2014-2015 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Institute for Contemporary Franciscan Life
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The Institute for Contemporary Franciscan Life provides courses in Franciscan studies to adult learners in a distance-education format. Courses earn “Institute Units” toward a Certificate in Contemporary Franciscan Life, which requires the completion of 10 Institute Units (IUs).
Courses are designed to further Secular Franciscan knowledge and formation in areas of history, spirituality, and the Franciscan way of life. Courses are intended for Secular Franciscans and anyone interested in learning more about Catholic Franciscan values and their influence on contemporary society.
Mission Statement
Recognizing that Franciscan formation is a life-long process, the Institute for Contemporary Franciscan Life offers a program of study to deepen knowledge of the Franciscan heritage. The focus of the program is independent adult learning and distance education for those interested in the Franciscan way of life.
In addition to providing formational needs for Secular Franciscans and Franciscan resources for all interested individuals, the Institute serves a broader educational mission by developing courses which can be integrated into the curriculum of Saint Francis University.
The certificate program of study:
- Provides formational and educational preparation in at least three areas of Franciscanism: Franciscan spirituality; Gospel living in the contemporary world; and Franciscan family history;
- Builds competence in Franciscanism with emphasis on the application of the teachings of Jesus, in the tradition of Francis and Clare, in today’s world;
- Prepares for a possible role of formation and leadership in the national, regional, or local level of a Secular Franciscan fraternity;
- Leads to a Certificate in Contemporary Franciscan Life
FRAN 201 - Franciscan Gospel Living in the Contemporary World 3 IUs
by Margaret Pirkl, OSF; Ramona Miller, OSF; Ingrid Peterson, OSF
This course aims to highlight the importance of responding to the Gospel challenge in everyday life. What does it mean to be a Franciscan in the contemporary world? What have we inherited? What is Gospel living?
A study of theology and spirituality as the foundation of the Franciscan Gospel life highlights the relevance of Christian Franciscan values in the contemporary world. In this course, we will strive to evoke critical habits of mind and heart, stimulate a sense of the mandates of living a Gospel life, and encourage Gospel choices in the service of others.
FRAN 202 - The Franciscans: A Family History 3 IUs
by Maurice Carmody, OFM
This course is an introduction, through history, to the Franciscan family - Friars, Poor Clares, Third Order: Secular and Regular - and the creative diversity that has distinguished its mission in Church and society since the lifetimes of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi in the thirteenth century.
The Franciscan family owes its growth and diversity to those five interrelated elements which the Second Vatican Council proposed as the foundation for religious life (Perfectae Caritatis, §2): the Gospel as supreme rule; the spirit and aims of the founders (St. Francis and St. Clare) and the Order’s healthy traditions; the call to share in the life of the Church; a proper understanding of humanity, of the conditions of the times and of the needs of the Church; a vibrant spirituality.
FRAN 206 - Clare of Assisi: Her Life and Writings 3 IUs
by Roberta McKelvie, OSF
This course studies Clare of Assisi as the co-founder of the Franciscan Movement, the “first Franciscan woman” to embrace Gospel life in accord with the example and teaching of Francis of Assisi. The form of life Clare established at San Damiano, her struggles with preserving the privilege of poverty, and her legacy to the Franciscan movement will be examined. A look into the life and writings of Clare will highlight her place in the panorama of Franciscan history and challenge the learner to examine the meaning of Clare’s legacy for us today.
FRAN 207 - Franciscan Prayer 3 IUs
by Ilia Delio, OSF
This course examines the theology and spirituality of prayer in the Franciscan tradition based on the writings of Francis, Clare, and Bonaventure. Prayer as the foundation of Franciscan spirituality is considered, and the implications of this tradition for the contemporary Christian life are explored.
The course aims to understand the Franciscan theology of prayer and examine the stages of prayer in the Franciscan tradition, based on the writings of Francis, Clare, and Bonaventure.
FRAN 310 - Health Care in the Franciscan Tradition 3 IUs
by Thomas Nairn, OFM
This course is an investigation into how the Franciscan vision of health and illness can affect contemporary understandings of health care, health care institutions, and health care ethics.
The Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, produced by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, is used as a resource for the moral decision-making process in a health-care context. Bioethical and organizational ethics are approached from a particularly Franciscan point of view.
FRAN 400 - Franciscan Servant Leadership 1 IU
by Thérèsa Ream, OFS
This course examines the process of servant leadership through use of the text, Secular Franciscan Servant Leadership. This is not a theoretical course, but one based on the accumulated wisdom of the many contributors to the Handbook - members of the Franciscan family who speak from first-hand experience. Assignments focus on models of servant leadership, common questions raised by Secular Franciscan fraternities, and techniques used to address specific fraternity needs.
FRAN 401 - St. Francis of Assisi, An Introduction 1 IU
by Michael Higgins, TOR
St. Francis is one of the most significant figures in the history of Christianity; however, the reality of his life is often obscured with myths, legends, and popular devotions. The only way St. Francis can be understood and appreciated is through a familiarization with his life and the historical and spiritual forces which influenced him. Through use of the historical biography Francis of Assisi: A Life by Chiara Frugoni, this course will introduce the learner to the reality of the life and times of the Saint.
FRAN 402 - The Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order: Origins, Development, Interpretation 1 IU
by Edward Zablocki, OFS
This course discusses the history and development of the Rules of the Secular Franciscan Order, from the Primitive Rule (Francis’ Earlier Exhortation) to the present 1973 Secular Franciscan Rule. Special consideration is given to the meaning of the Primitive Rule’s call to “do penance” and how that call to a life of “continuous conversation” can be understood and applied today.
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