March 12, 2026 Experiencing God: 36 Ways According to Saint Francis of Assisi

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The year 2026 marks the 800th anniversary of the death of Francis of Assisi. Popular Franciscan interpreter, Jon M. Sweeney, will be at Hebrew College on Thursday, March 12 at 7 PM to discuss his new book, Experiencing God: Thirty-six Ways according to Saint Francis of Assisi, which looks at how the world’s most popular Catholic saint claimed to experience the divine.

Sweeney will begin by explaining who Francis was, what he did that was so unusual, and how he was ahead of his time. He will also explain why he thinks Francis remains ahead of his own faith tradition even today.

The thirty-six ways of experiencing God that Sweeney has identified from early sources include “Freeing captive creatures,” “Praying alone at night,” “Allowing yourself to weep,” “Standing between those who fight,” “Making a cross with your arms,” and “Praying ‘Who are you, God? And who am I?’” Sweeney discusses these, and others, through personal anecdote, medieval text, explanation, discussion, and embodied practice. And he offers parallels from other spiritual teachers of other religious traditions, including Thich Nhat Hanh, Abraham Joshua Heschel, Nicholas Black Elk, the Baal Shem Tov, and Mary Oliver.

Rabbi Or Rose of Hebrew College’s Miller Center for Interreligious Learning & Leadership, and Karen Kiefer from The Church in the 21st Century Center at Boston College, will join Sweeney to discuss these themes.

About the speaker & Panelists

Jon M. Sweeney is a Roman Catholic author, independent scholar, and book publisher who’s married to a Reconstructionist rabbi. Sweeny’s wife, Rabbi Michal Woll, currently serves at the Rutland Jewish Center in Rutland, VT. His books on Franciscan spirituality have sold a quarter of a million copies. He has been interviewed by the Dallas Morning News and The Irish Catholic, on radio with NPR and the BBC, and on television for “CBS Saturday Morning,” as well as NBC’s “Morning Blend” and “CBS Sunday Morning” — both in Milwaukee. He currently serves as the religion editor at Monkfish Book Publishing, editor of Living City magazine, and book review editor at SpiritualityandPractice.com

Rabbi Or Rose is the founding director of the Betty Ann Greenbaum Miller Center for Interreligious Learning & Leadership of Hebrew College. Before assuming this position in 2016, he worked in various administrative and teaching capacities at Hebrew College for over a decade, including serving as a founding faculty member and associate dean for Informal Education of the Rabbinical School. Rabbi Rose was also one of the creators of CIRCLE, The Center for Interreligious & Community Leadership Education, cosponsored by Hebrew College and Andover Newton Theological School (2007-2017) and has taught for Hebrew College’s Me’ah Classic program.

Karen Kiefer serves as the director of the Church in the 21st Century Center at Boston College, which is a catalyst and resource for the renewal of the Catholic Church. Before joining the C21 Center in 2008, she held positions in University Advancement and as an adjunct faculty member in the Communication Department. Karen is the founder of Spread the Bread, an award-winning, nonprofit organization, and taught religious education in local parishes for 25 years. She is the author of the children’s book, “The Misfit Sock,” and recently authored the children’s book, “Drawing God”, sparking a worldwide drawing movement, and the sequel, “Growing God.” The mother of four daughters, Karen, resides in Wayland with her husband, Sam.