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Peace and Good: Through the Year with Francis of Assisi
Peace and Good is a page-a-day book of teachings from Francis of Assisi and his followers. Each day offers inspiration to anyone interested in Franciscan spirituality and a daily dose of “peace and good”—a phrase often associated with Francis and his followers. The reflections are organized by month and by theme (peace, prayer, Jesus, conversion, poverty, solitude, beauty, simplicity, service of the poor, creatures, people of God, and joy). Each month has a brief introduction showing how its theme was important to Francis. For each day, it offers a quote from Francis’s teachings, a suggestion for applying that teaching to the your life, and a challenge for using the teaching to enhance your spiritual practice. The book can be used from year to year.
536 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 21, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 23, 2024
I read “Peace and Good” as it is written, day-by-day through the year. Each month is devoted to a topic: January, Peace; February, Jesus; March, Conversion; April, Prayer; May, Mary; June, Eucharist; July, Fraternal Charity; August, Poverty and Simplicity; September, Service to the Poor; October, Creatures; November, Gospel; December, Joy. The book begins with an introduction and a time line of St. Francis’ life. Each month commences with the editor’s essay on the topic. About half of the day’s page consists of a quote from a writing of Francis or one of his biographers. The rest of the page is the editor’s reflection on “Living As Francis Did” and concludes with an entreaty on a way to be “Growing With Francis.”
I stayed with it through the year so I, obviously found it to be uplifting. “Men ran, and women too ran, clerics hurried, and religious hastened that they might see and hear the holy man of God who seemed to all to be a man of another world” speaks of the awe Francis inspired in his own time. The description of the stigmata “His hands and feet seemed to be pierced through the middle by nails, with the heads of the nails appearing in the inner side of the hand and on the upper sides of the feet and their pointed ends on the opposite sides” documents, not a pious observance, but a sharing in the sufferings of Our Lord. Francis’ own admonition, “Blessed is the man who is patient with his neighbor’s shortcomings as he would like him to be if he were in a similar position himself” is brought to the present in the Growing with Francis section, “Who is the most patient person you know personally? Did that person have an easy life? What can you learn from that person?”
I encourage readers to pick up “Peace and Good”. Read, contemplate and share the wisdom of Francis.
I stayed with it through the year so I, obviously found it to be uplifting. “Men ran, and women too ran, clerics hurried, and religious hastened that they might see and hear the holy man of God who seemed to all to be a man of another world” speaks of the awe Francis inspired in his own time. The description of the stigmata “His hands and feet seemed to be pierced through the middle by nails, with the heads of the nails appearing in the inner side of the hand and on the upper sides of the feet and their pointed ends on the opposite sides” documents, not a pious observance, but a sharing in the sufferings of Our Lord. Francis’ own admonition, “Blessed is the man who is patient with his neighbor’s shortcomings as he would like him to be if he were in a similar position himself” is brought to the present in the Growing with Francis section, “Who is the most patient person you know personally? Did that person have an easy life? What can you learn from that person?”
I encourage readers to pick up “Peace and Good”. Read, contemplate and share the wisdom of Francis.
December 31, 2022
This book has a daily reading that consists of a quote from one of two primary sources on the life of St. Frances, then a brief set of comments from the author, and then a daily encouragement for the reader to model Frances' behavior. For example: "Be extra patient with one person today, beginning with yourself, not because doing so might change them but because that decision will point you in a better direction."
There are monthly themes as well with a short intro to each month. I was not particularly familiar with the life of St. Frances and found the book illuminating and inspiring.
There are monthly themes as well with a short intro to each month. I was not particularly familiar with the life of St. Frances and found the book illuminating and inspiring.
December 31, 2021
PEACE AND GOOD provides a daily journey with St. Francis of Assisi. Each day includes a three part entry including a biographical sketch, a look at his spiritual expectations [Living as Francis Did], and a suggestion for our own daily spirtual quest [Growing with Francis]. Pat McCloskey, O.F.M., is the Franciscan editor of St. Anthony Messenger magazine. I used this as a spiritual daily reflection through the calendar year of 2021.
January 1, 2020
Daily guide
A good daily guide for Franciscan spiritual living. Concise, candid commentary to keep one on their life journey. Spiritually packed.
A good daily guide for Franciscan spiritual living. Concise, candid commentary to keep one on their life journey. Spiritually packed.
July 7, 2020
Excellent daily spiritual guide to lead you to peace and goodness in your life!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews