Projects

Retreats & Quiet Days

Over the last few years, John has led retreats and quiet days on the following topics:

  • Franciscan Spirituality
    • Charity in the thought of St. Clare
    • Praying with Francis & Clare
    • St. Bonaventure’s “Tree of Life”
    • The Franciscan Crucifix (Church of the Holy Trinity)
  • Jonah as a Guide for Men in 12-Step Recovery
  • Music and Art in Hildegard of Bingen
  • Praying with Beads – A Workshop on Rosaries
  • Lent with Henri Nouwen
  • The Poetry of San Juan de la Cruz
  • Monastic Themes in St. Augustine of Hippo
  • Art & Imagery in the work of Cristóbal Villalpando
  • The Art of El Greco
  • Our Lady of Guadalupe
  • San Juan Diego and Men’s Spirituality
  • Marian Music
  • Spirituality of Pilgrimage

Through a Glass Darkly: A Franciscan Way of Beauty into Action

Doctor of Ministry Thesis, Virginia Theological Seminary, 2014.

The thesis is based on “A Year with St. Francis,” which invited All Souls Memorial Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. to look at and into a set of stained glass windows, exploring whether beauty might be a means to action. After addressing criticism of the term ‘beauty’, the paper builds on the work of Bonaventure and Duns Scotus, includes theories of organizational frames and imaginative learning, and reflects on the project in light of new monasticism. The paper concludes by affirming that beauty is used by God to move us into action and argues that the parish as well as the Episcopal Church can benefit from a Franciscan impulse in theology and mission

The Thesis can be read HERE.

St. Bonaventure’s Office of the Passion of the Lord

Liturgy used at Noon on Good Friday, The Church of the Holy Trinity, New York, 2017.

St. Bonaventure is known is and loved for his philosophy, theology, and mysticism, but as Minister General, he also helped shape the spiritual life of the Friars Minor.  While scholars have gradually translated and discussed some of his spiritual works and sermons, very little exists on Bonaventure’s contribution to the liturgy of his day.  One example of such a contribution is the Officium de passione Domini, composed at the request of King Louis IX.  In a paper presented in 2017 at the Franciscan Institute of St. Bonaventure University, I discussed questions of authorship, the work’s relationship with the “Office of the Passion” of St. Francis, and trace the use of several sections of Bonaventure’s 33-verse hymn as they have appeared in the word of composers such as Josquin des Prez as well as finding a place in various church hymnals. Finally, using a 20th century Franciscan translation of the Officium in English, I paired the eight sections of Bonaventure’s hymn with tunes, and offered a revised Bonaventure Office of the Passion that might be used by individuals or congregations.   

The Liturgy can be read or downloaded HERE.

Whether We Sit Down Or Rise Up: Prayer Posture and Spiritual Direction

Master of Sacred Theology thesis at General Theological Seminary, 1999.

We know that prayer includes our bodies, but often when the body is mentioned in the context of prayer, spirituality, and pastoral care, we feel we must go outside the Christian tradition. While yoga, Tai Chi, and other schools of practice can certainly enhance the body’s disposition for prayer, Christian resources for using our bodies are sometimes unknown or overlooked.

This paper attempts to bring together a variety of Christian prayer postures and suggests ways in which postures can deepen the life of prayer and enrich the practice of spiritual direction. An important example for individual prayer follows the illustrated prayer manuals of St. Dominic and Peter the Chanter. Also discussed is the work of Herbert Slade and Anthony de Mello. After a discussion of women’s postures for prayer and the need for studying historical prayer forms, the paper concludes with practical suggestions for incorporating posture into individual, group, and large group spiritual direction.

The thesis can be read or downloaded HERE.