Feed the Wolf: Befriending Our Fears in the Way of Saint Francis

by Jon M. Sweeney

Turn from fear and find peace with one of the most recognized figures in Christian history. Saint Francis of Assisi understood that the surest way for a person to turn from fear and find grace was to embrace a life filled with ordinary miracles. And for twenty-first century living, we can learn from the teachings of this beloved sainttofind a path where our faith is made tangible again and where we embrace listening and gentleness in the face of fear and uncertainty. From author and Saint Francis scholar Jon M. Sweeney comes Feed the Wolf , exploring fifteen spiritual practices from the essential wisdom of Saint Francis. Each lesson begins with an invitation to "embrace the wolf"--to consider another viewpoint, to befriend our fears, and to discover something new--and illustrates the ordinary miracles of Saint Francis's life, such as touch what is frightening; refuse power; have nothing to lose; spend time in the woods; pray with the moon; turn toward what's simple; and more. The nature of these ordinary miracles is that they can be repeated become spiritual practices that lead us toward peace. Allow the insights from the world's most popular saint to move into your heart, feet, mouth, and hands, and discover a peaceful path forward to navigate today's precarious times.

Genres: Nonfiction

200 pages, Hardcover

Published September 28, 2021

About the author

Jon M. Sweeney is an independent scholar and writer of popular history. He is married, the father of three, and lives in Montpelier, Vermont. He has worked in book publishing for 25 years: after co-founding SkyLight Paths Publishing, he was the editor in chief and publisher at Paraclete Press, and in August 2015 became editorial director at Franciscan Media Books.

He has written more than 20 books, seven about Francis of Assisi, including "When Saint Francis Saved the Church" and "The Complete Francis of Assisi." HBO has optioned the film rights to "The Pope Who Quit."

Jon's first 20 years were spent as an involved evangelical (a story told in the memoir "Born Again and Again"); he then spent 22 years as an active Episcopalian (see "Almost Catholic," among others); and on the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi in 2009 he was received into the Catholic Church. Today, Jon is a practicing Catholic who also prays regularly with his wife, a rabbi. He loves the church, the synagogue, and other aspects of organized religion. He would never say that he's "spiritual but not religious."

In all of his writing, Jon is drawn to the ancient and medieval (see "The Road to Assisi," and "Inventing Hell"). Many of his books have been selections of the History Book Club, Book-of-the-Month Club, and Quality Paperback Book Club.

Reviews

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Francis was such a weirdo, so full of love, and often sort of disgusting, but that's why I love him. Sweeney focus on different aspects of his personality and we can learn from them. Sometimes the text feels choppy. A good introduction to Il Poverello.

[Susan Kendrick · Rating 1 out of 5]

A lot of conjecture and a lot of beliefs I do not share with the author. Vaguely interesting.

[Shemaiah Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jon Sweeney’s Feed the Wolf takes us deeper into the stories of St. Francis, a man whose life exemplified peace and honored the poor. Sweeney transports these stories into the now, of today, offering us inspiration to move our heart, mouth, hands and feet away from fear and comfortability, and towards listening and gentleness.

[Ginny · Rating 4 out of 5]

"From author and Saint Francis scholar Jon M. Sweeney comes Feed the Wolf , exploring fifteen spiritual practices from the essential wisdom of Saint Francis. Each lesson begins with an invitation to "embrace the wolf"--to consider another viewpoint, to befriend our fears, and to discover something new--and illustrates the ordinary miracles of Saint Francis's life, such as touch what is frightening; refuse power; have nothing to lose; spend time in the woods; pray with the moon; turn toward what's simple; and more."

Having not read much about Saint Francis previously, I learned that he was indeed a complicated individual, but yet he embraced simplicity. From the ordinary servant-leader that he was we can learn so much about how to find a peaceful path forward in the chaotic world in which we live.

[Billy Jepma · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very nice, easy to read introduction to Saint Francis that, instead of focusing on the more “miraculous” and iconic parts of his life, looks at his human character and motivations. The writing isn’t that great, admittedly, but the sources are strong and the takeaways feel warm and worthwhile, even if they’re not that deep.

[Alexander Steward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweeney approaches Saint Francis in a way which brings him to life. It is a different perspective from a typical biography and yet it is informative as well as thought provoking.

[Sue Hittle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. Learned things I didn’t know.

[Victor Bieniek Jr · Rating 4 out of 5]

insightful and sublime