About this item
Jon M. Sweeney, author of numerous popular books on St. Francis as well as the recent bestseller The Pope Who Quit, offers a surprising new look at the world's most popular saint, showing how this beloved, but often-mythologized character created a spiritual vision for the ages and may very well have rescued the Christian faith.In When Saint Francis Saved the Church, popular historian Jon Sweeney presents an intriguing portrait of Francis beyond the readily familiar stories and images. In the tradition of Thomas Cahill's How the Irish Saved Civilization, Sweeney reveals how the saint became a hinge in the history of the Christian faith and shows how in just fourteen years--from 1205 to 1219--the unconventional and stumbling wisdom of a converted troubadour changed the Church.
About the Author
Jon M. Sweeney is an independent scholar and author of history, spirituality, poetry/mysticism, memoir, and young reader fiction. He's a popular interpreter of the life and work of Francis of Assisi, and author of more than 40 books including "St. Francis of Assisi," with a foreword by Richard Rohr, and "The Complete Francis of Assisi," used by Third Order Franciscans everywhere. HBO optioned the film rights to Sweeney's book on the medieval Pope Celestine V, "The Pope Who Quit." In 2020, the fourth book in his "The Pope's Cat" series for children appeared: "Margaret and the Pope Go to Assisi," and a new biography, "Nicholas Black Elk: Medicine Man, Catechist, Saint." In 2021, Jon published "Thomas Merton: An Introduction to His Life, Teachings, and Practices," with St. Martin's Press in print and ebook, and Penguin Random House Audio in audiobook; and "Feed the Wolf" in hardcover. He has been interviewed on CBS News, WGN-TV, Fox News, and CBS Saturday Morning, and by publications online ranging from CNN to Romper. He is a practicing Catholic who also prays regularly with his wife, a congregational rabbi. Jon loves the church, the synagogue, and other aspects of organized religion. He would never say that he's "spiritual but not religious." He is the father of four and lives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Jon serves on the board of The Lux Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies at Sacred Heart Seminary in greater Milwaukee. He works as an editor for Orbis Books and as contributing editor for books at SpiritualityandPractice.com.
