Kindred spirits

KINDRED SPIRITS THE FRANCISCAN HEART OF THOMAS MERTON A New Look at the Spiritual Inspiration of His Life, Thought, and Writing By Daniel P. Horan, O.F.M. Ave Maria Press. 260p $16.95 WHEN SAINT FRANCIS SAVED THE CHURCH How A Converted Medieval Troubadour Created a Spiritual Vision for the Ages By Jon M. Sweeney Ave Maria Press. 175p $22 Enter Pope Francis, unburdened by the richly threaded horse collar-like stole in which newly elected popes had traditionally planted the staff of their authority on St. Peter's loggia, as monarchs once did their flags on the beaches of newly conquered lands or the fallen cities of conquered ones. [...]Francis and his first followers may have found whatever happened to him upon the mountain to be less important than many of the other miraculous moments he was privileged to be a part of.