conversion in franciscan spirituality and history
TRANSCRIPT
ConversionConversion
In Franciscan spirituality and historyIn Franciscan spirituality and history
To begin…To begin…
Can you think of a truly life-changing Can you think of a truly life-changing event in your experience?event in your experience?
If you can, share with the persons next to If you can, share with the persons next to you about your experience. How were you about your experience. How were you affected?you affected?
Do you have a “burning question” to Do you have a “burning question” to which you need an answer before we which you need an answer before we conclude this session?conclude this session?
Transformation/MetamorphosisTransformation/Metamorphosis
MetamorphosisMetamorphosis
Metamorphosis/TransformationMetamorphosis/Transformation
The word "metamorphosis" derives from The word "metamorphosis" derives from
Greek-- Greek-- μεταμόρφωσιςμεταμόρφωσις, ,
"transformation, transforming","transformation, transforming",
from from μετα-μετα- ( (meta-meta-))
"change" + "change" + μορφήμορφή ( (morphemorphe), "form". ), "form".
Transformation-Conversion-Transformation-Conversion-MetanoiaMetanoia
Hebrew --Hebrew --shûb—turn, returnshûb—turn, returnalsoalso nahamah—repentence nahamah—repentence
Latin – conversio—turning, returnLatin – conversio—turning, return --poenitentia—repentence, conversion --poenitentia—repentence, conversion
Greek – μετάνοιαGreek – μετάνοια Metanoia-change of mind and heart, a turning Metanoia-change of mind and heart, a turning
from from sin (internal) sin (internal)
----ἐπιστροφήἐπιστροφή, "return", "return" epistrophe—epistrophe— epi—on or uponepi—on or upon strophe- to twist or turn aboutstrophe- to twist or turn about
turning (back) to God (external)turning (back) to God (external)
Gospel reference to conversionGospel reference to conversion
"The time is fulfilled, and the "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; has come near; repentrepent, and believe in the , and believe in the good news.“.“
καὶ λέγων ὅτι πεπλήρωται ὁ καιρὸς καὶ ἤγγικεν ἡ καὶ λέγων ὅτι πεπλήρωται ὁ καιρὸς καὶ ἤγγικεν ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ: βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ: μετανοεῖτεμετανοεῖτε καὶ πιστεύετε ἐν τῷ καὶ πιστεύετε ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ.εὐαγγελίῳ.
((Mark [1]
Francis’ ConversionFrancis’ Conversion
If you were able to view the beginning of the If you were able to view the beginning of the motion picture, “Brother Sun, Sister Moon” or motion picture, “Brother Sun, Sister Moon” or from your reading about Francis’ life:from your reading about Francis’ life: What was the experience of Francis’ conversion What was the experience of Francis’ conversion
like?like? What does it mean to feel like being at “loose ends?”What does it mean to feel like being at “loose ends?”
What were the reactions of people around him?What were the reactions of people around him? Can you think of other “saintly” people who have Can you think of other “saintly” people who have
had similar experiences?had similar experiences?
Spirituality of ConversionSpirituality of Conversion Not easy to graspNot easy to grasp Complex process of Complex process of
transformationtransformation Involves identifying our Involves identifying our
biases and clarifying through biases and clarifying through questioning questioning
The Mystery of God’s grace The Mystery of God’s grace active in our livesactive in our lives
Ways of looking at Ways of looking at conversion:conversion: Personal biographyPersonal biography Insights from Sacred Scripture Insights from Sacred Scripture The Sacraments and LiturgyThe Sacraments and Liturgy Insights from theologyInsights from theology
Personal BiographyPersonal Biography
Personal story in its Personal story in its stages and crises stages and crises gives insights into a gives insights into a person’s person’s transformationtransformation
How does an How does an individual’s individual’s worldview develop, worldview develop, become integrated become integrated and transform?and transform?
Insights from Sacred ScriptureInsights from Sacred Scripture Judeo-Christian Scriptures describe conversion as Judeo-Christian Scriptures describe conversion as
having two parts:having two parts: Turning away from sin—metanoia/repentanceTurning away from sin—metanoia/repentance Turning to God—epistrophe/enlightenmentTurning to God—epistrophe/enlightenment
Stories of conversion:Stories of conversion: DavidDavid ZaccheusZaccheus The Samaritan WomanThe Samaritan Woman The Prodigal SonThe Prodigal Son PaulPaul OT ProphetsOT Prophets John the BaptistJohn the Baptist
Conversion and SacramentConversion and Sacrament
RCIA PeriodsRCIA Periods PrecatechumenatePrecatechumenate CatechumenateCatechumenate EnlightenmentEnlightenment MystagogiaMystagogia
Formation periodsFormation periods Orientation/InquiryOrientation/Inquiry CandidacyCandidacy ProfessionProfession Newly ProfessedNewly Professed
Catechumenate and ConversionCatechumenate and Conversion
Conversion is symbolized as JOURNEY of Conversion is symbolized as JOURNEY of TRANSFORMATION led by Spirit of GodTRANSFORMATION led by Spirit of God
Communal experience—encouragement and Communal experience—encouragement and witnesswitness
On-going process, celebrated in stages with On-going process, celebrated in stages with Eucharist as highpointEucharist as highpoint
Conversion is a lifetime experience of Conversion is a lifetime experience of transformationtransformation
Theological Insights about Theological Insights about ConversionConversion
Developmental theories Developmental theories give insight from give insight from psychology—psychology— Freud, Jung, James, Freud, Jung, James,
Erikson, Kohlberg, Erikson, Kohlberg, PiagetPiaget
Fowler and Faith Fowler and Faith DevelopmentDevelopment
Lonergan and Lonergan and Conversion theoryConversion theory
Lonergan and ConversionLonergan and Conversion
Conversion—a set of judgments and decisions Conversion—a set of judgments and decisions that move a person from an established that move a person from an established horizon into a new horizon of KNOWING, horizon into a new horizon of KNOWING, VALUING and ACTINGVALUING and ACTING
Three kinds of Conversion:Three kinds of Conversion: IntellectualIntellectual MoralMoral ReligiousReligious
ChristianChristian FranciscanFranciscan
Order of Penitence in HistoryOrder of Penitence in History
Developed from early form of Sacrament of Developed from early form of Sacrament of PenancePenance Received as one time opportunity to be reconciled Received as one time opportunity to be reconciled
with the communitywith the community Public Sin—Public PenancePublic Sin—Public Penance Required entrance into Order of PenitenceRequired entrance into Order of Penitence
Rigorous penitential lifestyleRigorous penitential lifestyle Eventually evolved Voluntary Penitents seeking Eventually evolved Voluntary Penitents seeking
“perfection”—origin of SFO as St. Francis “perfection”—origin of SFO as St. Francis “refounds” Penitents“refounds” Penitents
Earlier Exhortation to the Brothers Earlier Exhortation to the Brothers and Sisters of Penanceand Sisters of Penance
12151215 Proto-RuleProto-Rule Prologue to Pauline Prologue to Pauline
RuleRule Recommendations to Recommendations to
Penitents wishing to Penitents wishing to “walk with Francis”—to “walk with Francis”—to do Penancedo Penance
5 Fundamental Elements of 5 Fundamental Elements of Penitential LifestylePenitential Lifestyle
1.1. To love GodTo love God
2.2. To love our neighborTo love our neighbor
3.3. To resist sinful tendencies of our fallen To resist sinful tendencies of our fallen naturenature
4.4. To receive the body of Christ in the To receive the body of Christ in the EucharistEucharist
5.5. To act or live in conformity with our To act or live in conformity with our conversionconversion
Be Transformed! Be Transformed!