Franciscan Lectio is for all those on a spiritual journey who long to see the world more beautifully and deeply and become more attentive and present.
An ancient tradition dating back to the third century, lectio divina has long served as an avenue of contemplative prayer, but the practice has often been systematized, intellectualized, or only practiced by monastics. Few authors have attempted to universalize lectio using contemporary language or approach it from a Franciscan perspective.
St. Paul says that the Word of God is alive and active in our hearing, and if the incarnation is true, then the Word can be experienced in all places. Lectio, therefore, is not only a spiritual practice for reading sacred texts but can be applied to any felt experience. Our experiences, too, are sacred: we need only to acknowledge their depth and beauty. In the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, we can see the God of all creation who has always been “hidden in plain sight”—a presence that shows forth in every created thing.
In Franciscan Lectio, Fr. Dan Riley comes alongside us in our own encounters with lectio and inspires our spiritual imagination through story, art, poetry, nature, Franciscan mysticism, and Scripture — helping us to see that all of life is unitive and sacred.
"Franciscan Lectio introduces us to a spiritual practice of reading so old that it feels new. Today we live our lives constantly plugged in, bombarded by information that gives us the illusion of connectedness while often leaving us feeling empty and alone. Father Dan invites us to slow down so we can truly feel Scripture, by which he means all of Creation, with our whole being. He gives us the gift of seeing and hearing and feeling God in the world as if for the first time." —Matthew J. Cressler, author of Authentically Black and Truly Catholic: The Rise of Black Catholicism in the Great Migration
"Fr Dan and his co-author utilize their voices and that of others to infuse me with a heightened awareness and understanding of the four Lectio principles: Gaze, Consider, Contemplate, and Imitate. The world needs this book at this time!" —William Wynne, author of Understanding and Combating Racism: My Path from Oblivious American to Evolving Activist
"God is experience, and this book is both personal memoir and a profound sharing of Fr. Dan’s mystical experiences and those possible for all of us when we engage deeply in reading all that is life. Where traditional Lectio focuses on reading scripture, Fr. Dan expands our understanding by sharing his personal experiences with art, music, nature, family and all of creation. This book is deeply Franciscan!" —Pauline J. Albert, PhD, Franciscan Scholar and Chairman of the Board, Franciscan Media
“Fr. Dan Riley has been a friend and mentor for over 40 years. Our journey started at St. Bonaventure University, as his student and friend, the Franciscan values he modeled led to a passion to use my gifts to serve others. Dan’s book is an extraordinary gift for self-discovery. Come, join the journey, learn who you are, and walk with us in God’s love." —Robert Cancalosi, author of Four Loop Learning
"In these most amazingly spiraling, up-and-down times, Dan Riley OFM has given us a plumbline. Franciscan Lectio provides circles of holonarchy and infinite possibilities, allowing us to forgive the unforgettable, heal abuse of power, find unity in the strength of diversity, and have hope in actions without ‘razon.’ In these converging cycles of great change, knowing we are beyond the twelfth hour, thanks to Dan Riley’s authorship we can still live our lives in communion with the earth. We can bring ourselves to the moment-by-moment peace that passeth all understanding." —Nettie Jean Scarzafava, Retired Judge, New York State
“A beautifully instructive text. The framework is part memoir and also stretches large to embrace a sphere of love. Dan has infused every page of Lectio with his fascination for the Word in the world. He gives us examples over and over and on each page of fearless yet rewarding, prayerful encounter with ‘Now Hear This!’ Thus, Franciscan Lectio can’t help but be a testimony to a master teacher.” —Kathie Uhler, OSF
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Situated on the main street of the historic Delaware Riverfront town of New Hope, Pennsylvania, Farley’s Bookshop and its knowledgeable, experienced staff have endeavored to satisfy the literary tastes of the area inhabitants for over fifty years. Whether you are Bucks County born-and-bred or just stopping by to enjoy the crisp river air and delightful scenery, you will be pleasantly surprised to find the largest and most diverse collection of books-in-print in Bucks County. Farley’s may have competition, but it has few peers. We encourage you to browse our website, but please remember that getting acquainted with our online persona is no substitute for exploring the narrow passageways and teeming shelves of our storefront and discovering that perfect book nestled amongst so many others.
New Hope for American Art is the most comprehensive book ever published on artists from, and surrounding, the New Hope Art Colony (also known as the Pennsylvania Impressionists). This book, with its 612 pages and over 1,000 color plates of artwork include biographies of 165 individual Pennsylvania Impressionists and New Hope Modernists as well as artists from the Philadelphia Ten, a pioneering group of women all educated at Philadelphia art schools.
In this book, you'll find biographies and artwork from such artists as:
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New Hope for American Art was authored, designed and published by James M. Alterman, an expert in the field of Pennsylvania Impressionist and Modernist painting. A longtime collector and owner of two fine art galleries, Alterman wanted to create a user-friendly book intended not only to educate collectors and enthusiasts about this art but to help train one's eye. The book offers valuable tips on how to avoid common mistakes often experienced by new collectors drawn from the author's personal experiences as a collector and fine art dealer.