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St. Francis Bookshop existed as a name long before the store became a reality. In 1925, Fr. Fulgence Meyer, a prolific and popular Franciscan author, began publishing and distributing his books from an office in the now-demolished Seraph building, just a few doors from our current site. He called his mostly mail-order business "St. Francis Bookshop", and many of his publications, Helps to Purity, Safeguards of Chastity, Back to God, and Plain Talks on Marriage among them, continued to be published into the 1950's, long after his death. However, change was in the wind!

The Franciscan Province of St. John the Baptist had received permission from Rome to open a retail shop at 1618 Vine Street, and in 1950, St. Francis Bookshop became a reality. What follows is a decade-by-decade sketch of how we have grown as we attempted to fulfill our commitment to the Ministry of the Word in our first half-century.

THE 1950's - A TIME OF DEVOTIONS

Initially established as a Catholic Information Center, offering classes in the Faith and supplying appropriate reading material (mostly our own publications), the Bookshop soon began its transition to a retail establishment. Under the guidance of Tony Munnich, the first manager, the shop began to build a very eclectic collection of church goods and gift items.

During this decade, Catholic religious shops were flourishing. "Black Books", such as Altar Missals, Bibles, Rituals and Prayerbooks were the backbone of the business. Rosaries (the fancier the better) were the ultimate gift, and just about everyone wore some kind of religious medal! At the other end of the spectrum, we were building up a huge stock of plastic novelties and inexpensive items which were used for sales at parish retreats and missions. During this period, because of our close ties to the Third Order (Secular Franciscans), we even did a small but much-appreciated business in providing burial shrouds for deceased members. We also serviced parish pamphlet racks, periodically providing new booklets for sale. We carried just about everything a good Catholic could want or need, from Hummel Madonnas to plastic holy water bottles. We had a staff of 5 full-time employees, 7 part-time, and 3 people working out of their homes. What we didn't have much of was books!

When I was hired in 1957, our display of "new publications" was the corner of a jewelry display and consisted of one each of the new titles from two Catholic publishing houses. But things were looking up! In 1952, Bishop Fulton Sheen had become the first television personality to impact on the religious publishing business. His show, Life is Worth Living, generated a demand for anything he had written. About the same time, Thomas Merton's Seven Storey Mountain and books by Fulton Oursler and Jim Bishop were climbing the best-seller lists. The Bookshop slowly began to build our stock and our reputation as the place to buy Catholic books. Then, in 1958, the election of Pope John XXIII heralded the beginning of a new era.

THE 1960's - RENEWAL AND SOCIAL CHANGE

Vatican Council II (1962-65) generated a new sense of vigor in the Church and introduced us to some new authors and some new ideas. We were hearing names like Rahner, Kung, Schillebeeckx and Ratzinger. People were watching what was going on in Rome, and Xavier Rynne's gossipy reports serialized in The New Yorker kept everyone informed. As the Council continued and the official Documents of Vatican II began to develop, the people were beginning to see a new concept of the Church, particularly the role of the laity in the grand scheme of things.

At the same time, this became an era of social unrest, awareness of personal worth, and desire for community, and the authors who found their way into Catholic publishing circles reflected these conditions. John Powell and Eugene Kennedy were writing books filled with hope. Andrew Greeley's National Opinion Research Center was providing us with statistics and data on where we were as Church, and creating controversies along the way. New publishing houses were being developed and some of the old established firms were quietly folding.

St. Francis Bookshop, however, was holding its own. Our selection of books became more geared to the interests of people who were anxious to take advantage of the new opportunities to participate in the Church. Theologians were writing and people were reading. We had a Catholic President of the United States, so we had Catholic books on the President. The terms liberal and conservative were being used in spiritual and liturgical situations, so there were books about conservatives and liberals. As the market for all the "Black Books" began to erode, the market for fresh, new ideas began to build, and we were doing our best to provide what everyone wanted.

THE 70's - CHAOS

The "fresh air" of Vatican II led to some disturbing gusts of wind in the 1970's. The New Order of the Mass and the English Language Sacramentary encouraged fuller participation in the Liturgy, and while to many of us this was a welcome development, some people resented the loss of the "Latin Mass" and the cherished memories of the traditional rites. Granted. there were extremes in some of the "Folk Masses", and not everyone enjoyed the music or the English prayers. However, there were far more serious problems. Resignations from the priesthood and religious life were growing, and the limited number of vocations to those lifestyles was another concern. Priests and nuns were becoming social activists and encouraging the laity to do the same. Liberation Theology was a big topic of discussion.

At the same time there were hopeful signs. Laypeople were actively participating in parish programs and could now become Lectors or Eucharistic Ministers. Books on these ministries as well as all other facets of Liturgy were coming in from publishers like Liturgical Press. The Charismatic Movement became popular and eventually many of those folks evolved into small prayer groups, and the demand for books about prayer grew steadily.

In 1970, St. Anthony Messenger Press was established as a publisher of books, and with its arrival a number of Franciscan authors became important to the Bookshop. Fr. Leonard Foley, Fr. Murray Bodo, and Fr. Richard Rohr were among the early personalities whose popularity has been proven over the years.

In the mid-70's, the Franciscans reviewed the status of the Bookshop and, having concluded that we were performing a service to the people of Cincinnati, authorized a renovation and realignment of some business practices under the guidance of Fr. Andrew Fox, a longtime supporter of the Bookshop. This renovation was literally "hands-on", with Fr. Andrew measuring and hammering and moving stock. The whole process had to be sped up and simplified because he had been elected Provincial and we had to finish the job while he still had time! Part of the plan was that we were to recommit ourselves to the business of providing good books and to downplay the "plastic novelties", which we did by cleaning out the stockroom and basement and literally giving them away! Some were donated to the Missions, others were sold for as little as ten cents each, and grateful customers loaded shopping bags with knicknacks to be used for prizes and favors. When the dust settled, the clutter and chaos had been cleared away, and St. Francis Bookshop was ready for the 80's!

THE 80's - A NEW SPIRIT 

Despite the problems and controversies of the 1970's, the new decade brought a growing sense of the power of the people of God. Lay men and women were making their presence felt in Church ministries, so the demand for resource material created a new market for religious bookstores. A new emphasis on scripture studies stimulated the sales of various Bible translations, and names like Raymond Brown and Caroll Stuhlmueller became household names for many.

The increasing prominence of women in the Church created a new genre of publishing. The ongoing debate about women's  ordination, the question of inclusive language, and the growing market for resources for feminine spirituality developed into a category called "Women's Studies", which continues to develop with new authors and new ideas.

Throughout the 80's there was a marked increase in books about the spiritual life, and we were blessed with a group of popular and readable authors such as Henri Nouwen, Anthony deMello and Edward Hays. Theology was no longer limited to the academics, and Catholic moral principles were generating interest and controversy. Debates which were once quietly resolved by the authorities were now being argued in the public forum of books and the press, and the Bookshop made every effort to provide the materials that would inform, enlighten, and entertain.

During this time, the interest in religious gift items began to grow, and our buyer, Michele Tromblay, selected several lines of unique items, including folk art from El Salvador and contemporary icons from several sources. She also expanded our line of greeting cards to include sources that can't be found in most other shops. We also expanded our line of cassettes and CD's from the growing list of contemporary Christian artists such as David Haas, Marty Haugen, and John Michael Talbot.

The 80's developed into a period of searching for direction in our lives, both spiritually and in our daily activities, and St. Francis Bookshop was working hard to provide the support and resources needed by the seekers.

THE 90's - RE-CENTERING

By the 1990's, large numbers of Catholics had chosen to commit themselves to active participation in grass-roots parish life. They were Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors and Greeters. They headed RCIA programs, ran Youth Ministries, taught CCD and even acted as Parish Administrators. The programs that trained them for these tasks generated the need for resources and spiritual support. Spiritual counseling and the formation of faith were no longer limited to the clergy. With this shift in emphasis there came a growing interest in traditional spirituality, and readers were rediscovering John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, Therese of Lisieux, and such classics as Abandonment to Divine Providence, The Cloud of Unknowing, and The Practice of the Presence of God.

More than 25 years after his death, Thomas Merton is still a best-selling author. In fact, with this new decade, the interest in Monasticism became an important factor in the world of spiritual writing, and continues to be so today. The long-awaited Catechism of the Catholic Church was finally released in 1997, and it was an extraordinary publishing event, with any number of companies licensed to distribute the book to the trade. The Gift of Peace, Cardinal Joseph Bernardin's personal reflections on his final illness, became a New York Times bestseller, and was even more popular here because of his close ties with Cincinnati. Fr. Richard McBrien's books, while considered controversial by some, proved to be of great interest to serious readers. Contemporary women writers were developing quite a following, with new books by Sr. Joyce Rupp or Sr. Joan Chittister recording sales before they were even published. A renewed interest in saints and angels spurred even non-religious publishers to provide books for that growing market.

By the mid-90's, the Bookshop renovation that had taken place 20 years earlier was looking a little drab and dated. We asked our director, Fr. Jeremy Harrington, O.F.M., about the possibility of a new paint job, and he in turn approached the Provincial Board. The Board reviewed the ministry of the Bookshop, and in view of our "notable Franciscan ministry", allocated a substantial sum for the total renovation of the shop. Effective Dec. 26, 1995, we closed our doors and began packing and moving our entire stock to an adjoining building where we set up phones and handled only mail and phone orders for nearly six weeks. Meanwhile, a construction crew completely gutted the interior of the store and prepared us for a new era. On Feb. 4, 1996, with the help of several Franciscan Friars from the neighborhood, all the stock was returned to the shop and displayed on our newly-assembled wooden shelving. On Feb. 6, we reopened for business, much to the relief of loyal customers who had been waiting patiently for the great day!

 2000 AND BEYOND - THE NEW MILLENNIUM

St. Francis Bookshop today is a far cry from the dim, crowded store that I found nearly 44 years ago when I came to work for the Franciscans. An atmosphere of warmth and welcome is created by the wooden shelving and slatwall displays. Windows that were once boarded up are now open for natural light. Central air has replaced noisy, ineffective window units, and track lighting gives us a bright, open appearance. At the same time, the way the business is run has been substantially altered. We've entered into the age of computers and are attempting to survive the change! Customers who have been with us for years are thrilled with the improvements. However, one thing that I hope will never change is our reputation for service, knowledge, and concern for the customer.

As I begin my transition toward retirement, I realize how blessed I have been to be a part of this half-century of service. Little did I know that the job I originally turned down three times (until they raised the opening salary to $1.15 an hour) would become my life-long commitment. I knew almost nothing about the Franciscans, and now they are my brothers. I was sure that working in a "religious" store would be dull; after all, "holy" people tend to be quiet and reserved. Well, from the moment I made my first sale (a 35 cent holy water bottle), I can honestly say that I haven't had time to be bored! Having been an active participant in the ups and downs of our first 50 years, I look forward to being able to watch from the sidelines as St. Francis Bookshop enters the 21st Century as an important part of the Franciscan Ministry of the Word.

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