pat loughery

Is there a way to digest the pre-packaged, one-size-fits-all easy answers Churchianity that happens in so much of our culture? Is there a way past the Sunday show that allows us to wrestle with the deep complexities of Christian faith and allows space for questions and doubt? Is there a faith that focuses its resources outside the building and into the world at large

And is there a way to answer these questions in an engaging story form, rather than yet another “What’s wrong with the Church and what I propose to fix it?” textbook?

This is the goal of this book:

“Chasing Francis: A Pilgrim’s Tale” (Ian M Cron)

Ian Cron’s novel tells the story of a megachurch pastor who is struck with questions that he cannot answer simply, for the first time in his life and much to his consternation. He seeks advice from his uncle, a Franciscan friar, who invites him onto a pilgrimage following the story of Francis of Assisi as a way to discover a larger Christian heritage and a way to connect his questions and his soul to God.

Cron’s story is well written and engaging. I had a few laugh-out-loud moments reading witty dialogue, and I learned quite a bit about St. Francis and contemporary Franciscan spirituality along the way. The plot has a few heavy-handed moments along the way, but on the whole, the story is well worth your time, especially if you are curious about pre-Reformation spiritualities in today’s culture.

Make sure you check out the individual and group study guide at the back of the book, which would make it very useful for a small group. There’s an excellent biography as well.

I found the book to be very similar in form to Brian McLaren’s trilogy of “A New Kind of Christian: A Tale of Two Friends on a Spiritual Journey, “The Story We Find Ourselves In, and “The Last Word and the Word after That: A Tale of Faith, Doubt, and a New Kind of Christianity, which were helpful to many of us in proposing an alternative way to view our Christian story.

I’m looking forward to reading more from Ian Cron.

As for my own personal impact, I found myself looking not just at Franciscan spirituality but more to the Celtic spirituality which informed Francis. Franciscan scholars say that Francis took his monastic training at the monastery in Bobbio, in northern Italy – Bobbio was founded by Celtic St. Columban. Certainly Francis’ themes of humility and simplicity, his emphasis on artistic creativity, his peer relationships with female leaders such as Claire, and his recognition of the God speaking from within nature are Celtic themes as well.

At the same time, there is a well-developed lay Franciscan framework which has done a wonderful job of engaging “everyday” Christians as third order members and expanding a spirituality which encompasses peacemaking and service of the poor.   

Anyone interested in either Celtic or Franciscan spirituality would be well served to investigate both histories and learning from these close cousins.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising

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