Madeline Pecora Nugent, CFP
The Franciscan Journey, Embracing the Franciscan Vision – Lester Bach, OFM Cap
The Franciscan Saints – Robert Ellsberg (Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Orbis Books)
The Franciscan Tradition (Spirituality in History) – Regis Armstrong, OFM, Cap. and Ingrid Petersen, OSF
The Franciscan Vision and the Gospel of John – Michael Guinan, OFM
The Ideals of St. Francis of Assisi – Hilarin Felder (Swiss Capuchin/Roman Catholic Bishop)
The Lessons of St. Francis – (John Michael Talbot, OFS with Steve Rabey, Writer)
The Life of St. Francis of Assisi: A Biography of St. Francis of Assisi and Stories of His Followers – Saint Bonaventure
The Little Flowers of Saint Francis – Raphael Brown (Franciscan Tertiary)
The Living Mirror – Reflections on Clare of Assisi – Sister Frances Teresa, OSC
The Road to Peace in Assisi – Brett Thoman, SFO
The Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order: With a Catechism and Instructions – Ramos, OFM, Baldonado, OFM, Grant, OFM, Cap
The San Damiano Cross: An Explanation – Michael Scanlon, TOR
The Sun and Moon Over Assisi: A Personal Encounter with Francis and Clare – Gerard Straub (Author/Filmmaker/Producer)
The Way of the Franciscans – Daniel P. Horan, OFM
The Way of St. Francis: The Challenge of Franciscan Spirituality for Everyone – Murray Bodo, OFM
The Wisdom of the Poor One of Assisi – Eloi Leclerc (French Writer)
The Words of Sacred Admonition – St. Francis of Assisi
The Writings of Saint Francis of Assisi – Saint Francis of Assisi (author)/Father Paschal Robinson (translator)
Through the Year with Francis of Assisi: Daily Meditations from His Words and Life – Murray Bodo, OFM
To Live As Francis Lived: A Guide for Secular Franciscans – Foley, OFM; Weigel, OFM; Normile, SFO
U
Understanding Catholicism – Monica Hellwig (Academic/Educator/Theologian)
United States Catholic Catechism for Adults – United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
W, X, Y and Z
No entries
Encyclicals, Exhortations, Pastoral Constitutions, Vatican Documents
Charity in Truth (Caritas in Veritate) – Pope Benedict XVI
God is Love (Deus Caritas Est) – Pope Benedict XVI
Laudato Si’ – On Care for Our Common Home – Encyclical by Pope Francis
Mater Et Magistra: Mother and Teacher – Pope John XXIII
The Sacrament of Charity: Sacramentum Caritatis (Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation) –
Benedict XVI
Saved In Hope: Spe Salvi – Encyclical Letter of Benedict XVI
Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel) – Apostolic Exhortation, by His Holiness Pope Francis, 2014
Evangelii Nuntiandi: On Evangelization in the Modern World –Exhortation by His Holiness, Paul Paul VI, 1975
Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity: Apostolican Actuositatem – Solemnly promulgated by His Holiness, Pope Paul VI on November 18, 1965
Dogmatic Constitution on the Church: Lumen Gentium – Solemnly promulgated by his Holiness, Pope Paul VI on November 21, 1964
Gaudium Et Spies: Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World – Promulgated by His Holiness, Pope Paul VI on December 7, 1965