An introduction to Clare of Assisi (d. 1253) with Dr Michael Hahn, focusing particularly on her life and writings, and then considering how we might learn from Clare today.

The session will cover Clare’s conversion, her interactions with Francis of Assisi and particularly her efforts to create a new form of life for her sisters through the construction of a religious rule and order that allowed her to live a life of poverty in dedication to Christ’s self-emptying. This will be drawn both from Clare’s rule, the Lives of Clare, and other religious rules from the same period. Next, Michael will turn to Clare’s four letters to her spiritual friend, the Bohemian Princess Agnes of Prague. Focus here will be on Clare’s understanding of self-loss as a form of imitating Christ and particularly her innovative use of the metaphor of the mirror as a contemplative tool.

We will briefly look at Clare’s reception in the centuries after her death before turning to look at the ways in which Clare is used today and consider further ways we might hold Clare up as a spiritual exemplar. This includes how Clare’s mirror metaphors can inform the ways we think about human personhood and identity and also care for the marginalised.

Female Mystics Series
While male voices have dominated our understanding of Christian theology and history, significant work over the last fifty years has sought out and made available the voices of powerful and important female theologians through the history of Christianity. First and foremost, these voices belong to female mystics.

This series, run jointly by Sarum College and The Church Times, looks at five of the most important female mystics from Christianity in chronological order. Each session runs 7.30-9 PM on a Monday and is led by an expert on the female mystic in question. Each webinar will consist of a lecture and a Q&A session.

The series began 13 January: Hildegard of Bingen, with Lauren Cole

Subsequent sessions are:
10 March: Julian of Norwich, with Hannah Lucas
14 April: Teresa of Avila, with Gillian Ahlgren
19 May: Thea Bowman with Manuel Williams

Each session will be recorded and a link to the video provided to everyone registered.

Browse this list of specially priced books from Hymns Ancient & Modern related to the series