Practicing the Prayer of St. Francis
Imprint: Wipf and Stock
138 Pages, 6.00 x 9.00 x 0.28 in
- Paperback
- 9781666752854
- Published: September 2022
$22.00 / £20.00 / AU$35.00
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- 9781666752878
- Published: September 2022
$22.00 / £18.99 / AU$31.99
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If you practice the Prayer of St. Francis faithfully, it will change your life. If you desire to undertake a spiritual journey, to be shaped and formed in the image of Christ, this book will point the way as you examine three powerful spiritual practices that center this prayer: Sowing, Seeking, and Seeing. Each chapter includes a short meditation, a personal story or two, references to Scripture, suggestions for practicing what we pray, and questions for reflection and discussion. This format is intended for personal devotions or small-group settings for Christians of all ages and faith stages.
Part I: Sowing, investigates what it means to sow seeds of peace in hard soil, and what spiritual practices we can employ to bring about a fruitful harvest. Part II: Seeking, offers some spiritual practices that will assist us in our work and shape us as we strive to put others before ourselves, as hard as that can be for all of us at one time or another. And Part III: Seeing, reflects on what it means to remember God's goodness and grace as they come full circle, and how expressions of gratitude can be a powerful spiritual discipline for all of us as we strive to make our way home.
Patrick Allen, a retired university provost and professor, writes about how the Christian faith can be shaped and formed by intentional spiritual practices—particularly used for discipleship and spiritual growth in small groups and personal devotions. He is the author of four other devotional books including Love at Its Best When Church Is a Mess (2020), all published by Cascade Books, Eugene, Oregon.
Patrick and his wife, Lori, reside in Newberg, Oregon.
“Patrick has taken the timeless prayer of St. Francis and highlighted its timeliness for today. Weaving together reflections worth pondering and practices worth embracing, readers are invited to take the journey from heartfelt prayer to loving action. Practicing the Prayer of St. Francis is a helpful resource for individuals or groups seeking to explore and embody the peaceful way of the Divine Master.”
—Jason Veach, pastor of spiritual formation, Christ Church Anglican
“A refreshingly honest and accessible invitation to the purposeful journey of Christ-like discipleship. Allen’s pastoral approach to the Prayer of St. Francis provides us with a supportive guide along the path of spiritual growth. I am looking forward to discovering the impact this can have on our congregation.”
—Stephen Bomar, pastor, Zion Mennonite Church