Fr. Robert Barron, Richard Foster, and….Who?

Patheos.com, which has quickly become the Internet’s premier religious hub, will feature three books next month as part of their regular Book Club.

One is the mesmerizing Catholicism by Fr. Robert Barron. I don’t think I can say much more about that.

Another is by Richard Foster, who along with Dallas Willard was a tremendous influence during my Evangelical years. Foster and Willard are pillars of the ‘spiritual formation’ movement which has become quite popular within many Evangelical circles.

Foster’s Celebration of Discipline and Willard’s Spirit of the Disciplines laid the movement’s groundwork, providing a foothold for many people exploring Christianity’s rich spiritual tradition for the first time.

Both books reintroduced ancient practices like contemplative prayer, lectio divina, and communal worship, practices so well-received that they prompted an entire study Bible (I reviewed it here).

Despite being an Evangelical, Richard Foster is the most Catholic Protesant I know. His writings are drenched with saints, mystics, fathers, and contemplatives and his new book, Sanctuary of the Soul, has been anticipated by many people on both sides of the Tiber.

All that to say I’ve been looking forward to both Barron’s and Foster’s books for a long time. So imagine how humbling it was to see this literary sandwich over at Patheos:

All three books will be featured during the first two weeks of October over at the Patheos Book Club. Be sure to visit beginning on October 1 for reviews, interviews, rich discussion, and more!