Audiobooks by Michael W. Higgins

The Jesuit Disruptor: A Personal Portrait of Pope Francis

"A fresh look at a complex pope with a simple agenda: radically reforming the Catholic Church. Jorge Mario Bergoglio is the consummate disruptor, disrupting archaic modes of church governance, disrupting our collective spiritual complacency in the face of new challenges to our human flourishing while at the same time remaining deeply faithful to the organic traditions of the church. He is the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, but beyond that he is a universal leader with commanding moral presence, able to connect with laypeople and with non-Christian faiths. Pope Francis is also a credible moral voice on issues of immigration, economic inequity, the devastating consequences of political populism, and the accelerating threats to the environment, in spite of the fact that he faces deep infrastructure and governance scandals in his organization. In his determination to reform the Vatican and ensure the Catholic faith evolves in a way that is relevant to the twenty-first century, Francis is very much carrying on the tradition of the Jesuits, an order known for their work in education, humanitarian missions, and social justice. A deep understanding of the Jesuit order informs Michael W. Higgins's approach in this novel listening of a papacy unlike any other."

Michael W. Higgins (Author), Basil Sands (Narrator)

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Thomas Merton and Henri Nouwen: Spiritual Guides for the 21st Century

"The fact is, both Thomas Merton and Henri Nouwen have been profiled in great depth. What more can you expect to learn by studying them side-by-side? This series answers that question without hesitation: much more. Masterfully crafted by their biographer, Thomas Merton and Henri Nouwen: Spiritual Guides for the 21st Century folds Dr. Michael W. Higgins’ (Ph.D., York University) years of dedicated research, writing, and teaching into a single, spiritually edifying series. In 12 scholarly lectures, you will take turns examining Thomas Merton’s and Henri Nouwen’s life and legacy. Fluent in each, Dr. Higgins effortlessly navigates intricate philosophy and devastating self-honesty—hallmarks of both men—bringing you to the heart of Merton’s and Nouwen’s fascinating idiosyncrasies and their unique articulations of spirituality for our contemporary secular culture. Whether this is your first introduction to spiritual masters Thomas Merton (1915-1968) and Henri Nouwen (1932-1996) or the culmination of your separate interest in each, the information, insight, experience, and sheer level of enthusiasm that Dr. Higgins brings to the table makes this particular discussion of Merton and Nouwen—jointly—extremely distinctive if not outright unique. By gleaning the holiness of Nouwen and Merton (especially in their diaries), Dr. Higgins ushers you into the hallowed landscape so exquisitely mapped by these two twentieth-century pioneers. As a person of faith, you will find the unity and meaning you crave in their brave examples. This course is part of the Learn25 Collection."

Michael W. Higgins (Author), Michael W. Higgins (Narrator)

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From Augustine to Chesterton and Beyond: Great Spiritual Autobiographies

"What would it be like to listen to great figures of our faith discuss their struggles, life lessons, and spiritual insights? A number of remarkable Christians have bequeathed to us their autobiographies. Now, you can access their words and understand the contexts in which they lived with a master scholar and teacher as your guide. In this course, you will explore fourteen inspiring writers who have revealed their spiritual yearnings and encounters with the transcendent. As you do so, you will find new intimacy with each writer, fresh perspectives, and horizons for discovery. Starting with the Confessions of St. Augustine, you will move chronologically through the classics of the Christian tradition and modern spiritual masterpieces. You will explore Ignatius of Loyola and Teresa of Ávila, whose mystical autobiographies laid the foundations for their respective religious orders. Then, you will look at the moving spiritual relationship between Blaise Pascal and his sister Jacqueline, the intellectual vivacity of John Henry Newman, and the “Little Way” of Thérèse of Lisieux. As you move into the twentieth century, you will encounter lay Catholic philosophers Jacques and Raïssa Maritain, beloved writer G.K. Chesterton, and the anguished genius of Simone Weil. Finally, you will look at two men executed in Nazi Germany: Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Alfred Delp, S.J. Join Dr. Higgins on this literary, spiritual, and altogether unforgettable odyssey today. This course is part of the Learn25 collection and includes a free PDF study guide."

Michael W. Higgins (Author), Michael W. Higgins (Narrator)

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Thomas Merton, The Seven Storey Mountain, and the Rest of the Story

"Presented by acclaimed biographer Prof. Michael W. Higgins, Ph.D., this course explores the life and literary genius of Thomas Merton. When Thomas Merton published The Seven Storey Mountain in 1948, no one could have expected it to become an international sensation. An autobiography of his conversion to Catholicism, it became a wildly popular bestseller, propelling this humble Trappist monk to literary fame. Today, it is widely regarded as a spiritual classic. While it remains his most famous work, The Seven Storey Mountain is only the tip of the iceberg in Merton’s rich, multi-layered oeuvre. In Thomas Merton, The Seven Storey Mountain, and the Rest of the Story, you will join award-winning professor and speaker Michael W. Higgins in exploring Merton’s compelling autobiographical literature. As you examine his journals, letters, novels, and poetry, you will encounter a brilliant portrait of the premier Catholic spiritual figure of the twentieth century. Although The Seven Storey Mountain cemented Thomas Merton as a prominent writer, he also felt that it presented a limited portrait of him. Indeed, his later autobiographical works, such as Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander and The Asian Journal, show a more mature and fully realized vision. The Seven Storey Mountain would establish many of Merton’s most powerful themes—his later works brought these themes to their apex. In this course, you will examine the writings of this modern and post-modern chronicler of the soul’s unfolding. Encounter Thomas Merton—the man, monk, and mystic—today. This course is part of the Learn25 collection and includes a free PDF study guide."

Michael W. Higgins (Author), Michael W. Higgins (Narrator)

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Henri Nouwen: A Spirituality for the Wounded

"Experience Henri Nouwen''s fullness of life spirituality with this new course presented by his official biographer. Henri Nouwen (1932–1996) was one of the most popular and influential spiritual thinkers of the twentieth century. Born in the Netherlands, Nouwen was ordained as a Catholic priest and trained as a psychologist. He spent much of his life in America, where he ministered and taught throughout the continent. His profound spiritual works, such as The Return of the Prodigal Son and Life of the Beloved, develop such compelling concepts as the restless searching of the heart and the agony of being human. This course is presented by Dr. Michael W. Higgins, the co-author of Genius Born of Anguish: The Life and Legacy of Henri Nouwen. Through 12 masterful lectures, you will examine the context of Nouwen’s most important works, the evolution of his ideas, and the struggles of his spirit. You will also explore his life, which will help you understand the autobiographical nature of his works. Nouwen was a great teacher, and over the course of his life, he was a popular professor at Notre Dame, Yale, and Harvard. He was also an innovative psychologist who understood the deep connection between spirituality and psychology. Henri Nouwen developed a spirituality for the wounded, but within it he also presents us with genuine joy, boundless energy, and ultimately hope. You are invited to meet and come to know Nouwen through this powerful course. This course is part of the Learn25 collection and includes a free PDF study guide. *Photo of Henri Nouwen by Frank Hamilton."

Michael W. Higgins (Author), Michael W. Higgins (Narrator)

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