Following St. Francis
Rizzoli Ex Libris, April 1, 2014
ISBN 978-0-8478-4271-1
This dynamic book provides a fresh look on our lives and environmental problems by exploring the relationship between faith, science, society, and spirituality through the teachings of St. Francis as applied to our current issues by St. John Paul II.
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Pope Francis, too, has his say in this work filled with vibrant and inspiring quotations, stories, and practical approaches to the ecological crises of today. You’ll never look at the environment, the fate of the earth, or Pope John Paul II the same way again.
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Bill McKibben, author of The End of Nature and many other titles, and founder of 350.org, provides the book’s introduction.
Praise for the Book
""Following St. Francis; John Paul II's Call for Ecological Action, written and complied by Marybeth Lorbiecki is a dynamic book written in easy, interesting narrative that offers a fresh look at environmental problems by investigating the ecological teachings of St. John Paul." —Today's Catholic
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In Following St. Francis: John Paul II’s Call for Ecological Action, Marybeth Lorbiecki uses primary sources to successfully weave together the holistic ecological vision of St. John Paul II. She convincingly argues that the late pontiff’s ecological paradigm is both inspired by St. Francis of Assisi and underpins in many ways the work of Pope Francis.
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"Lorbiecki observes that for John Paul, care of God’s creation is a moral imperative fundamentally rooted in Catholic teaching and connected with the church’s other social concerns. He attributes environmental degradation to many ills like consumerism, unbridled capitalism, unsustainable investment practices, overpopulation, and corporate greed. Lorbiecki illustrates how John Paul calls all people to deeper care of creation through conversion, temperance, solidarity, and promotion of the common good. Using the pope’s treatment of 12 pressing ecological challenges, she notes how he explicitly accepts the reality of humanity’s impact on climate change and endorses renewable energy technologies. … the book will undoubtedly benefit popular and scholarly audiences alike." —Dan DiLeo, US Catholic Review
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"I am thoroughly enjoying this book—I am not religious, yet so much of it resonates with me as a human being, struggling each day as we all do, to do our best for our family, our community and our world. I particularly enjoyed the Addresses in the back (to Young Muslims, To Aborigines…)."
—Linda M. Larson
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"Engaging . . . .Some of the world's poorest people are currently on the front lines of climate change. Marybeth Lorbiecki makes us aware that Pope John Paul II and our new Vatican leadership views this threat as a great moral and spiritual issue of our day impacting all of God's creation." —Rabbi Warren G. Stone, National Religious Coalition on Creation Care, Co-Chair
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"What an amazing book. ... John Paul II was truly ahead of his time. The book is brilliantly written, thought provoking, well researched and a treasure trove of information ... For Catholics and non-Catholics alike, this is a great read. I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did!" —W.J. Schneider