The Franciscan Institute of Spirituality at the Pontifical University Antonianum, in collaboration with the Pontifical Theological Faculty Seraphicum, has been developing an interesting initiative for several years aimed at those who cannot travel to Rome to deepen their knowledge of Franciscanism.
It is a two-year online course that addresses some important issues related to the charism of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi, as well as the development of Franciscanism and the works of the great Franciscan masters. The course is aimed at friars of the First Order, Franciscan sisters and nuns, and members of the Secular Franciscan Order. To facilitate access to knowledge for people of different cultures and languages, the course is available in four language versions offered on different days: Monday in French, Tuesday in English, Wednesday in Italian, and Thursday in Spanish. An advantage of this course is that the lessons are recorded and available to participants even outside of course hours (in the afternoon – Rome time).
Taking into account the level of the Course, it can be considered both as part of the initial formation for many brothers of our Provinces or Custodies, as well as an in-depth study for an individual friar in the phase of ongoing formation. For this reason, the initiative is subsidized by the General Curias of the First Franciscan Order and therefore the cost of participation is relatively low. The next edition of the Course will begin in October 2025, and registration is already open for the French, English, and Italian versions. Registration for the Spanish version will open in December.
More information, including the detailed program for each edition, is available on the respective websites:
https://www.sanbonaventuraseraphicum.org/it/corso-di-francescanesimo-lingua-italiana
https://www.sanbonaventuraseraphicum.org/it/curso-de-franciscanismo-lengua-espanola
https://www.sanbonaventuraseraphicum.org/it/formation-franciscaine-en-ligne-en-francais