Franciscan Voice

A Road Trip, Soda Cans, and Angels

Driving from New York to Florida, collecting empty cans to raise money for the missions, Brother Vincent Vivian had a flat tire on a deserted back road. Listen to his story of faith, peace, and angels.

Part 8 - Dante, Saint Francis, and the Franciscans

It has been noted that the Franciscan world is intertwined with the Christianity of the Divine Comedy. How did Dante first encounter the Franciscans? Which Canto is dedicated to St. Francis? Friar John Heinz continues the series on Dante and the Franciscans.

Part 7 - Paradiso

Friar John Heinz continues the journey through Dante's Divine Comedy. In part 7, he takes us through Paradiso - the eternal reality of the highest human desire; a reality that makes individual earthly events distant and small.

I Lift Up My Eyes

Friar Tom Smith wrote this song based on a prayer day at Dripping Springs Recreation Area in Las Cruces, New Mexico. It was very hot that day, and Psalm 30 includes the phrase "The Lord is my shade." A cloud passed over the mountain and made the temperature drop and God gave shade for the people in the desert. 

Part 6 - Purgatorio

Part six of Dante and the Franciscans - Thomas Merton used Dante's description of purgatory for the title of his autobiography, The Seven Storey Mountain. Merton saw the description as an apt metaphor of our striving for holiness here on earth. Friar John Heinz takes us on a journey through Dantes' Purgatorio.

Part 5 - Dante and the Franciscans

Friar John Heinz begins to talk about The Divine Comedy and describes Dante's underworld. Dante created a structure for the afterlife that had not existed before - giving Hell and Purgatory actual geographic locations.

Dante and the Franciscans - Part 4

Friar John Heinz talks about Dante the Author. Though Dante is most well-known for The Divine Comedy, he wrote many other works before this great achievement.

The Call: Friar Juniper Cummings

Friar Juniper Cummings led a life full of joy. His catchphrase was it’s fun to be Franciscan! Listen to his story -

Dante and the Franciscans Part 3

Who was Dante? Friar John Heinz talks about Dante's life and character in this episode.

Dante and the Franciscans Part 2

Friar John Heinz continues to explore the relationship between Dante and the Franciscans.