Men As Learners and Elders (M.A.L.Es)
a  program offered by the Center for Action and Contemplation

The book may be ordered from the CAC Resource Center / Mustard Seed section of the CAC website.

When Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM first looked at Louis Glanzman's twelve portraits of biblical men he perceived beauty, strength, wisdom, and courage, and no small measure of gratitude and love.  Louis Glanzman's art is to reveal the very soul of an individual.  

In writing the text, to accompany this artwork in a new book, Fr. Richard felt challenged and apprehensive but said he would give it a try.  It was an amazing experience for him.  The words flowed non-stop, quickly, joyously, and without effort.  It was for him the exciting difference between doing something and being used to do something.  He wrote the text during a Lenten hermitage in Arizona in 2003 where he used the portraits for meditation.  They inspired him to put on paper some of the most courageous scriptural work he has ever done.

This book is not just for men and not just for Christians.  It will be helpful to anyone involved in the human struggle.  Men in particular, will find their spirituality enriched through these men in the Bible with whom we have all grown up but whom we perhaps have seldom taken to heart as imitable or even believable models.  This book is an invitation to let their souls touch our own.

"A splendid book for men! It will haunt and engage you."

    - Walter Brueggemann, author of The Prophetic Imagination

"Richard Rohr, a great writer, gives depth to biblical figures usually presented as one-dimensional.  Let this fine book be the start of a new way of understanding the entire spiritual realm!"

    - Thomas Moore, author of Care of the Soul

"Women: give this book to someone you love, but read it for yourself too.  It is filled with wonderful insights on what it means to be human."

    - Paula D'Arcy, author of Gift of the Red Bird

Last modified: April 13, 2008