Franciscan Charism in Higher Education, The

PREFACE

PREFACE Dr. Nan Hechenberger President, Neumann College In 1914 a small group of Friars Minor gathered in West Park, Ohio to explore the possibilities of inter-Provincial collaboration in seminary education. Within a few years, the informal gathering was organized as the Franciscan Educational Conference [FEC]. The Conference reached out to eventually include participants from every branch of the Franciscan Order and turned its attention to a greater variety of academic interests. A significant turning point was reached in 1948 when Franciscan Sisters first participated in the Conference. By 1952 it was apparent that the diverse needs of Franciscan educators would be better if another organization was formed but closely allied with the FEC, the National Conference of Franciscan Sisterhoods. Over 400 Franciscan women from thirtyfive communities participated in the first gathering of the new conference. Unfortunately, by the mid 1960's participation in both Conferences declined amidst of the post-Vatican II period of renewal and ceased functioning in 1969. The reports on these meetings, which have appeared in a variety of forms, reflect a common desire to bring Franciscan values into dialogue with every area of study, a willingness to share approaches and methods of education, and san ongoing search to find ways to collaborate in the promotion of quality education in the Franciscan tradition. The reports from over fifty years of conversation on the topic of Franciscan Education are both a resource and a challenge to continue the conversation. A quick glance at some of the topics discussed—Franciscans and Drama, Poetry, and the Natural Sciences reveals the breath of past discussions. Papers on such figures as Roger Bacon, Franciscan—Scientist, give provocative insight into Franciscan involvement in and influence on the intellectual life throughout the centuries. These informative papers leave many unanswered questions and suggest some interesting lives of investigation for those who are interested in the intellectual life and the Franciscan vision today. The centuries old involvement of Franciscans in the intellectual life is a history of achievement, contribution and yes, controversy as well. From the earliest days of the Order questions were raised about the possibility of maintaining the "Spirit of holy prayer and devotion to which all things of our earthly existence must contribute."1 The nature of controversy is well captured by a late 13th century Franciscan poet, who himself received an extensive education before entering the Order, in his often quoted Lauda 31: That's the way it is—not a shred left of the spirit of the Rule! In sorrow and grief I see Paris demolish Assisi, stone by stone. With all their theology they've led the Order down a crooked path.2 In 1943 one of the outstanding Franciscan educators of the 20th century, Philotheus Boehner, OFM, creatively used Jacopne's image to articulate a radically different perspective A union between the Franciscan spirit and the intellectual life in the pursuit of studies; a union between the youthful embraces of the ideal of the Holy Gospel and the joy of knowing the truth about God and nature; in a word, a union between Assisi and Paris is a possibility and a reality.3 1 Francis of Assisi, The Later Rule, 5.2., Francis and Clare: The Complete Works. trans. and ed. by Regis Armstrong, O. F. M., Cap. and Ignatius Brady, O.F.M. New York: Paulist Press, 1982. 2 Jacopone da Todi, The Lauds, trans. by Serge and Elizabeth Hughes. New York: Paulist Press, 1982, p. 123. 3 Boehner, Philotheus , O.F.M. The History of the Franciscan School, Part 1, Alexander of Hales. New York: St. Bonaventure (Mimeographed Paper), 1943, p. 1. The history of the Franciscan vision and its relationship to intellectual life is interesting and it continues to unfold. Hopefully it will unfold and continue to renew its life along two distinct but interrelated lines. The renewal should in the first place be guided by the challenges articulated by John Paul II in the Apostolic Constitution Catholic Universities (1990). In this document the Pope challenges all Catholic universities to be clear about their identity and to continue making their important and distinctive contribution to the intellectual life and the search for truth in the light of faith. For institutions founded in the Franciscan tradition, that renewal must also give witness to the spirit and values of the founding charism. The prcise nature of this twofold challenge , and the hoped for outcome of...