Murray Bodo is one of those lucky writers whose first book flourished like wildfire in a steady wind. Since his Francis: The Journey and the Dream hit the presses in 1972, more than 150,000 copies have sold, and it’s been translated into at least seven languages. Bodo, a Franciscan priest, produced an essence of the 13th-century saint for which the world was hungering. The poetic and lyrical nature of Bodo’s writing perfectly suited the playful, life-loving, generous spirit of the "Little Poor Man" of Assisi.
Almost 32 years and nearly 30 books later, Bodo now has published The Earth Moves at Midnight, a new collection of poems based on the rich experiences of his life. At 14 years old, Bodo jumped on a Greyhound bus in his hometown of Gallup, New Mexico, and headed for Cincinnati, location of the oldest Franciscan seminary in the United States. It has been Bodo’s home base for much of his life since. Both of his parents were Italian and his grandparents were coal miners. Bodo’s father, also a coal miner, was active with the United Mine Workers. His mother, who instilled a deep Christian devotion in Bodo, worked in a laundry and at J.C. Penney for 25 years.
Read the Full Article
