Not only does this book capture the love and passion of the men and women who follow a Franciscan path, but of Francis and Clare themselves. How could it be any other way? Ingrid's own love for these saints, and those who follow their example, shines through in exquisite ways. If you're holding this book reading these words, I'm sure you'll be entranced as well.
James F. Twyman
NY Times Bestselling author and Peace Troubadour
NY Times Bestselling author and Peace Troubadour
The God Seekers, by Ingrid Henzler, is truly the most fascinating book I’ve read this year. Whether we are religious or not, the interviews that Ingrid has included in this wonderful book give us an amazing view into the lives of the Franciscan brothers and sisters—their challenges, their triumphs, their sorrows, and their joys—as they each walk the path that leads them into the heart of the Beloved. Each of them on their own unique and beautiful journey with God, it is impossible not to fall in love with them all.
Thank you, Ingrid, for a book that I will treasure and share… May its words be read by all who seek the ever-present, ever-humble, ever-loving Creator of all that is.
Thank you, Ingrid, for a book that I will treasure and share… May its words be read by all who seek the ever-present, ever-humble, ever-loving Creator of all that is.
Heather K. O’Hara
Author of AXIS, The Song in the Center of the Soul
Author of AXIS, The Song in the Center of the Soul
Who are the God Seekers? It is an intriguing title and may summon as many different images as there are people, because deep in the unknown aspects of ourselves, there is a longing for God in all of us. We may call it our psyche, our spirit, the collective unconscious, or even draw on the ancient word, Yahweh, when the word for God was so holy we didn't speak it aloud. The truth is we have an innate longing for belonging, and the mystery beckons to us in countless ways whether we are aware of it or not.
Those who actively pursue religious life, give voice to that longing in the book, and the deeply sensitive interviews with some beautiful brothers and sisters, who consciously share with us their own private journeys of seeking God, give us an opportunity to listen to our own hearts along with them as we read.
The writing and images in the book bring the journey of the God Seekers beautifully to life in a soul searching and honest account of the challenges that face those who enter religious life to be guided in the professed vocation of a life lived for God. These are brave souls to open to unanswerable questions, and the author is a gentle and loving seeker of God in her own way as she brings her faith, her mystic nature, her poetic gifts as a writer, and her searching and compassionate questions to those she interviews.
The God Seekers is an intriguing and beautifully conceived book, and I found it compelling and rewarding to read. I feel great respect and gratitude for all who helped to bring it into being.
I love the phrase describing Mary in scripture when the comment is written that "she pondered all these things in her heart." I found myself pondering many things about the content of the book. One thought lingered and stayed with me. Are we the truly the ones seeking God, or is it possible that it is God as a Beloved who is forever seeking and calling us? This possibility stirs and excites me and moves my heart.
Those who actively pursue religious life, give voice to that longing in the book, and the deeply sensitive interviews with some beautiful brothers and sisters, who consciously share with us their own private journeys of seeking God, give us an opportunity to listen to our own hearts along with them as we read.
The writing and images in the book bring the journey of the God Seekers beautifully to life in a soul searching and honest account of the challenges that face those who enter religious life to be guided in the professed vocation of a life lived for God. These are brave souls to open to unanswerable questions, and the author is a gentle and loving seeker of God in her own way as she brings her faith, her mystic nature, her poetic gifts as a writer, and her searching and compassionate questions to those she interviews.
The God Seekers is an intriguing and beautifully conceived book, and I found it compelling and rewarding to read. I feel great respect and gratitude for all who helped to bring it into being.
I love the phrase describing Mary in scripture when the comment is written that "she pondered all these things in her heart." I found myself pondering many things about the content of the book. One thought lingered and stayed with me. Are we the truly the ones seeking God, or is it possible that it is God as a Beloved who is forever seeking and calling us? This possibility stirs and excites me and moves my heart.
Naomi Stone
mystic poet and educator
mystic poet and educator
A new book, The God Seekers, has come out at last, describing how the religious life of the Franciscans is being lived today.
am glad that this book is coming out just now, as we celebrate the eighth centennial anniversary of the foundation of the Franciscan Order.
St. Francis is famous all over the world. On the other hand, the lives of the Franciscans themselves are not so well known. How do they still live the rule of their order? Some people believe they are holier than they really are; others believe the opposite.
The world of convents has always been considered from afar, sometimes with curiosity, sometimes with suspicion. We often hear it said that life in a convent is a mystery!
This is true; it is really very hard for a Brother or a Sister to open the door of their own intimate thoughts to another person. They do not want to share their deep emotions, wishes, real weaknesses, and interior struggles with other people. Everyone tries to conceal his or her own identity, maybe out of shame.
With her big heart, Ingrid Henzler has succeeded in climbing over the walls of the convents, and because of her capacity for listening without judging, she has allowed her subjects to speak in a candid way, maybe even in a way they hadn’t intended. All of them open themselves to her questions with great sincerity so that the reader is surprised and deeply moved. In each one of them we discover some thoughts that we know, some wishes that are similar to ours; we see their spiritual and deep human aspect. They reveal with humility how they received their call from God and what methods He used.
We have countless novels, so many books about healing, about philosophy, about the different religions, and so on. They are all of great importance. But until now we never had a book like “The God Seekers”, the veil lifts up like the curtain on a stage; we are in the middle of the interior life of an Order.
The book by Ingrid Henzler is not only a fascinating journey through the life of a Franciscan with many shades of color, but also a work inducing us to acknowledge deep inside of us our own call and to reconsider our response in our own life.
To those who ask themselves whether life in an Order may still be a valuable and worthwhile choice in the 21st century, even more to those who want to know how the Franciscans nowadays live their faith 800 years after the death of St. Francis from Assisi, we can say that reading The God Seekers is a must or, even better, a gift.
am glad that this book is coming out just now, as we celebrate the eighth centennial anniversary of the foundation of the Franciscan Order.
St. Francis is famous all over the world. On the other hand, the lives of the Franciscans themselves are not so well known. How do they still live the rule of their order? Some people believe they are holier than they really are; others believe the opposite.
The world of convents has always been considered from afar, sometimes with curiosity, sometimes with suspicion. We often hear it said that life in a convent is a mystery!
This is true; it is really very hard for a Brother or a Sister to open the door of their own intimate thoughts to another person. They do not want to share their deep emotions, wishes, real weaknesses, and interior struggles with other people. Everyone tries to conceal his or her own identity, maybe out of shame.
With her big heart, Ingrid Henzler has succeeded in climbing over the walls of the convents, and because of her capacity for listening without judging, she has allowed her subjects to speak in a candid way, maybe even in a way they hadn’t intended. All of them open themselves to her questions with great sincerity so that the reader is surprised and deeply moved. In each one of them we discover some thoughts that we know, some wishes that are similar to ours; we see their spiritual and deep human aspect. They reveal with humility how they received their call from God and what methods He used.
We have countless novels, so many books about healing, about philosophy, about the different religions, and so on. They are all of great importance. But until now we never had a book like “The God Seekers”, the veil lifts up like the curtain on a stage; we are in the middle of the interior life of an Order.
The book by Ingrid Henzler is not only a fascinating journey through the life of a Franciscan with many shades of color, but also a work inducing us to acknowledge deep inside of us our own call and to reconsider our response in our own life.
To those who ask themselves whether life in an Order may still be a valuable and worthwhile choice in the 21st century, even more to those who want to know how the Franciscans nowadays live their faith 800 years after the death of St. Francis from Assisi, we can say that reading The God Seekers is a must or, even better, a gift.
Father Maximilian Mizzi, OFM
CEFID (International Center for Dialogue - Assisi)
CEFID (International Center for Dialogue - Assisi)
TRULY INSPIRING! one of the best gifts you can make yourself and others: The God Seekers: The Life of the Franciscans Today
I begin telling you openly: I am the daughter of Ingrid Henzler - the writer of this book. So, imagine you read a book of your mother. To be honest, I was skeptical, how good that book would really be. I know my mom and I love her spirituality. But I never before saw her writing a book.
However, when I started reading her book, I could not stop. Many of the interviews brought tears to my eyes. And each story definitely touched me individually.
I definitely think, it should be translated into more languages, as it is a book, that helps us - the readers - on their path of finding God, of finding truth... of finding your own personal meaning in life.
So... I tell you: don't wait and buy it now. You deserve it! :)
I begin telling you openly: I am the daughter of Ingrid Henzler - the writer of this book. So, imagine you read a book of your mother. To be honest, I was skeptical, how good that book would really be. I know my mom and I love her spirituality. But I never before saw her writing a book.
However, when I started reading her book, I could not stop. Many of the interviews brought tears to my eyes. And each story definitely touched me individually.
I definitely think, it should be translated into more languages, as it is a book, that helps us - the readers - on their path of finding God, of finding truth... of finding your own personal meaning in life.
So... I tell you: don't wait and buy it now. You deserve it! :)
Claudia Henzler
May 22, 2014
May 22, 2014