The tradition and practices of Spiritual Direction are indebted to the history of Christian spirituality.
While we rightly look to figures like Ignatius of Loyola or Teresa of Avila as providing pathways or practices which inform Spiritual Direction today, this session will consider the Franciscan tradition, particularly voices from the 13th century.
On the eve of the 800th anniversary of the death of Francis of Assisi, we will look at Francis alongside some of his early followers, considering what they have to teach us about spiritual practices which went on to greatly inform writers such as Ignatius and Teresa. We will particularly consider deep attention to the life of Christ, taking into account – for example – Clare of Assisi’s command to ‘gaze, consider, contemplate’ and Bonaventure’s meditations on the life of Christ, and how the human person is transformed through such attentiveness, in ourselves, in our relationship with God, and with others around us (the human and more-than-human world).
We will discuss how these practices might speak to us today and how they might inform our own spiritual practices, including Spiritual Direction.
Date: Friday 2 October 2026
When: 10:00 - 13:00 GMT
Where: Online
Cost: £50 for non-members, £40 for members
Dr Michael Hahn
Dr Michael Hahn is the Dom Gregory Dix Lecturer in Christian Spirituality at Sarum College. He is Senior Editor of the journal Franciscan Studies and has published many articles and book chapters in this field, particularly on the medieval Franciscan mystical tradition, and has recently edited the forthcoming A Companion to Angela of Foligno. (Photo courtesy of Thom Mertens).
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