Pilgrim Walks in Franciscan Italy

“Jon Sweeney introduces us to Johannes Jørgensen, a seminal biographer and attentive chronicler of St. Francis of Assisi, and Franciscan history. Under Sweeney’s masterfully crafted introduction, editing and careful notes, Jørgensen’s vivid and spirited vignettes of his travels to significant sanctuaries in Franciscan Italy remind us of the merit and timelessness of pilgrimage. We are invited to reflect on the stories of St. Francis as a deep encounter and engagement with the Divine. A must read for steadfast companions of the Franciscan journey as well as those who are being introduced for the first time.” —Alexandria Egler, Executive Director of Mission, Ministry & Interfaith Dialogue, St. Francis College, Brooklyn
 
“Every year for four decades, when I’ve been in Assisi, I’ve gone to a house where Jørgensen lived to pay my respects to one of the first great modern biographers of St. Francis. Jørgensen said, ‘I sat at Francis’s feet and entered heaven. Francis himself is the Brother Gatekeeper who opened the door for me.’ Now, at last, is a new edition of his travel diary of literal and spiritual pilgrimages to sacred Franciscan places. And in the same volume, for the first time, is a valuable selection of the Dane’s writings related to how he came to that point in his life when, as he said, ‘an inexplicable sense of peace invaded my deepest being…calmly and without noise, as it almost always does.’ Jørgensen recreates in these pages what that peace looks like and how it feels. He brings to life for readers today what it means to walk calmly and without noise in the footsteps of St. Francis.” —Murray Bodo, OFM, author of Francis: The Journey and the Dream and many other books