Brady Young is the Manager of Member Engagement and Communications at the Franciscan Federation, where he helps build a nationwide community of Franciscans and Franciscan-hearted people through spaces like The Piazza, the Federation’s free online community. He is active in the political peacebuilding movement through Braver Angels, equipping communities as they navigate polarization and rediscovering what it means to work together.
Brady’s spiritual life is rooted in incarnational theology—the belief that a good God only creates good things—and he’s committed to sharing that goodness with whoever crosses his path. He is also an adventure-seeker who feels most alive on a mountain bike trail, a ski run, or with hip hop in his headphones, as well as a very proud uncle.
In this episode, Brady shares with us the gifts of his religious upbringing as well as the moments that challenged and deepened his practice and perspective. He recounts his awakening to Franciscan spirituality and Christian mysticism, gives us a helpful overview of the “family tree” of Franciscan orders, and explains the history and mission of the Franciscan Federation. We also consider why it’s so hard to put words to the experience of “unitive consciousness” and discuss the future of the church as “a place where everybody belongs, and that everybody can lead.”
See also:
Franciscan Federation (with Facebook here, and Instagram here)
“Following Jesus, the Franciscan Way,” reflection by Brady Young at Tomorrow’s American Catholic
