About Fr. Francis Martin

Renowned Scripture Scholar

Fr. Francis Martin +August 11, 2017, was ordained to the priesthood at St. Joseph's Abbey, Spencer, MA. His priestly vocation inslcuded Scripture scholarship and in that capacity he served as Professor and then Professor Emeritus of New Testament at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C., Senior Fellow at the Intercultural Forum for Faith and Culture at the John Paul II Cultural Center in D.C., visiting professor at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Michigan where he also he held the Cardinal Adam Maida Chair in Biblical Studies. Fr. Francis also taught at the Gregorian University in Rome, the Ecole Biblique in Jerusalem, Catholic University in Washington, D.C., Franciscan University of Steubenville), and the John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family in Washington, D.C.

Fr. Francis earned his Licentiate in Sacred Theology (S.T.L.) from St. Thomas Pontifical University in Rome and his Doctorate in Sacred Scripture (S.S.D.) from the Pontifical Biblical Institute, also in Rome. Additionally Franciscan University of Steubenville awarded him an Honorary Doctorate. Fr. Martin was incardinated in the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. where he served as chaplain of the Mother of God Community in Gaithersburg, MD.

He founded The Word Proclaimed Institute in order to make his scholarshp, preaching, and teaching readily avaliable to priests and interested lay people. In addition to over 60 scholarly articles, Fr. Martin’s publications include The Life Changer, Baptism in the Holy Spirit, The Feminist Question, The Fire in the Cloud, and Sacred Scripture: The Disclosure of the Word, Fr. Francis edited the Book of Acts in the Ancient Christian Commentary Series.The Word Proclaimed Institute also offers CD’s and audio downloads of talks given at past conferences, and a great number of daily homilies (gratis) covering several years and arranged according to the liturgical calendar. His offerings include one hour video talks on the readings for each Sunday available to all, but designed to help priests in their homily preparation. Fr. Martin has also appeared on EWTN and various radio shows. Also available gratis through the website and his YouTube channel are video series' containing commentary on the Gospels of John and Mark as well as scriptures and a series on preaching and Verbum Domini. Fr. Martin's resources are distributed on our website, via YouTube, on EWTN's website, and on Guadalupe Radio Network.

Testimonials

"I have had the privilege of knowing and working with Fr. Francis Martin for many years. His profound knowledge of and love for the living Word of God continues to inspire me. He continues to help people in all walks of life to open their hearts to Christ, the living Word Incarnate. I warmly recommend Fr. Francis Martin Ministries to one and all."

Most Rev. William E. Lori
Archbishop of Baltimore


"What a blessing to be a priest in a time such as this! Our world is in such desperate need of the love and truth you can offer. Please know that I pray for you and your priesthood. I am joined in this prayer by my long-time friend Fr. Francis Martin. He has been the main teacher at our priest conferences over the years since their beginning in 1975. I encourage you to... take advantage of his offering. I know you will be blessed by this spiritual resource."

Fr. Mike Scanlan, CFR


"What good news to hear that Fr. Francis Martin's daily preaching on the lectionary as well as his longer talks on biblical themes are now readily available through his website. Fr. Francis' teaching on the scripture is academically sound, spiritually enlightened and pastorally applicable. It would be hard to overestimate the importance of Fr. Francis' teaching to the life of individual Christians as well as the life of the Church today. Highly recommended."

Ralph Martin
President of Renewal Ministries and Director of the Graduate Theology Program in the New Evangelization, Sacred Heart Major Seminary


"I have known and worked with Father Francis Martin for 15 years. He has been a close colleague in our work in Evangelicals and Catholics Together. While he is a great scholar and thinker, he is one of the most gentle, loving people I have met anywhere. No matter how accomplished he has become in his intellectual and theological pursuits, he has never lost the pastor’s heart.I have learned much from him, and I can encourage you to draw on the rich resources Father Martin offers. I can think of no one better to teach Catholics seeking a closer relationship with Christ than a man who has devoted his life to it so ably."

Chuck Colson
Founder, Prison Fellowship


“I have known Fr. Francis Martin for many years as a lecturer and a good friend. His knowledge of the Scripture is like the spring of living water that Jesus refers to in John Chapter 7. I whole-heartedly recommend these talks. They will enrich your mind and draw you closer to the Father through Jesus, His Beloved."

Sister Briege McKenna, OSC


"Whenever I have a question about Sacred Scripture, the person I turn to without fail is Father Francis Martin. He is an unparalleled scholar, a consummate teacher and preacher, and a man of deep prayer. His profound understanding and presentation of Scripture makes it plain how "God the Father wills to give us birth by the Word of truth" (James 1:18)."

Fr. Peter John Cameron, O.P.
Editor-in-Chief, Magnificat