Jon M. Sweeney
@jonmsweeney.bsky.social
Publishing on Jan. 6: 'Experiencing God: 36 Ways according to Saint Francis of Assisi.' Author of other books includ ‘The Complete Francis of Assisi’, ‘Meister Eckhart's Book of..’, etc. Vermonter. Catholic married to Recon rabbi.
Pinned
I'm happy to announce that the final book I'll write about Francis of Assisi will publish next January, from Monkfish Publishing, in time for the 800th anniversary of the saint's death. Here's the cover!
There's an interesting new book about Thoreau, just published by @milkweededitions.bsky.social. Here's my review: www.spiritualityandpractice.com/book-reviews...
Henry David Thoreau’s Kalendar by Kristen Case | Review | Spirituality & Practice
The sage of Walden Pond reminds us to pay attention.
www.spiritualityandpractice.com
December 27, 2025 at 3:14 PM
There's an interesting new book about Thoreau, just published by @milkweededitions.bsky.social. Here's my review: www.spiritualityandpractice.com/book-reviews...
I'm contemplating Mary reading, with child, these days.
December 27, 2025 at 10:42 AM
I'm contemplating Mary reading, with child, these days.
The Blessed Virgin got books for Xmas. Did you?
December 26, 2025 at 1:31 PM
The Blessed Virgin got books for Xmas. Did you?
Just watched this for about the 45th time. Sat on the couch with my wife and wept, as we always do. So beautiful and true.
December 25, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Just watched this for about the 45th time. Sat on the couch with my wife and wept, as we always do. So beautiful and true.
To everyone out there who is sad today, and likely tomorrow, because of loss, I see you. Peace.
December 24, 2025 at 5:40 PM
To everyone out there who is sad today, and likely tomorrow, because of loss, I see you. Peace.
I've spent the morning before Xmas Eve studying an anti-Jewish, anti-Catholic classic from 1926, 'Klansmen: Guardians of Liberty' by Alma White.
Horrible stuff. What've you been up to?
Horrible stuff. What've you been up to?
December 23, 2025 at 5:23 PM
I've spent the morning before Xmas Eve studying an anti-Jewish, anti-Catholic classic from 1926, 'Klansmen: Guardians of Liberty' by Alma White.
Horrible stuff. What've you been up to?
Horrible stuff. What've you been up to?
Would you like me to fill out one of these for you this morning?
At the shelter where I volunteer on Monday mornings, there is sometimes one of these filled out for a cat, so that you know what you are facing before you walk into the room to meet her.
At the shelter where I volunteer on Monday mornings, there is sometimes one of these filled out for a cat, so that you know what you are facing before you walk into the room to meet her.
December 22, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Would you like me to fill out one of these for you this morning?
At the shelter where I volunteer on Monday mornings, there is sometimes one of these filled out for a cat, so that you know what you are facing before you walk into the room to meet her.
At the shelter where I volunteer on Monday mornings, there is sometimes one of these filled out for a cat, so that you know what you are facing before you walk into the room to meet her.
A beautiful Wendell Berry poem for a dark day:
To go in the dark with a light is to know the light.
To know the dark, go dark.
Go without sight, and find that the dark, too, blooms and sings, and is traveled by dark feet and dark wings.
To go in the dark with a light is to know the light.
To know the dark, go dark.
Go without sight, and find that the dark, too, blooms and sings, and is traveled by dark feet and dark wings.
December 22, 2025 at 3:20 PM
A beautiful Wendell Berry poem for a dark day:
To go in the dark with a light is to know the light.
To know the dark, go dark.
Go without sight, and find that the dark, too, blooms and sings, and is traveled by dark feet and dark wings.
To go in the dark with a light is to know the light.
To know the dark, go dark.
Go without sight, and find that the dark, too, blooms and sings, and is traveled by dark feet and dark wings.
A.C. Benson, in his diary, observed a man as seeming "kind, well-informed, cocksure, complacent, good-natured, rather boring, with a high belief in his own perfections" -- "rather like the Nonconformist idea of God."
Spot on.
Spot on.
December 21, 2025 at 6:13 PM
A.C. Benson, in his diary, observed a man as seeming "kind, well-informed, cocksure, complacent, good-natured, rather boring, with a high belief in his own perfections" -- "rather like the Nonconformist idea of God."
Spot on.
Spot on.
Tertullian said he expected joy in heaven imagining those in hell. I don't think that's possible.
December 21, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Tertullian said he expected joy in heaven imagining those in hell. I don't think that's possible.
This is a prayer of medieval origin in many Jewish prayer books, and designed for the shortest day of the year and a new moon when a dark night focuses us on creator more than creation.
December 20, 2025 at 4:10 PM
This is a prayer of medieval origin in many Jewish prayer books, and designed for the shortest day of the year and a new moon when a dark night focuses us on creator more than creation.
Wendell Berry, Joy Harjo, and Mary Oliver all in Saturday morning prayer in today’s siddur. And that’s my rabbi.
December 20, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Wendell Berry, Joy Harjo, and Mary Oliver all in Saturday morning prayer in today’s siddur. And that’s my rabbi.
Wife: “What does charity mean in Christian theology?”
“Love, mostly.”
Wife: “Okay. And in Judaism it’s tzedakah, which is justice, and in neither case should it matter if you get a tax deduction.”
“Right.”
“Love, mostly.”
Wife: “Okay. And in Judaism it’s tzedakah, which is justice, and in neither case should it matter if you get a tax deduction.”
“Right.”
December 20, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Wife: “What does charity mean in Christian theology?”
“Love, mostly.”
Wife: “Okay. And in Judaism it’s tzedakah, which is justice, and in neither case should it matter if you get a tax deduction.”
“Right.”
“Love, mostly.”
Wife: “Okay. And in Judaism it’s tzedakah, which is justice, and in neither case should it matter if you get a tax deduction.”
“Right.”
Christmas Poem. The last one of the year from "Meister Eckhart's Book of Secrets"
December 20, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Christmas Poem. The last one of the year from "Meister Eckhart's Book of Secrets"
Tonight -- is the darkest night of the year.
"life is full of a darkness which can
enlighten you in its own way" (Meister Eckhart)
"life is full of a darkness which can
enlighten you in its own way" (Meister Eckhart)
December 19, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Tonight -- is the darkest night of the year.
"life is full of a darkness which can
enlighten you in its own way" (Meister Eckhart)
"life is full of a darkness which can
enlighten you in its own way" (Meister Eckhart)
The only reason to do this would be if the author addressed the book to you as a friend, now you no longer want it, but you’d be embarrassed if he were ever to see it for resale in a shop.
December 19, 2025 at 2:15 PM
The only reason to do this would be if the author addressed the book to you as a friend, now you no longer want it, but you’d be embarrassed if he were ever to see it for resale in a shop.
Martin loves a vigorous head scratch. I sometimes think he thinks he’s a dog.
December 19, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Martin loves a vigorous head scratch. I sometimes think he thinks he’s a dog.
Only a religious book do you hold that way.
December 19, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Only a religious book do you hold that way.
I would purchase a copy of this book for every one of you if I could. It is one of my favorite books of the year.
Here's my review: www.spiritualityandpractice.com/book-reviews...
Here's my review: www.spiritualityandpractice.com/book-reviews...
Bird School by Adam Nicolson | Review | Spirituality & Practice
An extended meditation on birds just outside the window.
www.spiritualityandpractice.com
December 18, 2025 at 9:59 PM
I would purchase a copy of this book for every one of you if I could. It is one of my favorite books of the year.
Here's my review: www.spiritualityandpractice.com/book-reviews...
Here's my review: www.spiritualityandpractice.com/book-reviews...
Consider the Moon (from "Meister Eckhart's Book of the Heart")
December 18, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Consider the Moon (from "Meister Eckhart's Book of the Heart")
I bought this 📚 from a Boston bookseller 25 years ago. Lovers of late twentieth century poetry will be able to see clearly why.
December 18, 2025 at 11:15 AM
I bought this 📚 from a Boston bookseller 25 years ago. Lovers of late twentieth century poetry will be able to see clearly why.
Today’s find. Almost impossible to find those dust jackets.
December 17, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Today’s find. Almost impossible to find those dust jackets.
Looking forward to joining The Church in the 21st Century Center at Boston College to talk about my new book and the way of St. Francis of Assisi 800 years on.
Friday, January 30, 2026 | 1:00–2:00pm ET
For info:
www.bc.edu/content/bc-w...
Friday, January 30, 2026 | 1:00–2:00pm ET
For info:
www.bc.edu/content/bc-w...
December 17, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Looking forward to joining The Church in the 21st Century Center at Boston College to talk about my new book and the way of St. Francis of Assisi 800 years on.
Friday, January 30, 2026 | 1:00–2:00pm ET
For info:
www.bc.edu/content/bc-w...
Friday, January 30, 2026 | 1:00–2:00pm ET
For info:
www.bc.edu/content/bc-w...
Writer friends: Yes, everyone is receiving spam email from people who pretend to be big fans of your recent book, and know a fair amount about it, offering to help with promotion. But what they are really seeking is your money (as if writers have extra?). Delete them. Or block them.
December 16, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Writer friends: Yes, everyone is receiving spam email from people who pretend to be big fans of your recent book, and know a fair amount about it, offering to help with promotion. But what they are really seeking is your money (as if writers have extra?). Delete them. Or block them.