2021 Duns Scotus Lecture
08 Feb 2021
Spirituality in a Wintry Season: The Wisdom of the Franciscan Tradition in the Quest for Meaning Today

Presented by Rev. Dan P. Horan, OFM
Duns Scotus Professor of Spirituality
Associate Professor of Systematic Theology and Spirituality

Near the end of his life, the renowned Jesuit theologian Karl Rahner frequently spoke of the contemporary context of history as resembling a “wintry season” of faith, which at first glance appears dead and frozen, but beneath the surface of increasing pluralism, religious disaffiliation, and secularity there exists the continued presence and work of God’s grace in the world. This year’s Duns Scotus Lecture focused on some of the ways the wisdom of the diverse Franciscan spiritual tradition offers spiritual seekers insights into discovering the transcendent in a secular age. Particular attention was given to the ways Franciscan spirituality can aid us in our quest for meaning in tumultuous times, such as in confronting global climate change and addressing systemic racism in our communities.

Suggested reading

Francis of Assisi: The Life

Francis of Assisi: The Life and Afterlife of a Medieval Saint