Ken Sehested’s column on remembering St. Francis asked how a saint gets domesticated, made comfortable, scrubbed of the strangeness that made him worth remembering. I write from Efrat, Israel, where two years of war have kept a version of that…
Remembering St. Francis more accurately
If the anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi’s death on Oct. 3, 1226, or his feast day on Oct. 4 slipped by your attention (as they did mine), not to worry. No less than Pope Leo has declared all October…
Following Saint Francis from a safe distance
Last week, Carol and I joined the 4 to 5 million pilgrims who will make their way this year to Assisi, Italy, the cradle of Franciscan spirituality, to walk in the footsteps of St. Francis and buy sacred refrigerator magnets….
The red inferno
I am totally engulfed in the red inferno. Flames of red and ribbons of yellow lick at my skin, yet I remain cool and indifferent to its intense heat of color. As I strain to look up, up, up, my…