Franciscan Virtues through the Year: 52 Steps to Conversion from Saint Francis of Assisi

Conform your life to the teachings of Jesus by living the virtues taught by Christ and especially embraced by Saint Francis of Assisi. Franciscan Virtues Through the Year: 52 Steps to Conversion from Saint Francis of Assisi explores each virtue with a quote from Scripture, a quote from the writings of Saint Francis, and an incident from the life of Saint Francis. There follows a reflection on the virtue, then meditation and prayer on the virtue, and some delving back into Scripture regarding it. Each virtue calls for reflection on the virtue and practice of it for an entire week. If the reflections and practice are done weekly as suggested, the reader will be spiritually more in tune with God's ways at the end of reading the book than at the beginning. The book is designed to make one aware of the virtues which St. Francis especially loved and to help the reader implement those virtues in his or her life. The virtues discussed are:1. Attentiveness2. Confession3. Courage4. Courtesy5. Detachment6. Discernment7. Eagerness8. Empathy9. Encouragement10. Eucharistic Reverence11. Evangelization12. Example13. Faith14. Fraternity15. Generosity16. Gratitude17. Honesty18. Hope19. Humility20. Imitation of Jesus21. Joy22. Justice23. Love of Enemy24. Love of God25. Love of Neighbor26. Love of Self27. Loyalty to Church28. Marian Devotion29. Minority30. Obedience31. Pardon32. Patience33. Peace34. Perseverance35. Poverty36. Praise37. Prayer38. Presence39. Purity40. Respect for Creation41. Sacrifice42. Self- knowledge43. Service44. Silence45. Simplicity46. Surrender47. Trust48. Vigilance49. Vulnerability50. Wisdom51. Witness52. WorkThis book is an excellent formation book for Franciscan friars, nuns, sisters, and laity. The 52 week format can be adapted as the Order wishes.Few books are guaranteed to change a person's spiritual life if the pattern of study in the book is followed. This book will definitely make the reader into a stronger follower of Christ, through the example and teachings of Saint Francis. May God bless you through Saint Francis as you read through, meditate on, and put into practice the Franciscan Virtues!