Most Popular Books by Richard Rohr

In this companion to The Universal Christ, Richard Rohr and Patrick Boland offer forty reflections and practices exploring what it means to live “in Christ.” In his landmark book The Universal Christ, Richard Rohr articulated a transformative view of what it means to recognize Jesus as “Christ”—as a portrait of God’s constant, unfolding work in the world. Now, in partnership with Patrick Boland, a psychotherapist and member of Rohr’s Center for Action and Contemplation community, he invites readers to engage with the themes of the book through spiritual practice. Each reflection in this book draws on a key passage of The Universal Christ, paired with prayers, journal prompts, and embodied exercises that invite readers into a more personal encounter with the truth that the presence and compassion of the Christ are in every thing. Whether read daily for the season of Lent or explored over the course of a year, Every Thing Is Sacred is a hope-filled journey into the love at the heart of all things.

There are a number of misconceptions about the Bible. Many look at it as information only, but what they are missing is the key – the Bible is about transformation. World renowned author Richard Rohr invites you to revisit the Bible to experience the Scripture as spirituality. This can help your relationship with God evolve into something more meaningful and fulfilling. This book will help you discover how reading the Bible and understanding it in a new way can change your life. “Only when the two come together, inner and outer authority, do we have true spiritual wisdom. We have for too long insisted on outer authority alone, without any teachings of prayer, inner journey and maturing consciousness. The results for the world and for religion have been disastrous…I offer these reflections to again unite what should have been separated: Sacred Scripture and Christian Spirituality.” – from the introduction. This spiritual companion unearths the Bible’s take on morality, power, wisdom, and the generosity of God in a way that demands a life-changing response from believers. It illustrates the Biblical God as full of grace and abundance, and who calls us to be fully alive in a world full of scarcity, judgement, and fear. Rohr’s intention is to revitalize your relationship with the Bible and leave you feeling hopeful, fulfilled, and better able to embody a Christ-based spirituality. This in turn will help you to change how you treat yourself, others, and the world.

A valuable new companion journal for the best-selling Falling Upward In Falling Upward, Fr. Richard Rohr seeks to help readers understand the tasks of the two halves of life and to show them that those who have fallen, failed, or "gone down" are the only ones who understand "up." The Companion Journal helps those who have (and those who have not) read Falling Upward to engage more deeply with the questions the book raises. Using a blend of quotes, questions for individual and group reflection, stories, and suggestions for spiritual practices, it provides a wise guide for deepening the spiritual journey. . . at any time of life. Explains why the second half of life can and should be full of spiritual richness Offers tools for spiritual growth and greater understanding of the ideas in Falling Upward Richard Rohr is a regular contributing writer for Sojourners and Tikkun magazines This important companion to Falling Upward is an excellent tool for exploring the counterintuitive messages of how we grow spiritually.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From one of the world’s most influential spiritual thinkers, a long-awaited book exploring what it means that Jesus was called “Christ,” and how this forgotten truth can restore hope and meaning to our lives. “Anyone who strives to put their faith into action will find encouragement and inspiration in the pages of this book.”—Melinda Gates In his decades as a globally recognized teacher, Richard Rohr has helped millions realize what is at stake in matters of faith and spirituality. Yet Rohr has never written on the most perennially talked about topic in Christianity: Jesus. Most know who Jesus was, but who was Christ? Is the word simply Jesus’s last name? Too often, Rohr writes, our understandings have been limited by culture, religious debate, and the human tendency to put ourselves at the center. Drawing on scripture, history, and spiritual practice, Rohr articulates a transformative view of Jesus Christ as a portrait of God’s constant, unfolding work in the world. “God loves things by becoming them,” he writes, and Jesus’s life was meant to declare that humanity has never been separate from God—except by its own negative choice. When we recover this fundamental truth, faith becomes less about proving Jesus was God, and more about learning to recognize the Creator’s presence all around us, and in everyone we meet. Thought-provoking, practical, and full of deep hope and vision, The Universal Christ is a landmark book from one of our most beloved spiritual writers, and an invitation to contemplate how God liberates and loves all that is.

Dissolve the distractions of ego to find our authentic selves in God In his bestselling book Falling Upward, Richard Rohr talked about ego (or the False Self) and how it gets in the way of spiritual maturity. But if there''s a False Self, is there also a True Self? What is it? How is it found? Why does it matter? And what does it have to do with the spiritual journey? This book likens True Self to a diamond, buried deep within us, formed under the intense pressure of our lives, that must be searched for, uncovered, separated from all the debris of ego that surrounds it. In a sense True Self must, like Jesus, be resurrected, and that process is not resuscitation but transformation. Shows how to navigate spiritually difficult terrain with clear vision and tools to uncover our True Selves Written by Father Richard Rohr, the bestselling author of Falling Upward Examines the fundamental issues of who we are and helps us on our path of spiritual maturity Immortal Diamond (whose title is taken from a line in a Gerard Manley Hopkins poem) explores the deepest questions of identity, spirituality, and meaning in Richard Rohr''s inimitable style.

When Jesus talked about the Kingdom of God, he was talking about an utterly different way of relating to human society as we know it. Discover a transformative understanding of faith in Jesus’ Alternative Plan: The Sermon on the Mount by acclaimed spiritual leader and Franciscan priest Richard Rohr. In this updated edition of Jesus’ Plan for a New World, Rohr explores the implications of Christ’s best-known teachings in the Sermon on the Mount, offering a fresh perspective on what it means for Christian life today. Through his insightful analysis and commentary, Rohr explains the historical and cultural context of each of these Bible verses, shedding light on the revolutionary nature of Jesus’ blueprint for an alternative way of being. From the Beatitudes to overturning conventional wisdom and challenging traditional power structures, this paperback book provides guidance and inspiration for those seeking the true heart of their faith. The enlightening book offers a new way of understanding and living as a Christian woman or man, according to the teachings of Jesus. Whether you are a long-time follower of Jesus, a knowledge truth seeker, or are just beginning to study his religious sermons, Jesus’ Alternative Plan: The Sermon on the Mount offers a clear yet challenging look at the vision presented by the holy Jesus. Gain a transformative understanding of his preaching and embark on a spiritual journey toward a complete relationship with the Kingdom of God.

Advent is not about a sentimental waiting for the Baby Jesus --Richard Rohr Advent is a time to focus our expectation and anticipation on the adult Christ, the Cosmic Christ, who challenges us to empty ourselves, to lose ourselves, to surrender. Preparing for Christmas offers daily meditations, prayers, Scripture readings, and questions for reflection for each day of Advent.

The New Testament is sometimes called the New Covenant, signifying a new relationship between humanity and God. From the viewpoint of salvation history, the New Testament is the completion and the culmination of the Old Testament. In terms of length, it is only a small portion of the entire Bible, and yet it is that portion which brings it all together. Richard Rohr and Joseph Martos look at the many ways salvation themes are proclaimed by the various authors and literary styles of the New Testament.

The loving, inclusive life and preaching of Francis of Assisi make him a recognizable and beloved saint across many faith traditions. In the ten-year-anniversary edition of Eager to Love, globally recognized spiritual teacher Richard Rohr, OFM, provides for spiritual seekers a pathway to the inclusivity, freedom, and beauty found in the Christian mystical tradition. As an integrative thinker, Rohr expertly weaves psychological insights and literary and artistic references with Franciscan theology, showing that the rich theological contributions of St. Francis, St. Clare, St. Bonaventure, and John Duns Scotus are guiding lights for sincere spiritual seekers.

The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous is America''s most significant and authentic contribution to the history of spirituality, says Richard Rohr. He makes a case that the Twelve Steps relate well to Christian teaching and can rescue people who are drowning in addiction and may not even realize it. To survive the tidal wave of compulsive behavior and addiction, Christians must learn to breathe under water and discover God''s love and compassion. In this exploration of Twelve Step spirituality, Rohr identifies the Christian principles in the Twelve Steps, connecting The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous with the gospel. He draws on talks he has given for over twenty years to people in recovery and those who counsel and live with people with addictive behavior. Rohr offers encouragement for becoming interiorly alive and inspiration for making one''s life manageable for dealing with the codependence and dysfunction (sin) rampant in our society.

“Richard Rohr’s work has been life-changing in my own experience. Over the last twenty years, no other teacher has had a more formative impact on my mind and heart than this unpretentious Franciscan brother. Being set free from the need to perform—to get it right—has been a particularly important gift for me.”—Belden C. Lane, from the foreword A newly revised edition of Richard Rohr''s perennial bestseller, this book reflects and incorporates his years of experience with men''s work as well as changes in society. With Richard Rohr as mentor and guide, men—and women who care about men—will want to study and discuss the ideas presented here. A new foreword from Belden C. Lane emphasizes the need for this work to continue.

“Order, by itself, normally wants to eliminate any disorder and diversity creating a narrow and cognitive rigidity in both people and systems. Disorder, by itself, closes us off from any primal union, meaning, and eventually even sanity in people and systems. Reorder, or transformation of people and systems, happens when both are seen to work together” – from the preface. Through time, a universal pattern can be found in all societies, spiritualities, and philosophies. We see it in the changing seasons, the stories of Scripture in the Bible, the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the rise and fall of civilizations, and even personally in our lives. In this updated version of one of his earliest books, Father Richard Rohr clearly illuminates how understanding and embracing this pattern can give us hope in difficult times and the courage to push through disorganization and even great chaos to find a new way of being in the world. “We are indeed ''saved'' by knowing and surrendering to this universal pattern of reality. Knowing the full pattern allows us to let go of our first order, trust the disorder, and, sometimes even hardest of all—to trust the new reorder. Three big leaps of faith for all of us, and each of a different character.” —from the introduction.

Designed to be used alongside Richard Rohr’s Breathing Under Water, this companion journal offers a practical, prayerful way to engage the Twelve Steps as a path of spiritual transformation. “Brother Rohr may just take you to places you’ve both avoided and longed for—to truth, union, joy, laughter, and, greatest of all, to your own precious self, here on earth with us, child of God.”—Anne Lamott, from the foreword to Breathing Under Water Organized chapter by chapter to mirror the original book, this companion journal invites readers to move slowly and honestly through each of the Twelve Steps, grounding Rohr’s insights in personal reflection, writing, and embodied practice. Each chapter includes selected passages from Scripture, core teachings from Breathing Under Water, and carefully crafted questions that encourage self-examination without judgment. Reflective exercises—called “Breathing Lessons”—help integrate the work into daily life, guiding readers toward greater freedom and conscious contact with God. Rather than offering quick fixes or abstract theology, this journal creates space for sustained inner work that is rooted in vulnerability, compassion, and shared human experience. Written in Rohr’s pastoral voice, the Breathing Under Water Companion Journal is perfect for individuals or groups looking to move beyond theory into lived transformation.

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Discover the hidden connections between Scripture and your own spiritual life. In Things Hidden: Scripture as Spirituality, Franciscan friar and bestselling author Richard Rohr lays out his case for a view of the Bible as a living text that can transform your way of seeing the world. This companion to Things Hidden offers a way for you to delve even deeper into a vibrant relationship with God through Scripture. The purpose of this guide is threefold: To allow you to reflect on the major themes running through the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures To learn and engage in Christian contemplative practices that deepen those reflections To set intentions for becoming a more loving and engaged presence in the world. Questions for journaling and reflection, meditation prompts, and prayer practices encourage you to focus on both action and contemplation. Through these concrete lessons in linking Scripture and spirituality, you can find personal meaning in Fr. Richard’s many insights. The guide also contains detailed suggestions for adapting the material for small groups, offering a way for faith communities to grow together in their understanding and appreciation of the Bible.

St. Francis of Assisi may be one of Catholicism’s most popular saints, but he is also perhaps the most misunderstood, often caricatured in birdbaths and gardens. In this Eager to Love Companion Guide, globally recognized teacher Richard Rohr invites readers into the dynamism of Franciscan spirituality. As Pope Francis has also done in several encyclicals, Rohr invites readers into the expansive and inclusive tradition founded on St. Francis’s revolutionary embrace of the teachings of Jesus. It is recommended that this guide is read alongside Rohr’s Eager to Love: The Alternative Way of Francis of Assisi.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In his first major work since The Universal Christ, one of our most prominent spiritual voices offers a wholehearted and hope-filled model for the world today, grounded in the timeless wisdom of the Hebrew prophets. “Richard Rohr is one of the great Christian spiritual masters of our time. Of any time.”—James Martin, SJ, author of Come Forth How do we live compassionately in a time of violence and despair? What can we do with our private disappointments and the anger we feel in such an unjust world? In his most personal book yet, Richard Rohr turns to the writings of the Jewish prophets, revealing how some of the lesser-read books of the Bible offer us a crucial path forward today. The prophets’ writings reflect the full spectrum of human maturity. In almost every case, their initial rage and their accusatory words evolve into a profound pathos and lamentation about our shared human condition and the world’s suffering. Through astute critiques of culture and institutions, and their journey from anger to sadness, and ultimately compassion, the prophets exemplify what Rohr calls “sacred criticism”—a distinct approach to confronting evil and injustice that acknowledges the wholeness of history, the interconnectedness of every living being, and the reality of a divine and universal love. In this, they set the stage for Jesus, who follows this identical pattern. Drawing on a century of biblical scholarship and written in the warm, pastoral voice that has endeared Rohr to millions, The Tears of Things breathes new life into ancient wisdom. It paves a path of enlightenment for anyone seeking a compassionate way of living in a hurting world.

Over the course of these daily meditations, we will follow the trajectory of life from innocent beginning, through inevitable brokenness, to putting everything back together, through ripening into union--with self, God, the world, and others.