My name is John Francis Flynn. I am a human being, created by God through Edna and Clarence Flynn in Chicago in the year of 1927. I am a Christian, baptized in Little Flower Church on July 22, 1927. I am Augustinian, professing my religious vows on September 10, 1945. I am also a Roman Catholic priest, ordained on September 19, 1953. I have been a teacher of history (holding a Master Degree from Catholic University since 1954) in high school and our seminary college. In the ministry of seminary formation, I was the Master of Professed and Novice Master.
From 1979 to 1983, I was Provincial of the Midwest Province. I have been an associate and pastor in six states in the Midwest. Preaching was the ministry I loved most. Now, I do little active ministry except for the ministry of prayer with my fellow Augustinians at Stephen Bellesini Friary in Crown Point, Indiana.
As I look at the books of my little library, I thought that you, our friends, who are part of our ministry, might find some of them helpful as they have been to me in following Christ. First, there are two sets on building and relaying a story of spiritual life:
P.S. Click on any of the book photo's for a link to purchase them on Amazon.
Ronald Rolheiser, author of The Holy Longing and Sacred Fire, is a priest in the religious order of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (O.M.I.). The other two books above were put together after the death of Fr. Henri Nouwen from the notes of his Yale University classes by two of his students: Michael Christenson and Becca Laird. All of the many books of Henri Nouwen are useful for the life of the Spirit.
On Death
(P.S. - Donald X. Burt was also an Augustinian priest who published many spiritual books and guides during his life.)
On Mary - The oldest book I have on our Mother Mary
By Caryll Houselander
On the Holy Spirit
By Thomas Keating
On the Saints
By Robert Ellsberg
On Sin (One should know the enemy of the soul and ways to fight him). Two works with almost the same title:
The "Visitor's Guide" piece is brief and well-written by a lay theologian. The "Thomistic Guide" is written by Kevin Vost, a public psychiatrist.
On Prayer
By Ronald Rolheiser