Introduction SFO Summer Seminar 2009 Franciscan Tradition & Spirituality

Your humble tour guides Vinal Van Benthem, SFO Bob Fitzsimmons, SFO

Itinerarium – Session #1 – Introduction & thought question – What Image of God do you hold fast to? FRIDAY. June 26th 9:45 – Session #2 – It all begins: 1209 Propositum Vitae – The Life Project 2:00 Session 3 - The Primary View (Dominican)& Alternate (Franciscan) View 3:30 – Eucharist (Chapel) 7:45 – Session #4 – St Clare – 8:30ish – Prayer - Gazing at the Mirror of Perfection 9:00 – Social SATURDAY, June 27th 9:45 – Session #5 - Bonaventure’s gift, 2:00 PM – Session #6 - Scotus & Franciscan Spirituality 7:00 – Session #7 – to be Eucharist SUNDAY, June 28th 9:45 – Session #8 – Re-founding the Legacy - Gospel To Life And Back Again - secular Spirituality

Education Is not transformation, It is just a place to begin

From Ronald Rolheiser OMI (Against an Infinite Horizon - Crossroads Publishing - Page 203). “Come and See - An invitation to explore the Secular Franciscan Life Orientation & Inquiry” - Inquiry Chapter 2 “ You & the Holy Spirit”

Imagination To allow God to lead us through changing times requires great faith and imagination. Imagination is not fantasy, but the power to create images that help us to understand and to respond to what we are experiencing

3 states of Religious Imagination Petrified rigid conservative Fuzzy uncritical -- “progressive” liberal Paschal - follow the model of Jesus Life

"Today, as is the case with every generation, we are being asked to re- imagine our faith life and our church structures. Unfortunately, we too often are not up to the task. Ronald Rolheiser OMI

petrified We stand before a very complex and radically new situation with either petrified imaginations (the proclivity of the conservative..."We've never done it this way before!") Carved in stone not written on fleshy hearts

In the case of petrified imagination, there is too much sticking one's head in the sand – clinging to the past

or Fuzzy - uncritical with the fuzzy uncritical imagination (the proclivity of the liberal..."let the new times roll!"). Progress requires change, but often throws the baby out with the bathwater! Change serves only change

fuzzy

With fuzzy uncritical imagination there is an abdication of any critical response in favour of rubber-stamping recent opinion polls -- popular Politically correct Tends to reject absolute truth Throws out meta-narratives

In both cases, the imagination is dead In both cases, there is very little reading of the signs of the times. Authentic religion dies with it.

Paschal But we can choose to respond with paschal imagination, –we can look at the pattern of death and resurrection in Christ and then move on to positively and critically shape our destiny by naming our deaths, claiming our resurrections, letting the old ascend, and living with the spirit that God is actually giving us" Only in death comes new life and creation! Christianity is evolutionary!!!

16 “We need to be able to look deeply into our lives, our faith, our Church, our experiences, especially our experiences of God active within us ! Prayer & contemplation Preaching poverty

With that insight [wisdom] we can discern what brings life and vitality and what we need to let go of. This is the place of paschal religious imagination where we can respond to the Holy Spirit and help renew the world! Attending with an open mind and without expectations

thought Franciscan approach, image of God Name your God! What image of God do you hold on to, based on your experience?