Faces of Metanoia: Francis, Clare, Dorothy Day, Oscar Romero course
God’s invitation to metanoia (turning around), begun in the ministry of Jesus, has drawn people from discontent and aimlessness to lives of purpose and meaning. In this course, we will review the lives of four remarkable spiritual figures in Christian history, exploring the pivotal moments that shaped their spiritual journeys and asking what those steps would look like today. During our first session we will define the term “metanoia” and explore the stages of spiritual transformation. Then we will spend a week with each of our figures. We will use the book Faces of Metanoia to guide our conversations, and participants will be encouraged to engage some of the reflective prompts in the book between course meetings. No previous knowledge of the topic 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 that communicate dimensions of the mystical life today.
