Jon M. Sweeney

Jon M. Sweeney is widely recognized for his ability to bring complicated religious history and ideas “down to earth.” He is the author of several books including The St. Francis Prayer Book, Praying with Our Hands (which was featured on PBS's “Religion & Ethics Newsweekly”), a memoir—Born Again and Again—which was named one of the “Best Books of 2005” by Spirituality & Health magazine, and editor of Paul Sabatier's classic biography of St. Francis, The Road to Assisi, which was a selection of the History Book Club, Crossings Book Club, and Book-of-the-Month Club.

For many years, Jon was the co-founder and editor-in-chief of SkyLight Paths Publishing, a multifaith trade book publisher in Vermont. Since 2004, he has been the associate publisher at Paraclete Press.

In addition to his book and film reviews and interviews for explorefaith, Jon writes for magazines including Catholic Digest and The Lutheran. He is a frequent guest speaker to groups of all denominational backgrounds on the subjects of understanding the Virgin Mary, Christian fundamentalism, Francis and Clare of Assisi and Franciscan spirituality, and appreciating the Catholic imagination. He was the featured speaker at The National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. on St. Francis’s feast day in 2004. He lives with his family in Woodstock, Vermont.

Selected Bibliography:
Light in the Dark Ages: The Friendship of Francis and Clare of Assisi
Strange Heaven: The Virgin Mary As Woman, Mother, Disciple And Advocate
The Lure of Saints: A Protestant Experience of Catholic Tradition

Articles by this Author

Frederica Mathewes-Green on Practicing Orthodox Christianity

Dr. Francis S. Collins

Rabbi Lawrence Kushner on Jewish Spirituality

Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso

St. Francis of Assisi

Amazing Grace

Blade Runner, The Final Cut (2007)

The Simpsons Movie

Poet Luci Shaw

Eboo Patel

Swami Adiswarananda

What Do We Do with Mom's Body?

Leaving Church: A Memoir of Faith

Juris Rubenis

The Last Day