We would like to celebrate a new book by MLE Board member Fr. Francis Tiso and Rob Michelucci. Published on 6th August, the Feast of the Transfiguration; it is an invitation to all seekers looking to further explore the universality of grace, and all proceeds will benefit Fr. Francis’ work with migrant communities in his home Diocese of Isernia-Venafro, Italy. The book is dedicated to Fr. Francis’ spiritual father and the inspiration for Fr. Francis’ rainbow body research, Br. David Steindl-Rast, founder of Grateful Living, who turned 100 on Saturday 12th July.
What happens when a profound Buddhist phenomenon meets the heart of Christian theology? The book—a compact devotional of sorts, in the format of a “creed”—is called Like the Stars Forever, and it answers the call Fr. Francis made in his 2016 book Rainbow Body and Resurrection to look more closely at the connections between Christianity and Buddhism (which is of course where much of our modern-day mindfulness can ultimately trace its practice to!), as some Christian teachings may have made their way along the Silk Road many centuries ago. More specifically, it looks at a phenomenon – the “rainbow body,” as it has been known for some time – whereby a very small number of very adept Buddhist practitioners seem to be able to “dissolve” their bodies into light. It sounds like the stuff of science fiction, but Fr. Francis has done extensive research on it, and there is a good case to be made about the universality of Spiritual experience here.