FRAN 204 - Franciscan Spirituality

(3 IUs)

A study of the conversion and Gospel form of life followed by Francis of Assisi and his early companions in their concrete historical context. An investigation of the religious experience of these men and women, their encounter with and understanding of Jesus Christ, and the expression of their religious values. This course will use a variety of historical tools to understand how Francis, Clare and their early companions made meaning of thirteenth-century Italian society, and the consequences of their actions in that social context. It will introduce the adult learner to the reading of Franciscan texts and some of the challenges associated with studying the life of Francis of Assisi.