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!