Finding Perfect Joy With St. Francis of Assisi: 30 Reflections

by Walters, Kerry S.

• ISBN13: 9781569553206
• ISBN10: 1569553203
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-04-01
• Publisher: Franciscan Media

Summary

And no wonder -- they can't even agree about where to look for it. Some think we can find happiness by seeking pleasure. Others claim that to be happy, we have to look out for Number One. Still others insist that we need to own more and more "stuff" if we ever want to find true happiness. Amid so much confusion, one voice pierces through the clamor about the pursuit of happiness and speaks instead about finding "perfect joy" -- St. Francis of Assisi. This thirteenth-century Italian friar sought for contentment as a restless youth, but for years he sought in vain. When at last he uncovered the path to joy, it lay in a direction he had never dreamed of.

Author Biography

Kerry Walters is William Bittinger Professor of philosophy at Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Table of Contents

Introduction: Looking for Happiness	p. 9
A Brief Chronology of St. Francis' Life	p. 19
Betwixt and Between	p. 21
Desperate Revelry	p. 25
A False Start	p. 29
Whom Do You Serve?	p. 33
Lord as Leper	p. 37
What the Crucifix Said	p. 41
Going Under	p. 45
Naked	p. 51
Vocation	p. 57
Theia Mania	p. 61
Lady Poverty	p. 65
Holy Simplicity	p. 69
Gracious Humility	p. 73
Be Not Afraid!	p. 77
Burning Love	p. 81
The Joy Test	p. 85
Icy Embraces	p. 91
Singing in French	p. 95
Celebrating Others	p. 99
Celebrating Sister Mother Earth	p. 103
Celebrating God	p. 107
What to Do With Brother Body?	p. 111
Becoming Prayer	p. 115
Wisdom	p. 119
Trials	p. 123
Little by Little	p. 127
God-Pierced	p. 131
Everyone Has a LaVerna	p. 135
Becoming Who You Are	p. 139
Restoration	p. 143
Sources	p. 147
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