A Review for Chasing Francis by Ian Morgan Cron

Product Description

Author, musician and speaker Ian Morgan Cron sheds new light on the legacy of St. Francis of Assisi, "the Last Christian." Cron masterfully weaves actual accounts from the life of Saint Francis' into the fictional story of Chase Falson, a New England minister on a pilgrimage to regain his faith. It's an amazing story with profound implications for the contemporary church. Read the story, and then learn even more about St. Francis' radical activism and theology in the robust forty-page study guide.
 
My review:
The book Chasing Francis by Ian Morgan Cron gives us a look at  St. Francis of Assisi.
For 20 yrs Chase Falson thought he knew all the answers, but a senseless death shakes his faith.
When he has to bury 9 yr old Iris Harmon, a little girl whom he had baptized at three months old, he could no longer hold it together. Iris's death had been a senseless tragedy, she had fallen off her bike and bumped her head and never woke up. He is with Iris mom Maggie, when she decides to turn off life support.When she turns to him and asks how god could do this he had no answers. Four days later he has a meltdown in front of the whole congregation of his church.So as you can imagine the elders of the church aren't sure what to do with him so they decide to give him some time off.
He goes to Italy to visit his uncle Kenny a Franciscan Priest. Kenny decides to take Chase on a pilgrimage thru the teaching of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Throughout this book I felt like I was on the pilgrimage right along with Chase. The vivid descriptions of the places he visited were just magnificent.
Even though this book is a work of fiction I came away from it feeling I had been a little more educated about Saint Francis of Assisi. This is a very well written, thought provoking book. If you have ever struggled with your faith, then this book might be for you.
Even though I was provided a review copy of this book from NavPress it in no way alters my opinion of this book.