The ecstasies of St. Francis / John Ryan Haule.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Haule, John Ryan, 1942-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Francis, of Assisi, Saint, 1182-1226.

Francis.

Christian saints--Italy--Assisi--Biography.

Christian saints.

Italy--Assisi.

Spiritual life--Catholic Church.

Spiritual life.

Genre:

Biographies.

Physical Description:

183 pages ; 23 cm

Other Title:

Ecstasies of Saint Francis

Place of Publication:

Great Barrington, MA : Lindisfarne Books, [2004]

Summary:

In this fascinating account of St. Francis' inner life, John Haule show how Francis relentlessly pursued the most disturbing experiences in life to achieve higher states of consciousness. Francis embraced poverty and sorrows, cared for lepers and outcasts and begged for his bread. Fascinated by romantic and troubadour literature, Francis took Lady Poverty as his guide in love, walking her path in the world to change it. Since she demanded nothing less than that he change his whole nature, he did so, becoming the beloved saint we know today. Haule tells the story of Francis's life and explores what Francis was going through. He looks at the path of Lady Poverty, revealing what Francis meant by "perfect joy." He shows the erotic element in his practice and then examines Francis's daily practice of prayer and meditation in relation to the states of consciousness he achieved. Haule then reveals the last crisis of Francis's life--the final embrace of God and the world--marked by the vision of the Seraph and the appearance of the stigmata.

Contents:

Rearranging our sensibilities

Loosening the veil around Francis

Poverty as a spiritual practice

Intercourse with lady poverty

Ecstasy and the sacred cosmos

Extraordinary powers

Preaching and improvisation

Life on the rivo torto

Crisis and transcendence

The throne of Lucifer.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 175-177).

ISBN:

1584200103

OCLC:

53131153