• Eager to Love

  • The Alternative Way of Francis of Assisi
  • By: Richard Rohr
  • Narrated by: John Quigley O.F.M.
  • Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (307 ratings)

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Eager to Love  By  cover art

Eager to Love

By: Richard Rohr
Narrated by: John Quigley O.F.M.
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Publisher's summary

Francis of Assisi is one of the most beloved of all saints. Both traditional and entirely revolutionary, he was a paradox. He was at once down-to-earth and reaching toward heaven, grounded in the rich history of the Church while moving toward a new understanding of the world beyond. Francis found an "alternative way" to follow Jesus, one that disregarded power and privilege and held fast to the narrow path of the Gospel.

Franciscan Father Richard Rohr helps us look beyond the birdbath image of the saint to remind us of the long tradition founded on Francis' revolutionary, radical, and life-changing embrace of the teachings of Jesus.

©2014 Richard Rohr (P)2014 Franciscan Media

Critic reviews

" Eager to Love illuminates the path of Francis of Assisi as a path of evolving life toward integral wholeness." (Ilia Delio, O.S.F., author of Compassion: Living in the Spirit of St. Francis)
"A gift to all Franciscan-hearted people everywhere!" (Daniel P. Horan, O.F.M., author of The Last Words of Jesus: A Meditation on Love and Suffering)

What listeners say about Eager to Love

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Richard Rohr Should Read Richard Rohr

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Eager to Love was time well spent, although much of it seemed addressed largely to Franciscan Catholics. Nevertheless, I gained great appreciation for the pioneering life and ministry of Francis of Assisi.

What other book might you compare Eager to Love to and why?

True Self / False Self and Hidden Things or Falling Upward all express much of Richard Rohr's theology which shows moderate development and maturing thought as he ages. Many of the major themes supporting his contrast of Platonic dualism with Christ mysticism were obvious in earlier works such as Great Themes in Paul and Great Themes in Scripture.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Father Richard Rohr needs to narrate his own books. Father Quigley may be equally devout, but his narration is often flat and tedious, without the passion and inflection of Father Rohr's voice. I have listened to several Audible versions by both, and despite the time commitment required, I believe Father Rohr's own voice gives far more creedence and eloquence to his works.

Do you think Eager to Love needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No, but since Father Rohr provides a steady stream of revenue for the publishers, I'm sure there will be many more. And I do hope he continues!

Any additional comments?

Father Rohr gets it! He understands the contemporary crisis of faith confronting Catholism and Protestantism, and he weaves a tapestry of challenging and believable alternatives to the drivel so often representative of today's innocuous and lukewarm church. Obviously he also applauds the bright light of hope streaming from Pope Francis who likewise takes his name from and calls the church to the life and ministry of Francis of Assisi.

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16 people found this helpful

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This one was an wonderfull surprise for me

I almost didn't get this book because of some preconceived ideas. Soooo glad I went with my heart and not my brain. If you would like some fresh ideas, excellent insight, unbiased answers and some honest fresh discussion on some very Old ideas... Give this one a go-round. Pay special attention at the end of the book to the appendixes, Ya...

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7 people found this helpful

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Worth Listening To Again

What does John Quigley bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His voice was said to take away from the book. However, I would listen to anything read by Quigley. I stopped "hearing" him and pondering what he was reading. I could ask for no more.

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7 people found this helpful

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  • KP
  • 01-29-15

Amazing Francis - Amazing Rohr

Rohr has helped me understand what it is to be a Christian mystic ... and he has helped me appreciate that is what I am.
St Francis is not for the faint of heart ... But then neither was Christ on the cross and the empty tomb.
This is an outstanding, unvarnished glimpse of both.
If you ever get to Assisi, be sure to look for the gift that the Sultan presented to Francis ... and be inspired by their meeting as described in this book.
I usually prefer Rohr reading his own work, but this performance is excellent.

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4 people found this helpful

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I highly recommend this book

This is one of those books which I read slowly and repeated some passages just so I could be sure it would sink into my soul.
If you want to take your faith to a deeper level, if you want to grow in love for all things and all of our one human family, you will love this book.

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3 people found this helpful

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Very moving

I often found myself quoting things said in this book because it made such obvious sense. I just finished it but I intend to listen again in case I missed something and to cement what I did hear.

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2 people found this helpful

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Terrible Reading of a Great Book

The content is classic Richard Rohr, a lovely overview of Francis, the Church, and how we grow in Christ-likeness through this tradition. However, the reading is so tedious - its is like a second grade teacher trying to sound spiritual - that it will drive you a bit batty at times. Especially the false pauses and intonations. Think very boring mass. The material is much loved, and was worth the struggle but I won't download this narrator again.

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Rohr does it again--by going backward and forward

If you could sum up Eager to Love in three words, what would they be?

Francis begat Rohr

What was one of the most memorable moments of Eager to Love?

Rohr explains why he, and Francis, are fully Catholic but still quietly disappointed in some aspects of the Roman Catholic Church

Which character – as performed by John Quigley – was your favorite?

Does not apply

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

What I liked most about this book is that it goes back to the Fransican roots of everything Rohr has said in the 20 or so books that I have read by him, yet it also goes forward by helping me understand that on some level both he and Francis are quietly disappointed--but also predisposed not to argue with the Church. Being Eager to Love is a great title for this book. I sense he wants us to do this with each other and with the Church.

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Wonderful listen

I am so excited by the beauty of Franciscan theology. The original blessing understanding of God is more complete and I believe accurate. Anyone who wishes to expand their understanding of the Divine needs to read this book.

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this is so necessary NoW. The before now & future

Not only Loved it but I am In Love with it. It helps answer the call of my heart's forever mourning for mankind until heaven is experienced.

Tonhey C. Reese

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