On June 22-28, 2018, a scholarly conference called “Clare and Her Form of Life” was held at the “Honoratianum” Spirituality Center in Zakroczym, Poland.
This spiritual reading of the Rule of Saint Clare of Assisi was jointly organized by the Franciscan Institute of Spirituality of the Pontifical University “Antonianum” in Rome, and the Institute of Franciscan Studies in Cracow. It was intended for nuns who live in Franciscan and Clarian contemplative communities. Thirty sisters from fourteen Polish Poor Clare communities participated.
The purpose of this study week was to undertake a spiritual reading of this important text and to subject it to critical analysis in order to better understand the charism which the Heavenly Father gave the Poor Ladies of San Damiano 800 years ago. An important part of this study was reflecting on the way the Poor Ladies currently live their charism with respect to the Constitutions of their Orders.
The second part of this study will be conducted next year. In total, some sixty hours of lecture and group work have been scheduled. The study will conclude with the preparation of a thesis. Diplomas will be issued to certify the completion of this work and they will be co-signed by the Franciscan Institute of Spirituality of Rome and the Institute of Franciscan Studies in Cracow.
The moderator of the study week was Friar Wiesław BLOCK, OFM Cap., a professor at the Franciscan Institute of Spirituality in Rome and the author of numerous academic publications dedicated to Saint Clare of Assisi and the minoritic movement.
The Poor Clares of Poland
