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

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)

An interesting book

Would you consider the audio edition of Eager to Love to be better than the print version?
No. I was dissatisfied with the performance.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Eager to Love?
Listening to Rohr describe non-dualistic thinking.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?
The performance was slow and sometimes emphasis was applied oddly. Additionally a few times it sounded like the narrator mispronounced a word and merely started again. Why was this not edited in such a way as to flow flawlessly? He has a good vocal tone, but the actual performance dragged a bit and the book seemed less than professionally presented.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
It would probably not be made into a film, as nonfiction books about religion are not usually adapted for the screen.

Any additional comments?
I was surprised by the criticism Rohr leveled against the Church and her authorities. It was unexpected to hear these types of ideas coming from a religious priest. But overall not a bad book.

Empowerment to life

If you want to live an empowered and truthful life with joy and peace, then this is the book that can bring you there.

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.

Editing needs work.

Excellent content as always from Richard Rohr. Unfortunately there were a lot of audio editing mistakes!

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.

Challenged My Thinking

Although I don't agree with everything Rohr says, his perspective challenges my ideas and theology as a Christian. And I desperately need this challenge. If we love God and believe in the Bible, we cannot argue the fact that Jesus taught us the way of love. It is that Way we must follow.

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.

beautiful a great read

very great author I love his books. really inspiring.
very educational. A true Christian. wonderful

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.

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.