Now ready for pre-order: A Pope Francis Lexicon — and guess what? I somehow have a chapter in it!
My chapter deals with the word “embrace,” and while I did regretfully excise the passage where I compare Francis to the Sta Puft Marshmallow Man, I attempt to answer the thorny question: Does our pope really think huggy togetherness is an adequate substitute for orthodoxy? I try to answer the question sincerely, based on his writing and his actions, and from the perspective of someone who is sometimes frustrated by his approach.
This book has an impressive line-up of fifty illustrious contributors who each
explore the Pope’s use of words like joy, clericalism, money, family, and tears. Together, they reveal what Francis’s use of these words says about him, his ministry and priorities, and their significance to the church, the world, and the lives of individual Christians. The entire collection is introduced by a foreword by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of Orthodox Christians worldwide, and a preface by one of Francis’s closest advisors, Cardinal Seán O’Malley.
Here’s a full list of the chapter themes and contributors:
Volume foreword Patriarch Bartholomew
Volume preface Cardinal Seán O’Malley, OFM Cap
Baptism Cardinal Donald Wuerl
Benedict XVI David Gibson
Capitalism Bishop Robert McElroy
Careerism Cardinal Joseph Tobin, C.Ss.R.
Church Elizabeth Bruenig
Clerical abuse Francis Sullivan
Clericalism Archbishop Paul-André Durocher
Collegiality Archbishop Mark Coleridge
Conscience Austen Ivereigh
Creation Orthodox Fr. John Chryssavgis
Curia Massimo Faggioli
Dialogue Archbishop Roberto González Nieves, OFM
Dignity Tina Beattie
Discernment Fr. James Martin, SJ
Devil/Satan Greg Hillis
Ecumenism Nontando Hadebe
Embrace Simcha Fisher
Encounter/Encuentro Archbishop Victor Fernández
Episcopal Accountability Katie Grimes
Family Julie Hanlon Rubio
Field Hospital Cardinal Blase Cupich
Flesh Msgr. Dario Viganò
Gossip Kaya Oakes
Grandparents Bill Dodds
Hacer lio Fr. Manuel Dorantes
Hope Natalia Imperatori-Lee
Immigrant Sr. Norma Seni Pimentel, MJ
Indifference Sr. Carmen Sammut, MSOLA
Jesus Fr. Agbonkhianmeghe Orobator, SJ
Joy Fr. Timothy Radcliffe, OP
Judgment Michael O’Loughlin
Justice Sr. Simone Campbell, SSS
Leadership Kerry Robinson
Legalism Sr. Teresa Forcades i Vila, OSB
Martyrdom Bishop Borys Gudziak
Mercy Archbishop Donald Bolen
Miracles John Thavis
Money Andrea Tornielli
Periphery Carolyn Woo
Prayer Bishop Daniel Flores
Reform Cardinal Óscar Rodríguez Maradiaga, SDB
Refugee Rhonda Miska
Second Vatican Council Archbishop Diarmuid Martin
Service Phyllis Zagano
Sheep Archbishop Justin Welby
Sourpuss Fr James Corkery, SJ
St. Francis Fr. Michael Perry, OFM
Tears Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle
Throwaway culture Sr. Pat Farrell, OSF
Worldliness Mollie Wilson O’Reilly
Women Astrid Gajiwala
Youth Jordan Denari Duffner
Speaking of books, have I mentioned lately that I have a book of my own, and that I’ve contributed chapters to two other books besides A Pope Francis Lexicon? Here they are:
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The Sinner’s Guide to Natural Family Planning
The chapters are divided into three groups:
- NFP and Your Spiritual Life
- NFP and the Rest of the World
- NFP in the Trenches.
Some of the most popular chapters have proven to be “The Golden Box,” which deals with how our decisions work with God’s will, in matters of family planning and in general; and “Groping Toward Chastity,” a title which, if there were any justice in the world, would have won me a Nobel Prize in literature.
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Style, Sex, and Substance: 10 Catholic Women Consider the Things That Really Matter
My chapter is “Receiving, Creating, and Letting Go: Motherhood in Body and Soul.”
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Catholic and Married: Leaning Into Love
My chapter, “Mirrors Around a Flame,” explores the idea that children are a gift. This book kind of got lost in the shuffle while there were some logistical issues, but it includes many excellent essays, including Jenny Uebbing’s great chapter on NFP.
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As always, the links above are Amazon Associate links. If you buy these books using the links I provide (or if you buy anything on Amazon after getting to the site through one of my links), I earn a small percentage of each sale. Anytime you shop on Amazon, please consider using my link!
Sometimes people tell me they’re not sure if it’s “working” or not. Thanks for asking! It should look like a normal Amazon page when you click through. If you look up in the URL or address box at the top of the screen, it should have a long string of letters and symbols after Amazon.com, including “ihavtositdo03-20” somewhere in there. That’s me! Here’s a sample of what it will look like when you shop on Amazon using my link:
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I also now have accounts with Amazon Canada and Amazon UK, hooray! Thanks so much. I know it’s one more thing to think about.
Congratulations on the new publication! I, for one, am ecstatic to learn about this. Can’t wait to read the whole thing, and your chapter, in particular.
That is the scariest list of authors. How could you associate yourself with that crowd?
Ha ha, right?! So cool that your name is up there with the “Bigs”!
Thanks for the list of contributors. Unfortunately based on that list, I’ll have to pass on this book. A good 70 percent of those folks regularly get my ire up by saying things that are contradictory, offensive and/or otherwise frustrating…not good for my spiritual health. I don’t feel welcomed by them, which is ironic cause I know that’s what they think they are all about. Oh well, maybe someone else will be helped by it though.