Daniel Horan

Daniel P. Horan, OFM is a Franciscan Friar (of the Order of Friars Minorof Holy Name Province ), Roman Catholic Priest, theologian, and author. He is currently a visiting assistant professor of systematic theology at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, where he teaches systematic theology and spirituality. He studied Theology (in the School of Arts and Sciences) and Journalism (in the Jandoli School of Journalism) at St. Bonaventure University and studied in the Master of Arts in Systematic Theology and Master of Divinity programs at the Washington Theological Union. He earned a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Boston College. He previously taught in the Department of Religious Studies at Siena College in Loudonville, NY, and summer courses in the Department of Theology at St. Bonaventure University, the School of Theology and Ministry at Boston College, and at Catholic Theological Union. He currently serves on the International Thomas Merton Society Board of Directorsand is a columnist at America magazine.
He has written extensively on Franciscan theology, philosophy and spirituality as well as given lectures and delivered academic papers (around the US, Canada, and Europe) on the theological and social significance of the work of Thomas Merton. He has also given workshops and delivered lectures on the intersection of the Millennial Generation and spirituality. His current work focuses on postmodern thought and the use of medieval franciscan thinkers like John Duns Scotus as well as the authentic retrieval of their thought for contemporary theological inquiry; the life, work and thought of Thomas Merton; and contemporary systematic and constructive theologies.

Horan entered the Franciscans as a postulant for Holy Name Province in July 2005 and entered the Novitiate the following year after which he professed his first vows in 2007. He professed his Solemn Vows in the Order of Friars Minor in August 2011 and was ordained to the diaconate in the Roman Catholic Church in September 2011. He was ordained a priest by Theodore Edgar Cardinal McCarrick on 19 May 2012 in Silver Spring, MD. At a young age he had already begun to write and publish articles on matters of theology and spirituality. The first widely received published work is his article "Dating God: A Young Friar's Experience of Solitude" which appeared in the Jesuit Catholic Magazine America. Much of his work has appeared in Franciscan journals, most notably The Cord. Subsequently, he has published a number of articles and essays in publications including The Heythrop Journal, The Downside Review, Theological Studies, New Blackfriars, Worship, Review for Religious, Spiritual Life, The Merton Journal, The Merton Annual, Spirtu u Hajja, Cistercian Studies Quarterly, and others. He is the author of a popular article in the magazine St. Anthony Messenger Magazine, titled "St. Francis and the Millennials: Kindred Spirits." as well as the essay "A Franciscan Millennial and the Memory of 9/11" in the book Franciscan Voices on 9/11. and the essay "The Grammar of the Kingdom in a World of Violence: The (Im)possible Poetics of John D. Caputo," in the book Violence, Transformation and the Sacred: They Shall Be Called Children of God (Orbis Books, 2012).

Horan is the author of several booksincluding Dating God: Live and Love in the Way of St. Francis (Franciscan Media, 2012), Francis of Assisi and the Future of Faith: Exploring Franciscan Spirituality and Theology in the Modern World (Tau Publishing, 2012), "The Last Words of Jesus: A Meditation on Love and Suffering" (Franciscan Media, 2013), "The Franciscan Heart of Thomas Merton: A New Look at the Spiritual Influence of His Life, Thought, and Writing" (Ave Maria Press, 2014), "Postmodernity and Univocity: A Critical Account of Radical Orthodoxy and John Duns Scotus" (Fortress Press, 2014), Franciscan Spirituality for the 21st Century: Selected Reflections from the Dating God Blog and Other Essays: Volume One (Koinonia Press, 2012), and "Spirit and Life: A Franciscan Guide for Spiritual Reflection" (Koinonia Press, 2013), which was co-authored with Julianne Wallace, as well as the blog Dating God

Horan has focused his research on the contemporary application of medieval Franciscan thinkers. He has published articles on Bonaventure, John Duns Scotus, Francis of Assisi, and Clare of Assisi, among others, in publications such as Review for Religious, The Downside Review, Worship, New Blackfriars, The Heythrop Journal, The Cord, and Spiritual Life. His work on Thomas Merton has also resulted in publications in both the United Kingdom and in the US. He has delivered lectures, workshops and academic papersin both the US and Europe on Merton - which has received some attention. Horan is also interested in contemporary theological movements, with particular attention paid to the Radical Orthodoxy movement that originated in the UK. He is a highly sought-after speaker, who lectures around the United States.

2015 Catholic Press Association Third-Place Award in "Biography" category for the book "The Franciscan Heart of Thomas Merton"
2015 Catholic Press Association Second-Place Award in "Scripture: Popular Studies" for the book "Sick, And You Cared For Me" (contributor)
2015 Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa, Felician College (NJ)
2014 Catholic Press Association Third-Place Award for the book Naked, and You Clothed Me (Contributor).
2012 Washington Theological Union James A. Coriden Valedictorian

2011 Catholic Press Association First-Place Award for the article "Digital Natives and Franciscan Spirituality" published in the journal Spiritual Life.

• Dating God: Live and Love in the Way of St. Francis (2012)
• Francis of Assisi and the Future of Faith: Exploring Franciscan Spirituality and Theology in the Modern World (2012)
• The Last Words of Jesus: A Meditation on Love and Suffering (2013)
• Franciscan Spirituality for the 21st Century: Selected Reflections from the Dating God Blog and Other Essays (2013)
• Spirit and Life: A Franciscan Guide for Spiritual Reflection (with Julianne Wallace, 2013)
• Postmodernity and Univocity: A Critical Account of Radical Orthodoxy and John Duns Scotus (2014)
• The Franciscan Heart of Thomas Merton: A New Look at the Spiritual Inspiration of His Life, Thought, and Writing (2014)
• God is Not Fair and Other Reasons for Gratitude (2016)