Brennan Manning, well known in the Christian community as an author and speaker, died Friday, April 12 at the age of 78. Manning was best known for his book, The Ragamuffin Gospel, published in 1990, but he also wrote several other books including Abba’s Child, Ruthless Trust, and All Is Grace, a memoir.
Manning began his writing career as a sports journalist for the Marine Corps, later enrolling and graduating from Saint Francis Catholic seminary in Loretto, Pennsylvania. He was ordained to the Franciscan priesthood in 1963. His quiet life was interrupted by a bout with alcoholism; after his recovery, he began writing more prolifically.
“Suffering, failure, loneliness, sorrow, discouragement and death will be part of your journey, but the Kingdom of God will conquer all these horrors. No evil can resist grace forever,” Manning wrote in The Ragamuffin Gospel.
