We live in a world of high anxiety where talk of peace is obscured by a noisy culture of chaos. Francis of Assisi also lived in tumultuous times but turned his life around, from the darkness of worldly greed toward the light of God's generous love. In the wellspring of God's love, he found the deep joy of peace. Father Albert Haase has given us a workbook of conversion, following Francis's spiritual path. Drawing from personal stories and Franciscan spirituality, Father Haase illumines the Peace Prayer as a way of turning from darkness to light, from anxiety and distress to the deep peace of God's love. Each chapter concludes with a thoughtful "training workout" and reflection points to consider, as the soul is shaped in love. In an age of body workouts and exercise regimens, training the soul for peace may be one of the most important routines we take up on a committed basis. For there can be no peace in the world unless there is peace in the heart.

--Sr. Ilia Delio, OSF, Josephine Connelly Endowed Chair in Theology, Villanova University Inspired! Fr Albert Haase takes us on a panoramic tour into the human drama using the verses of the Prayer attributed to St Francis. With each phrase of the prayer, Fr Haase opens up a dimension of human pain and invites us to see the lives of those who have not only suffered but found spiritual freedom. Most interesting to me as a third order Franciscan are the stories from Francis' life that illustrate how this great saint emptied himself of all privilege and power in order to be transformed by the suffering. In this volume the reader encounters real people's stories, including the author's, the examples of numerous saints, and the spiritual principles that lead to a life of joy in following Jesus. --Fr Dave Scheider, Episcopal priest, spiritual director, member of The Third Order Society of St. Francis (Episcopal).