Metanoia, the invitation into a relationship with God that changes everything, has been accepted in ways that have truly shaped history. In this course, we will explore the trajectory of that relationship in the lives of four visionary figures: Francis and Clare of Assisi, Dorothy Day and Oscar Romero. Each of these figures had to make challenging decisions and found meaning and fulfillment with each new step toward partnership with God. We will use the book Faces of Metanoia, with its reflective prompts, to guide and shape our conferences and quiet times. We will begin with dinner and an evening conference defining metanoia and exploring what transformation looks like. On the following day, we will hold up moments of decision and change in each of these four lives, exploring how we, too, have experienced some of these moments, and considering God’s call to metanoia today. No previous knowledge required

Gillian Ahlgren is a church historian internationally known for her work in the Christian mystical tradition, especially with such figures as Teresa of Avila, Ignatius Loyola, Francis and Clare of Assisi, and Julian of Norwich. She is the author of ten books, including The Tenderness of God: Reclaiming Our Humanity and Faces of Metanoia. Her academic life is informed by decades of pastoral practice, providing retreats and workshops communicating practical dimensions of the mystical life today.