Jon M. Sweeney is an independent scholar and writer of popular history. He is married, the father of three, and lives in Montpelier, Vermont. He has worked in book publishing for 25 years: after co-founding SkyLight Paths Publishing, he was the editor in chief and publisher at Paraclete Press, and in August 2015 became editorial director at Franciscan Media Books. He has written more than 20 books, seven about Francis of Assisi, including "When Saint Francis Saved the Church" and "The Complete Francis of Assisi." HBO has optioned the film rights to "The Pope Who Quit." Jon's first 20 years were spent as an involved evangelical (a story told in the memoir "Born Again and Again"); he then spent 22 years as an active Episcopalian (see "Almost Catholic," among others); and on the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi in 2009 he was received into the Catholic Church. Today, Jon is a practicing Catholic who also prays regularly with his wife, a rabbi. He loves the church, the synagogue, and other aspects of organized religion. He would never say that he's "spiritual but not religious." In all of his writing, Jon is drawn to the ancient and medieval (see "The Road to Assisi," and "Inventing Hell"). Many of his books have been selections of the History Book Club, Book-of-the-Month Club, and Quality Paperback Book Club.
Series
Books
Almost Catholic
An Appreciation of the History, Practice, and Mystery of Ancient Faith
2008
When Saint Francis Saved the Church
How a Converted Medieval Troubadour Created a Spiritual Vision for the Ages
2014
The Pope Who Quit
A True Medieval Tale of Mystery, Death, and Salvation
2012
The Little Flowers of Saint Francis
2016
James Martin, SJ
In the Company of Jesus
2019
Francis and Clare
A True Story
2013
Inventing Hell
Dante, the Bible and Eternal Torment
2014
The Pope's Cat
2018
Born Again and Again
Surprising Gifts of a Fundamentalist Childhood
2005
The St. Francis Prayer Book
A Guide to Deepen Your Spiritual Life
2004
Meister Eckhart's Book of the Heart
Meditations for the Restless Soul
2017
The Lure of Saints
A Protestant Experience of Catholic Tradition
2005
Cloister Talks
Learning from My Friends the Monks
2009
The Saint vs. the Scholar
The Fight between Faith and Reason
2017
Meister Eckhart's Book of Darkness & Light
Meditations on the Path of the Wayless Way
2023
Francis of Assisi in His Own Words
The Essential Writings
2013
Meister Eckhart's Book of Secrets
Meditations on Letting Go and Finding True Freedom
2019
Jesus Wasn't Killed by the Jews
Reflections for Christians in Lent
2020
Verily, Verily
The KJV - 400 Years of Influence and Beauty
2010
Margaret's Night in St. Peter's (A Christmas Story) (The Pope's Cat)
2018
Praying with Our Hands
21 Practices of Embodied Prayer from the World's Spiritual Traditions
2000
Feed the Wolf
Befriending Our Fears in the Way of Saint Francis
2021
St. Francis of Assisi
His Life, Teachings, and Practice
2019
Mixed-Up Love
Relationships, Family, and Religious Identity in the 21st Century
2013
What I Am Living For
Lessons from the Life and Writings of Thomas Merton
2018
Light in the Dark Ages
The Friendship of Francis and Clare of Assisi
2007
Thomas Merton
An Introduction to His Life, Teachings, and Practi
2021
The Complete Francis of Assisi
His Life, The Complete Writings, and The Little Flowers
2015
Phyllis Tickle
Essential Spiritual Writings
2015
