The Development of the Franciscan Person:
Personal, Interpersonal, Ecclesial and Structural January 10-19, 2011
David B. Couturier, OFM. Cap., Ph.D., DMin., PS.L. MF 3:15 – 5:45 p.m.
The Antonianum Pontifical University - Rome
Course Description
This course will define the critical dimensions of mature adult development and gospel conversion in the Franciscan tradition. It will provide a coherent view of the process of Franciscan formation across four dimensions: the personal, the interpersonal, the ecclesial and the structural. This course will focus specifically on the skills needed by religious formators and leaders of Franciscan communities.
Course Objectives
1. To articulate a psychological, theological and spiritual perspective for understanding the Franciscan person and his/her orientation toward self-transcendent meaning and values.
2. To define the critical dimensions of mature adult development, conversion and transformation in the context of self-transcendent meaning and values, in the Catholic and Franciscan tradition.
3. To consider the Franciscan vision of a “life in Christ Jesus” as a pathway for the development of the whole person in the context of minoritas and fraternitas for the sake of others (missio).
4. To provide a coherent view of the transformative process of Franciscan initiation across four dimensions: the personal, the interpersonal, the ecclesial and the structural.
5. To provide tools for the assessment of leadership development of the Franciscan person in the 21st century context.
Required Texts:
David B. Couturier, The Four Conversions: A Spirituality of Transformation (South Bend, IN: The Victoria Press, 2008) [FC]
David B. Couturier, The Fraternal Economy: A Pastoral Psychology of Franciscan Economics (South Bend, IN: Cloverdale Books, 2007). [FE]
CLASSES AND AN OUTLINE OF TOPICS
January 10 – The Franciscan Person as Paradox and Mystery: Elements for the Development of a Theological Anthropology of the Franciscan Vocation.
Dawn Nothwehr, The Franciscan View of the Human Person: Some Elements. Franciscan Heritage Series, Number 3 (Bookmasters, Inc., 2005).
Ilia Delio, “Bonaventure’s Metaphysics of the Good,” Theological Studies 60 (1999), 228-246.
Ilia Delio, “Revisiting the Franciscan Doctrine of Christ,” Theological Studies 64 (2003), 3-23.
William Short, Poverty and Joy: The Franciscan Tradition (Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 2006), 37-71.
Douglas Bushman, “Pope John Paul II and the Christ-Centered Anthropology of Gaudium et Spes” (2008), http://www.ignatiusinsight.com/features2008/dbusman_gaudiumetspes1_jan08.asp.
Challenges to the Development of the Franciscan Person in the 21st Century: Theological, Psychological and Organizational Perspectives on Minoritas, Fraternitas and Missio.
William Short, “A Franciscan Language for the 21st Century,” in A Franciscan Perspective on Higher Education: The AFCU JOURNAL (A Franciscan Perspective on Higher Education) Vol I.1 (2004), 1-9; also http://www.fst.edu/pdf_fst/franciscanLanguage21stCentury.pdf.
Ilia Delio, “Franciscan Theology, Identity and Community,” in Kathleen A. EWarren, ed. Franciscan Identity and PostModern Culture (Washington Theological Union Symposium Papers 2002) The Franciscan Institute, 2003, 13-33.
Thomas McGovern, “The Christian Anthropology of John Paul II: An Overview,” Josephinum Journal of Theology 8 (2001), pp. 132-147; also, http://www.christendom-awake.org/pages/mcgovern/chrisanthro.htm.
Gil Bailie, “The Subject of Gaudium et Spes: Reclaiming a Christocentric Anthropology of the Human Person,” The Call to Justice: The Legacy of Gaudium et Spes (Vatican City, 2005), http://www.stthomas.edu/gaudium/papers/Bailie.pdf.
January 11– The Anthropology of the Franciscan Vocation: Personal Conversion and the Construction of the Franciscan Personality.
Couturier, The Four Conversions [FC], p. 1-37.
Recommended reading:
F. Edward Couglin,”The Journey of the Heart into Wisdom,” Works of St. Bonaventure: Writings on the Spiritual Life (St. Bonaventure, NY: Franciscan Institute, 2006), 1-68.
Brian J. Braman, Meaning and Authenticity: Bernard Lonergan and Charles Taylor on the Drama of Authentic Human Existence, University of Toronto Press, 2008.
Richard Liddy, Transforming Light: Intellectual Conversion in the Early Lonergan (Collegeville: Glazier/Liturgical Press, 1993).
James L. Connor, S.J., and the Fellows of the Woodstock Theological Center. The Dynamism of Desire: Bernard F.J. Lonergan on the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. (Saint Louis: Institute of Jesuit Sources, 2006).
January 12 - Personal Conversion and the Dynamics of Conflict and Inconsistency in the Franciscan Personality
Couturier, FC, 37-60.
Recommended reading:
Timothy Costello, Forming a Priestly Identity: Anthropology of Priestly Formation in the Documents of the VIII Synod of Bishops and the Apostolic Exhortation Pastores Dabo Vobis (Rome: Editrice Pontificia Università Gregoriana, 2002).
Aquiléo Fiorentini, “Vocational Motivations,” (2006), on reserve.
Walter E. Conn, Christian Conversion: A Developmental Interaction of Autonomy and Surrender (Wipf and Stock, 2006).
Walter E. Conn, The Desiring Self: Rooting Pastoral Counseling and Spiritual Direction in Self-Transcendence (Paulist Press, 1998).
January 13 – Interpersonal Conversion and the Development of the Fraternal Person: Christ and Relationality in Franciscan Life
Couturier, FC, 65-92.
Recommended Reading:
Robert P. Prentice, The Psychology of Love according to St. Bonaventure 3rd ed., (St. Bonaventure, NY: Franciscan Institute Publications, 1992).
Marc Ouellet, Divine Likeness: Toward a Trinitarian Anthropology of the Family (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2006), 3-78.
January 14 - The Franciscan Person in a Congregational System: The Development of the Rules and Roles of Fraternitas
Couturier, FC, 92-108;
David Cox, “The Edwin Friedman Model of Family Systems Theory- Lessons for Organizational Leaders” (2006) accessed: http://www.academicleadership.org/uploads/ 1/EdwinFriedmanModelofFamSysThinking_1.pdf.
Recommended reading:
Ronald W. Richardson, Creating a Healthier Church: Family Systems Theory, Leadership, and Congregational Life (Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press) 1996.
Peter Steinke, Healthy Congregations: A Systems Approach (Alban Institute, 1996).
Israel Galindo, The Hidden Lives of Congregations: Discerning Church Dynamics (Alban Institute, 2004).
January 17 – Developing the Capacity to Repair the Churches: Franciscans and Ecclesial Conversion.
Couturier, FC, 111-136.
January 18 – Structural Conversion and the Development of a Fraternal Economy in Franciscan Life Today.
Couturier, “The Development of the Fraternal Economy in the Circular Letters of John Corriveau, OFM Cap.,”. (2009)
Couturier, “Franciscans and the Financial Crisis” (Franciscan Action Network White Papers), February, 2009. http://www.franciscanaction.org/Upload_Module/upload/Franciscans%20and%20the%20Financial%20Crisis_Couturier_Feb%2009.pdf?pgID=MTk2&paID=MTMz
Couturier, “I Still Desire to Work: Franciscans and the Problem of Underemployment in America” (Franciscan Action Network White Papers), November 2009. http://www.franciscanaction.org/Upload_Module/upload/2009-11-25_I%20Still%20Desire%20to%20Work_Couturier.pdf
January 19 - Leading Franciscan Formation Communities: Transformational Skills in Anxious Times.
Ronald Heifetz, Alexander Grashow and Martin Linsky, “Leaders in a Permanent Crisis,” Harvard Business Review July-August 2009. http://www.coffou.com/bm~doc/leadership-in-a-permanent-crisis.pdf.
Readings:
Each class has required and recommended readings. Required readings have been kept to a minimum during this short session. Students are responsible for keeping current with the required readings. The recommended readings provide supplemental help and are for the enrichment of the student. Students will not be assessed on the recommended readings. If adjustments are needed, the professor will provide ample time and access to make the adjustment reasonable.
Assessment:
Students are expected to attend each class. Absences require prior notification of the professor. Students are to turn off all cell phones and are not to access the internet during class time. In order to evaluate the quality of a student’s work in this course, students may choose one of two forms of assessment.
1. An “oral exam” of 10-15 minutes with the professor that will assess the student’s understanding of basic concepts. A study guide will be provided the student a few days ahead of time to aid in the student’s preparation.
2. A 7-9 page reflection paper on the applicability of insights derived from the course for religious formation work. Students, if religious, are encouraged to evaluate their province initial and/or ongoing formation programs in light of the course’s focus on “the development of the Franciscan person.” Lay students can consider educational and formational initiatives more broadly, i.e. how these insights impact catechetical initiatives and sacramental preparation programs, including those prior to marriage. Other topics will be considered. Students should check with the professor ahead of time. This paper will be due the final day of class or according to the academic schedule provided by the University.
Students will be assessed on their engagement of the material and participation in class lectures.
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