Amid Passing Things is a collection of meditations on all the ways God enters our lives, even when we're unaware. Based on his own life experiences, Franciscan friar Jeremiah Shryock offers both struggles and joys that come in a life that's consciously encountering God-the Holy One all around us-not in some far-off place, but right here and now in this life, amid passing things.

From the thirteenth century to the present, Francis of Assisi endures as our best-loved and most-admired saint. He is our companion, brother, friend, teacher and lover of life. This inspiring compendium contains 365 selections--one for each day of the year--drawn from the sayings and writings of Francis as well as from stories about him.
In "Through the Year With Francis of Assisi" the reader finds a daily source of inspiration, a gentle stimulus towards living a more caring and loving way of life--free of unnecessary entanglements. These specially selected excerpts, grouped under such familiar themes as poverty, love of creation, justice, prayer, death and virtues constitute a personal "day book" that can be treasured and kept at one's side for year-round reflection and meditation. As Bodo explains in his introduction, Francis' way of life and living was that of a pilgrim, and we, too, share the same journey in faith. What better guide, then, than this simple soul who has touched and taught generations of people.

There was a time at the very beginning when Francis and his brothers lived at a place near Assisi called Rivo Torto...At Rivo Torto they fasted and did penance with all the enthusiasm and sometimes the imprudence of novices in the life of the Spirit, as the following story shows.
One night, as they all lay sleeping soundly, a loud cry broke into their dreams:
"I am dying I am dying Help me "
And the brothers, startled for their sleep, saw St. Francis already at the side of the terrified brother.
"What is it, brother? Tell me."
And though he was now embarrassed, the brother overcame shame and said:
"Forgive me, Father Francis; but I am dying of hunger."
Then St. Francis immediately ordered the brothers to light a torch and go out and gather some herbs and vegetables and whatever else they could find for all of them to have a good, nourishing meal. He said this so that the poor brother would not have to be humiliated by eating alone. And so all the brothers set themselves eagerly to the task of preparing a meal and then they all sat down with the hungry brother and ate a midnight supper.
Lesson: Distinguish between moderation and excess. We mature in God when we let him come and go as he wills and not try to force him to stay by exaggerated penance.

"A way of life both stimulating and troubling"
This is the way of life St. Francis shows us. It asks that we look again at the possibilities within us and around us and see Francis's life and examples as a way of embracing our "dark side," of reconciling the opposites in ourselves and the world. "The Way of St. Francis "offers all Christians a guide to following the spirituality of the beloved saint from Assisi.
Father Murray Bodo challenges himself and us with a renewed understanding of Francis--to whom we turn again and again in interpreting our own human experience and our experience of God. We reflect on the saint's ways of "letting go," of achieving poverty, of simplicity and non-violence, of entering all creatures. Franciscan spirituality is no different from any other Christian spirituality, observes Bodo. But the way that Francis lives the Gospel has an irresistible attraction for all. "Francis makes me feel loved; he makes me feel that I matter," the author writes. "That is the power he exercises over us...and that is why so many look to him as the model of what they, too, can be."
This is a book for all spiritual seekers and lovers of St. Francis--a man who has inspired millions for over eight centuries.