St. Francis of Assisi, What Religion Teaches Us About Dying Well, and More

St. Francis of Assisi, What Religion Teaches Us About Dying Well, and More:

Wearing an old tunic and no shoes, St. Francis of Assisi devoted himself to helping the poor. We get to know the humble friar, the new Pope’s namesake.

The New Pope and His Namesake

As a young man in 13th century Italy, Francis of Assisi could have led a charmed life. Instead, he gave up his wealth for a life of preaching to the animals and begging for his bread. Not coincidentally, the devotion of St. Francis to the poor and the downtrodden has a lot in common with the man who took his name: Pope Francis.

Story by: Jon Sweeney, editor and translator of Francis of Assisi in His Own Words: The Essential Writings

In Confronting Death, Finding Meaning in Life

Death isn’t something we like to talk about. But author Erica Brown says the last days of life can be among our most meaningful–for ourselves and for our loved ones. She leads us through how different traditions handle death, from the Jewish practice of sitting shiva to the Muslim ritual washing of the deceased.

Story by: Erica Brown, author of Happier Endings: A Meditation on Life and Death

A Voice from the Edge of Heaven

A successful neurosurgeon, Dr. Eben Alexander thought he understood the mysteries of the brain. That changed when he came down with a rare form of bacterial meningitis. His brain stopped, but while in a coma, he began a deeply vivid journey to otherworldly realms. And he became convinced he found proof that our souls endure beyond our bodies and brains.

Story by: Eben Alexander, author of Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife

Share This Episode