Franciscan Spirit

Franciscan Spirit

by Franciscan Media
Religion & Spirituality
Season 3
Daniel P. Horan — The Franciscan Heart of Thomas Merton
Daniel P. Horan, PhD, a longtime Thomas Merton scholar, professor, and author of a book on Merton’s deep Franciscan roots, sits down to discuss how the Franciscan tradition helped shape the journey and spirituality of Thomas Merton, one of the 20th century’s most influential contemplatives. Horan discusses Merton’s surprising path that led him deep into the Franciscan tradition and the fascinating details as to why he became a Trappist monk instead of a Franciscan friar; how John Duns Scotus’s idea of particularity shaped Merton’s famous teaching about the true self and false self; and how both Scotus and St. Bonaventure informed Merton’s expansive Christology. Lastly, Horan unpacks how a life grounded in contemplation freed Merton for prophetic engagement in the world, inter-religious dialogue, and exploring some of the most pressing social questions of his time. Whether you’re a longtime Merton reader or just beginning to explore the Franciscan tradition, this conversation reveals how deeply the two are intertwined—and why both still speak so powerfully and prophetically to us today. Throughout the episode, Horan relates Merton's journey to ours and explores why his spirituality is so important for us to consider today. If you’re interested in supporting this podcast and donating, visit friars.us or franciscanfriarscharities.org. Daniel P. Horan, PhD, is Professor of Philosophy, Religious Studies and Theology at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana. A columnist for the National Catholic Reporter, he is the author or editor of sixteen books, including Catholicity and Emerging Personhood: A Contemporary Theological Anthropology, A White Catholic’s Guide to Racism and Privilege, and The Way of the Franciscans: A Prayer Journey Through Lent. Prof. Horan’s most recent books are titled Engaging Thomas Merton: Spirituality, Justice, and Racism and Fear and Faith: Hope and Wholeness in a Fractured World. He is currently working on a book on Christology tentatively titled, Not Because of Sin: Reconsidering the Reason God Became Human. His academic research, writing, and teaching focuses on medieval and contemporary spirituality, medieval and modern philosophy, theological anthropology, Christology, antiracism and LGBTQ issues, and theologies of creation. Prof. Horan regularly lectures around the United States and abroad; and serves on several university, academic, and publication editorial boards, including the Board of Directors of the Catholic Theological Society of America and the Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality. He is recipient of numerous awards for his writing and service and is co-host of The Francis Effect Podcast. Explore the show notes here. (00:00:01) Introduction (00:03:50) Thomas Merton: Spiritual Companion (00:10:43) Rain and the Rhinoceros (00:15:14) Merton and the Franciscan Tradition (00:23:44) Why Merton Never Became a Franciscan Friar (00:31:42) The Impact of a Franciscan Education on Merton (00:35:16) How Scotus Informed Merton's Writings on the True Self (00:48:30) How Scotus and Bonaventure Informed Merton's Christology (00:58:33) Franciscanism in Merton's Later Works (01:06:41) Final Thoughts (01:08:18) Conclusion
S3 · E15
Sep 12, 2026
1:10:00
Joanne Schatzlein — Sister Saints: Clare of Assisi's Letters to Agnes of Prague
The focus of this special feast day episode is St. Clare of Assisi’s remarkable, poetic letters to another woman of nobility, St. Agnes of Prague. Guiding listeners through these four letters is Sister Joanne Schatzlein, OSF, a Franciscan scholar, co-author of a major study on Clare of Assisi, and lifelong student of her spirituality. Sister Joanne is a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi, whose Motherhouse is in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is a native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and entered her Congregation in 1965. In this episode, Sister Joanne echoes to us Clare's invitation to Agnes: to gaze, consider, contemplate, and imitate in our lives what Christ has taught us. (00:00:01) Introduction (00:05:24) Background (00:11:21) Agnes and Clare’s Correspondence (00:21:23) First Letter: Spousal Language (00:25:26) First Letter: Absolute Poverty (00:30:27) Second Letter: Background and Introduction (00:35:12) What is Franciscan Poverty Today? (00:43:37) Second Letter: God's Poverty and Humility; Clare's Formula for Prayer (00:52:52) Third Letter: Background and Introduction (00:55:59) Third Letter: Mirror of Eternity, Stigmata, and the San Damiano Cross (00:1:04:13) Third Letter: Embracing the Poor Christ (01:09:38) Fourth Letter: The Mystical Letter (01:12:28) Fourth Letter: Mirror Metaphor; Oneness with the Suffering Christ (01:18:23) Fourth Letter: Franciscan Relationality, Follower of Francis (01:21:47) Benediction (01:23:57) Conclusion
S3 · E14
Aug 9, 2026
1:25:03
Julianne Wallace — The Piazza: Franciscan Encounter in a Disconnected Age
In a time when loneliness and disconnection are at historic highs, how can resurrecting community help us awaken to what Thomas Merton called our “true selves”? In an age of division, how might principles from the Franciscan way help us to uncover our “original unity”? What does real, authentic, diverse community look like today? And what does Pope Leo’s new encyclical Magnifica Humanitas say about using digital tools to build a universal human family? What might a digital “piazza” offer in this technological age? This episode’s guest is Julianne Wallace, D.Min., the executive director of the Franciscan Federation and a ministry professional deeply rooted in the Franciscan tradition. Throughout her career, Julianne has worked with all branches of the Franciscan family—friars, sisters, secular Franciscans, associates, as well as serving a year with the Franciscan Volunteer Ministry—and she continues to build bridges and foster collaboration across the wider Franciscan world. The Franciscan Federation is a member organization that brings together vowed religious, secular Franciscans, associates, and all who seek to live out a Franciscan life today. The Federation also hosts the Piazza, a digital gathering place inspired by the Piazza del Comune in Assisi, where people from every Franciscan path can meet, pray, learn, and build community together. To learn more about Fran Fed, visit www.franfed.org. To join the Piazza, visit thepiazza.franfed.org. View the show notes here. (00:00:01) Introduction (00:02:33) Exploring the Franciscan Federation (00:07:06) The Piazza Project: A Digital Community (00:19:01) The True Self and the Common Good (00:27:14) Reflection No. 1: Deep Gladness and Deep Need (00:29:57) Masks and Ego (00:34:38) From Communication to Communion (00:42:39) Reflection No. 2: Moving Toward Communion (00:45:10) Echo Chambers and the Role of Community (00:55:57) Reflection No. 3: Remembering Who We Are (00:59:40) Exploring Magnifica Humanitas (1:07:03) In the Footsteps of Mary Magdalene (1:14:10) Final Thoughts and Conclusion
S3 · E13
Jul 31, 2026
1:16:04
Timothy Weldon — St. Bonaventure: Beauty, Light, and the Journey Into God
In this episode celebrating the Feast Day of 13th-century Franciscan philosopher St. Bonaventure, Professor Timothy Weldon helps listeners encounter a saint whose heart-centered wisdom still speaks powerfully today. Weldon explores Bonaventure's life of humble service, brilliant leadership, and profound vision of beauty, light, and the Trinity. Dr. Weldon, a philosophy professor who has taught for 25 years at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois, explores a number of topics in this episode: from Bonaventure’s deep connection to St. Francis, his beautiful Hymn to the Cross, the soul’s journey to God, and how themes of order, light, relationality, and everyday faithfulness can renew our own lives. Whether you’re Franciscan-curious or well-versed in the tradition, this episode offers both inspiration and practical invitation. (00:00:01) Introduction (00:02:05) The Life of St. Bonaventure (00:15:22) What St. Francis Lived, Bonaventure was to Think (00:24:09) Beauty's Invitation to Contemplation and Action (00:38:30) Trinity, Relationality, and Love (00:44:52) Applying Bonaventure Today in Our Lived Experience (00:55:48) Conclusion
S3 · E12
Jul 15, 2026
56:46
Edmundo Reyes — Magnifica Humanitas: Navigating Al with Faith, Wisdom, and Franciscan Joy
In this episode, we dive into one of the most urgent conversations of our time: faith and artificial intelligence, which Pope Leo XIV just explored in his groundbreaking encyclical “Magnifica Humanitas.” What does this new encyclical teach us about AI and what it is not? What does it teach us about how to navigate the age of AI and Robotics? How can wisdom from this encyclical help us harness AI for mission? Our guest, Edmundo Reyes, dives into all this and more in this episode of Franciscan Spirit. Edmundo Reyes is an award-winning producer and recognized leader in marketing, communications, fundraising, and public relations. His career has been dedicated to advancing evangelization through digital media, technology, and storytelling. He is the founder of Digital Continent, a Catholic media company telling stories of the Good, the True, and the Beautiful to make Christ known and loved in the digital culture. He serves as founder and executive producer of several acclaimed projects, including: Seeking Beauty with David Henrie, a new documentary series on art, culture, and faith, available on EWTN+ and EWTN.com Real+True, a digital apostolate under the patronage of the Holy See’s Dicastery for Evangelization, which unlocks the beauty and truth of the Catechism of the Catholic Church to the next generation. Based on a True Saint, a documentary series presented by The Augustine Institute that tells the stories of modern and soon-to-be saints through firsthand testimony. Revive Parishes, an online formation platform equipping parish leaders with practical tools for mission. His work has been honored with multiple regional Emmy Awards, Catholic Media Association awards, and national nominations. Previously, he served as Director of Communications for the Archdiocese of Detroit, where he led one of the most innovative communications teams in the Church and was twice recognized with the Father John Catoir Evangelization Award. (00:00:01) Introduction (00:02:25) Backstory: Faith & AI Project (00:08:43) Reaction to Magnifica Humanitas (00:12:21) How Do We Approach this Technology? (00:15:35) Can AI Make Us More Human? (00:20:55) Reflection No. 1 (00:28:02) Discerning AI (00:43:22) Using AI to Slow us Down, Cause Friction, and Deepen Relationship (00:54:34) Reflection No. 2: Becoming More Human (01:00:28) Using AI For Mission, Attuning Our Hearts to Beauty (01:09:17) Reflection No. 3: Beauty (01:13:49) AI and its Impact on the Environment (01:18:55) Structural Issues and Economic Interests (01:23:39) The Desire to Be Known and Loved (01:30:51) Conclusion
S3 · E11
Jul 6, 2026
1:31:31
John Dear — Surrendering to the God of Peace: The Path of Total Nonviolence
Longtime peace activist, priest, and author Fr. John Dear has been a leading voice for Gospel nonviolence for decades, drawing deeply from the examples of Jesus, St. Francis, Gandhi, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In this conversation, Fr. John explores the inner and outer dimensions of violence and nonviolence, the radical call to surrender our will to the God of Peace, and what it truly means to live as extensions of God’s universal love in a world on the brink. He discusses his powerful new book, "Universal Love: Surrendering to the God of Peace," along with his Gospel commentary "The Gospel of Peace." Be sure to check out John’s work at BeatitudesCenter.org and his global podcast, "The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast," available on all major platforms and featured on the front page of National Catholic Reporter. Reflection segments throughout the episode are brought to you by Ela Milewska, the Director of Evangelization at the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Show notes are available here. (00:00:01) Introduction (00:01:47) Understanding Violence and Nonviolence (00:06:29) The Inner Dimensions of Violence (00:11:05) Reflection No. 1: Violence is Forgetting Who We Are (00:14:50) Surrendering to God's Will (00:20:57) What Fr. John Learned From Archbishop Desmond Tutu (00:26:33) Reflection No. 2: Working Through Resentment (00:30:27) Not My Will, But Yours Done (00:37:37) What Fr. John Learned from Henri Nouwen (00:39:36) Political Dimensions of Nonviolence (00:50:26) Reflection No. 3: They Want Us to Be Angry (00:55:14) Historical Context of Nonviolence (00:59:12) Urgency of Nonviolence in Today's World (01:03:14) New Book: Surrendering to the God of Peace (01:11:23) Conclusion
S3 · E10
Jun 19, 2026
1:12:49
Mark Soehner — Grief, Grace, and Letting Go
This episode contains a deeply personal and moving conversation with Father Mark Soehner, a Franciscan friar whose life has been shaped by decades of living the Gospel in community, among the poor, and through profound personal trials. From his early rebellion and brief season of atheism, to discovering a God who doesn’t love us because we’re good—but makes us good because God loves us—Father Mark takes us through his journey into religious life. He shares stories of living with the homeless in Cincinnati, the healing power of brotherhood, and how the downward path of descent has continually drawn him closer to the heart of God. We also walk with him through one of life’s darkest valleys: the murder of his sister and the long road of rage, grief, and forgiveness. And in a spirit of courageous honesty, Father Mark opens up about his recent diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s—and how he is learning, even now, to entrust every detail of his life into the hands of a humble, accompanying God. This is a conversation about expanding our view of God, embracing our full humanity, and daring to bring everything—our anger, our fear, our limitations—before the One who never leaves us. Read "Becoming Church," an article Father Mark wrote in reflecting on this conversation. Show notes are available here. - - - - - - - - - - Mark Soehner, OFM, is a Franciscan friar and priest with over four decades of pastoral, formation, and leadership experience in the Order of Friars Minor. Throughout his ministry, Fr. Mark has served in diverse settings including homeless shelters (St. Vincent Hotel in Dayton and Zacchaeus Friary), campus ministry at the University of Cincinnati, and parish leadership. From 1995 to 2008 he served as Pastor of St. Aloysius Parish in Detroit, guiding the community through significant change while also maintaining a licensed professional counseling practice (M.S. in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola University Maryland). He has been deeply involved in Franciscan formation as a formator in Chicago and Cincinnati/Detroit, and served on the Provincial Council. In 2017 he was elected Provincial Minister of St. John the Baptist Province, and in 2023 was elected Vicar Provincial of the newly formed Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Known for his compassionate presence, commitment to those on the margins, and dedication to Franciscan life, Fr. Mark brings a wealth of wisdom, lived experience, and spiritual insight to conversations on faith, service, leadership, and community. - - - - - - - - - - (00:00:01) Introduction (00:02:48) Childhood and Spiritual Background (00:10:29) A Personal Faith: Evolving One's Godview (00:20:11) Reflection No. 1: We Are God's Beloved (00:21:39) When the Church is Alive (00:24:45) Moses and the Burning Bush (00:26:51) The Franciscan Way and the Path of Descent (00:30:50) God's Poverty and Humility (00:35:19) Reflection No. 2: The Path of Descent (00:37:39) Bringing Our Full Selves to God and Our Community (00:46:02) Being Converted by the Poor and Homeless (00:50:16) Moving through Rage, Bitterness Toward Forgiveness (00:58:27) Reflection No. 3: Being Vulnerable with God (1:00:32) An Unknown Road Ahead: A Lifestyle of Surrender (1:10:27) Trusting God's Embrace on the Path of Descent (1:13:38) Final Words (1:14:52) Conclusion
S3 · E9
Jun 5, 2026
1:15:45
Guesnerth Josué Perea — Lectio Divina: How Sacred Reading Can Transform Our Lives
“Lectio Divina,” which means sacred reading, is one of the most ancient contemplative practices in the Christian tradition, dating back to the Desert Fathers and Mothers, who sought renewal away from the city in open desert spaces and relied on the Word for spiritual sustenance. What does it mean to root our lives in this kind of sacred reading? How does this reading extend beyond words? As many Franciscan theologians say, Creation is God’s “first book.” The Word is alive and active in sacred texts but also in and through the world around us. If the Word, the logos, the Universal Christ, is holding all things together, then all that is good and true and beautiful is constantly rising up in our world, in our lives, in the signs of the times, in our Bibles and liturgies, to be read and received. Guesnerth Josue Perea is breaking open Lectio in a fun and unique way. Josue serves as Director of Black Lives and Contemplation for the Center for Spiritual Imagination and belongs to the Community of the Incarnation, a new monastic community which embodies and teaches engaged contemplative spirituality in response to what Father Bede Griffiths called “the universal call to contemplation.” Perea was part of the team that founded the AfroLatine Theology Project, and he was Executive Producer of the documentary "Faith in Blackness." His perspective has been featured in prominent publications such as the New York Times, the New Yorker, and USA Today, and his writing has been featured in Sojourners, the Los Angeles Review of Books, and numerous anthologies. A dedicated Brooklynite, he wholeheartedly believes that cultivating our inner lives through contemplative practice is instrumental for liberation, allowing us to embody Biggie's call to spread love "the Brooklyn way." Show notes are available here. (00:00:01) Introduction (00:03:10) Spiritual Background (00:15:52) How Contemplation Informs Vocation (00:20:04) What is Lectio Divina? (00:25:23) Reflection No. 1: The Simplicity of Lectio (00:29:12) What's the Point of Lectio and Contemplative Practice? (00:36:29) Howard Thurman and "The Sound of the Genuine" (00:40:55) Slowing Down and Remembering How to Read (00:45:40) Ritual and the Heart (00:48:15) Reflection No. 2: Franciscan Lectio (00:52:14) Ritual: Reading As If for the First Time (00:57:44) Hip-Hop Lectio, Kendrick, and Peeling Back Layers of Mystery (1:10:42) Reflection No. 3: Thich Nhat Hanh and the Universe Within a Sheet of Paper (01:13:45) The Power of Slowing and Reading with the Eye of the Heart (01:18:41) Final Thoughts and the Play of Lectio (01:22:45) Conclusion
S3 · E8
May 7, 2026
1:23:54
Greg Friedman — A Poet's Approach to the Canticle of the Creatures
St. Francis of Assisi was many things. Peacemaker. Mystic. Contemplative. Prophet. But one of the things we seldom talk about is the fact he was a poet. His poem “Canticle of the Creatures” contains some rich theology and story but what about its beauty as a poem? What happens when we approach this iconic text not first as theologians or historians, but as poets? When we, too, slow down and name the world around us? When we, too, dare to find language for mystery? Father Greg Friedman—Franciscan friar, longtime writer, pilgrim guide, and serious poet in his own right—shares how he approached the Canticle during a 2025 retreat for the Conventual Franciscans marking its 800th anniversary: not as a scholar, but as a fellow poet who has spent years in writing communities, learning the humility of observation, the power of naming, and the way a single well-chosen word can jolt us into wonder. (00:00:01) Introduction (00:01:45) Poetry Background (00:05:14) Poetry and Spirituality (00:07:02) Beauty of Naming (00:13:46) Francis the Poet (00:17:09) Per: A Dynamic Relational Word (00:17:56) Reflection No. 1: Pathways to the Divine (00:19:53) New Names: Brother and Sister (00:25:18) Per and Multidimensional Words (00:30:48) The Poem’s Popularity and Background (00:38:01) Reflection No. 2: Surrender and Self-Emptying (00:40:46) Sister Bodily Death, the Stigmata, and Letting Go (00:53:36) Sun, Moon, Wind, Fire, Water, Earth (00:59:16) Reflection No. 3: Art and the Incarnation: Expanding Our Image of God (01:02:46) Final Thoughts and Praying with Each Element (01:11:01) Conclusion
S3 · E7
Apr 17, 2026
1:12:13
Eunice Park — A 50-Month Journey Into Franciscan Poverty
There’s a line from a John O’Donahue poem that goes like this: “I would love to live like the river flows, carried by the surprise of its own unfolding.” What does it look like to be that free? To release the grip of control and trust in life’s unfolding? In this episode, Eunice Park embodies that river-like freedom in a radical way. For 50 months—over four years—she lived an itinerant, “wonky” life, moving every few days from convents and friaries to friends’ homes, often living out of a single bag with no fixed itinerary. Triggered by the loss of her father, a layoff during COVID, and a deep desire for rest and healing, Eunice stepped into a modern Franciscan journey that echoes the early days of Francis and his companions. Now back in one place and recalibrating to “normal” life, Eunice reflects on the profound lessons from her time on the road: the healing power of Franciscan spirituality in addressing guilt and shame cultures, the liberation found in the Franciscan emphasis on the Incarnation as an act of divine love rather than primarily a response to sin, and the surprising freedom that comes from embracing poverty of control. Through candid stories of convent beds, late-night kitchen raids, deep conversations with old ministry friends, and learning to receive hospitality, Eunice explores what it truly means to let ourselves be loved, to see ourselves as “pockets of joy” for others, and to practice openness in daily life. She shares how this journey revealed her own resiliency and tenacity while challenging her to release transactional mindsets and embrace mutuality in relationships. Whether you’re drawn to Franciscan theology, navigating ministry burnout, wrestling with self-worth, or simply longing for greater freedom and presence, this conversation offers rich wisdom on building community, choosing what we tether ourselves to, and living with open hands in a world that prizes control. Eunice J. Park is a spiritual life coach, retreat facilitator, multilingual kimchi maker, cultural critic, spiritual accompanist, cook, writer, crafter, musician, editor, hot-sauce brewer, and dinner party comic. Above all, she is a follower of Francis and Clare. (00:00:01) Introduction (00:02:02) Background (00:10:47) Itinerancy's Call and Struggles in Ministry (00:27:00) Reflection No. 1: Interrupting Patterns of the Heart and Mind (00:29:54) Gifts of Itinerancy (00:35:47) Understanding Franciscan Poverty (00:38:44) Theology of Worthiness (00:42:55) Reflection No. 2: Poverty of Control (00:45:38) The Joy of Receiving and Community Building (00:49:08) Allowing Oneself to be Loved (01:02:17) Reflection No. 3: 'You Are a Little Pocket of Joy for Someone Else' (01:04:44) Moving Beyond Transaction, Living Freely, and Knowing Yourself (01:11:38) 'Is this Building Community?' (01:14:45) Conclusion
S3 · E6
Mar 27, 2026
1:15:54
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