Franciscan Lectio: Reading the World Through the Living Word - Paperback

by Dan Riley Ofm (Author), Stephen Copeland (Contribution by)

Franciscan Lectio is for all those on a spiritual journey who long to see the world more beautifully and deeply and become more attentive and present.

An ancient tradition dating back to the third century, lectio divina has long served as an avenue of contemplative prayer, but the practice has often been systematized, intellectualized, or only practiced by monastics. Few authors have attempted to universalize lectio using contemporary language or approach it from a Franciscan perspective.

St. Paul says that the Word of God is alive and active in our hearing, and if the incarnation is true, then the Word can be experienced in all places. Lectio, therefore, is not only a spiritual practice for reading sacred texts but can be applied to any felt experience. Our experiences, too, are sacred: we need only to acknowledge their depth and beauty. In the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, we can see the God of all creation who has always been "hidden in plain sight"--a presence that shows forth in every created thing.

In Franciscan Lectio, Fr. Dan Riley comes alongside us in our own encounters with lectio and inspires our spiritual imagination through story, art, poetry, nature, Franciscan mysticism, and Scripture -- helping us to see that all of life is unitive and sacred.

Author Biography

Father Dan Riley, OFM, is a Franciscan friar of fifty years, artist, teacher, and founder of Mt. Irenaeus, a Franciscan retreat community in West Clarksville, New York, that inspires contemplation, community, authentic spirituality, stillness, and inclusivity. He leads regular retreats and hosts the podcast "Clouds and Sun Reflections." He speaks regularly to different communities of faith around the country and loves pouring his artistic abilities into poetry, painting, and carpentry.

Stephen Copeland is a writer and storyteller who has collaborated on over a dozen books. He is a regular columnist and feature writer for the St. Anthony Messenger and recently released his first book in his own voice titled Where the Colors Blend. He obtained his bachelor's degree in journalism and Bible from Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana, and is pursuing a Master of Theological Studies degree from the University of San Diego's Franciscan School of Theology. Stephen's work can be found at www.copelandwrites.com.