Brennan Manning
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Brennan Manning (christened Richard Francis Xavier Manning) is an author, friar, priest, contemplative and speaker.
Born and raised in Depression-era New York City, Manning finished high school and enlisted in the US Marine Corps, where he fought in the Korean War. When Manning returned to the states, he enrolled at Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania. Upon his graduation from the seminary in 1963, Manning was ordained to the Franciscan priesthood.
In the late 1960s, Manning joined the Little Brothers of Jesus of Charles de Foucauld, a religious order committed to an uncloistered, contemplative life among the poor. Manning then spent time diversely, transporting water via donkey, as a mason's assistant, a dishwasher in France, a prisoner in a Swiss jail (by choice), and spending six months in a remote cave somewhere in the Zaragoza desert.
In the 1970s, Manning returned to the US and began writing after falling into, and climbing out of, alcoholism.
Singer-songwriter Rich Mullins became such a fan of Manning's work, that he named his band A Ragamuffin Band, after one of Manning's books. Warren Barfield's music is also often inspired by Manning.
Also famous for the well used quote, "The Greatest single cause of Atheism in the world today are Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable." This quote was used in the prelude to Christian band, dc Talk's song "What if I Stumble?". The quote was also used as an intro track for the Christian metalcore band War of Ages on their "Fire From The Tomb" album.
[edit] Bibliography
- Gentle Revolutionaries, 1970
- Souvenirs of Solitude, 1979
- Stranger to Self-Hatred, 1981
- Parable of William Juan, 1985
- Prophets & Lovers: In Search of the Holy Spirit, 1985
- Lion and Lamb/the Relentless Tenderness of Jesus, 1986
- The Signature of Jesus, 1988
- The Ragamuffin Gospel, 1990, 2000, 2005
- Abba's Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging, 1994
- The Signature of Jesus, 1996
- The Boy Who Cried Abba: A Parable of Trust and Acceptance, 1996
- Reflections for Ragamuffins: Daily Devotions from the Writings of Brennan Manning, 1998
- Ruthless Trust: The Ragamuffin's Path to God, 2001
- Rich Mullins: An Arrow Pointing to Heaven, 2001 (foreword only)
- The Wisdom of Tenderness: What Happens When God's Fierce Mercy Transforms Our Lives, 2002
- The Journey of the Prodigal: A Parable of Sin and Redemption, 2002
- A Glimpse of Jesus: The Stranger to Self-Hatred, 2003
- The Importance of Being Foolish: How to think like Jesus 2006
