Conversion

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Conversion

• In Franciscan spirituality and history

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To begin

• Can you think of a truly life-changing event in
  your experience?
• If you can, share with the persons next to you
  about your experience. How were you affected?

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What is Conversion

• ?

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CONVERSION

• Signature concept which specifies the uniqueness
  of the Secular Franciscan Order.
• In Franciscan writings referred to as Doing
  Penance

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Spirituality of Conversion

• Not easy to grasp
• Complex process of transformation
• Involves identifying our biases and clarifying
  through questioning
• The Mystery of Gods grace active in our lives
• Ways of looking at conversion
• Personal biography
• Insights from Sacred Scripture
• The Sacraments and Liturgy
• Insights from theology

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Personal Biography

• Personal story in its stages and crises gives
  insights into a persons transformation
• How does an individuals worldview develop,
  become integrated and transform?

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Insights from Sacred Scripture

• Judeo-Christian Scriptures describe conversion as
  having two parts
• Turning away from sinmetanoia/repentance
• Turning to Godepistrophe/enlightenment
• Stories of conversion
• David
• Zaccheus
• The Samaritan Woman
• The Prodigal Son
• Paul
• OT Prophets
• John the Baptist

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Conversion and Sacrament

• RCIA Periods
• Precatechumenate
• Catechumenate
• Enlightenment
• Mystagogia
• Formation periods
• Orientation/Inquiry
• Candidacy
• Profession
• Newly Professed

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Catechumenate and Conversion

• Conversion is symbolized as JOURNEY of
  TRANSFORMATION led by Spirit of God
• Communal experienceencouragement and witness
• On-going process, celebrated in stages with
  Eucharist as highpoint
• Conversion is a lifetime experience of
  transformation

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Theological Insights about Conversion

• Developmental theories give insight from
  psychology
• Freud, Jung, James, Erikson, Kohlberg, Piaget
• Fowler and Faith Development
• Lonergan and Conversion theory

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Lonergan and Conversion

• Conversiona set of judgments and decisions that
  move a person from an established horizon into a
  new horizon of KNOWING, VALUING and ACTING
• Three kinds of Conversion
• Intellectual
• Moral
• Religious
• Christian
• Franciscan

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Conversion is

• A complex experience that transforms
• Within a Christian community
• Process of hope
• Caught up in the promise of a new creation
• And transformation in Christ.
• Franciscan singular character of Order
• Supported by initial and ongoing formation

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Order of Penitence in History

• Developed from early form of Sacrament of Penance
• Received as one time opportunity to be reconciled
  with the community
• Public SinPublic Penance
• Required entrance into Order of Penitence
• Rigorous penitential lifestyle
• Eventually evolved Voluntary Penitents seeking
  perfectionorigin of OSF as St. Francis
  refounds Penitents

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Conversion as Doing Penance

• Critical element and character of the Secular
  Franciscan Order
• Known as Brothers and Sisters of Penance
• Francis plan was to devote his life to doing
  penance

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Earlier Exhortation to the Brothers and Sisters
of Penance

• 1215
• Proto-Rule
• Prologue to Pauline Rule
• Recommendations to Penitents wishing to walk
  with Francisto do Penance

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PROTO RULE5 Fundamental Elements of Penitential
Lifestyle

1. To love God
2. To love our neighbor
3. To resist sinful tendencies of our fallen nature
4. To receive the body of Christ in the Eucharist
5. To act or live in conformity with our conversion

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Francis Conversion

• Rule 7 in a continuing renewed journey of
  conversion and of formation.
• United by their vocation as brothers and sisters
  of penance and motivated by the dynamic power of
  the gospel, let them conform their thoughts and
  deeds to those of Christ by mens of tht radical
  interior change which the gospel itself calls
  conversion.

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In Francis Words

• The Holy Spirit will come to rest on his
  penitents and dwell in them.
• We are children of the Heavenly Father when we do
  His will.
• In the Holy Spirit we are united to Jesus.
• We become spouses, brothers, and mothers in the
  Lord.
• We carry him in our hearts and bring him forth by
  means of our holy works.

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REFLECTION QUESTIONS

• How would you define penance as understood by the
  Brothers and Sisters of Penance?
• 2) What does it mean to conform to radical
  interior change?
• 3) How important is evidence of conversion
  in the initial formation of prospective members?