(Università Pontificia Salesiana, Roma) – From tomorrow, Friday, Nov. 18, until Sunday, Nov. 20, the long-awaited conference “St. Francis de Sales: Posterity, Spirituality and Pedagogy” shall be held at the Pontifical Salesian University (UPS) in Rome as a tribute and an opportunity for reflection on the patron saint of the Salesian Congregation for the 400th anniversary of his death.
Four hundred years after his death in Lyon on Dec. 28, 1622, the conference aims to contribute to the study of the life, works, influence, thought, and spirituality of the saintly bishop of Geneva, whose writings and initiatives revolutionized theology, particularly Christian spirituality, and who was therefore proclaimed a “Doctor of the Church” by Pope Pius IX.
The meeting includes seven sessions that will develop two macro-areas: in the first part several congregations, institutes, and religious societies that have Francis de Sales as their patron and source of inspiration are the focus; in the second part of the congress a wide variety of topics that have their origin in the spirituality, life, and writings of St. Francis de Sales shall be discussed.
A number of specialists will speak over the three days: on pedagogy, Fr. Michal Vojtáš, SDB, Vice-Rector of UPS (Italy); on the relationship between St. Francis de Sales and St. Jeanne Frances Frémiot de Chantal, Wendy Wright (USA); on the call to holiness, Fr. Eugenio Alburquerque, SDB (Spain); on communication, Vincenzo Marinelli (Italy); on the relationship between contemplation and action, Fr. Giuseppe Roggia, SDB (Italy); on his influence Thierry Le Goaziou, with references to the studies of Fr Xavier Thévenot, SDB (France); on relations with Protestants, Emile Amoungou Amoungou (Italy); on friendship Fr. Miran Sajovic, SDB (Italy); on his ecclesiology, Fr. Aimable Musoni, SDB (Italy).
As Fr. Wim Collin, SDB, Coordinator of the conference recently announced, to celebrate St. Francis de Sales even more intensely, in addition to the congress, the UPS Roma has set up an exhibition dedicated to him in the atrium of the university. Twelve posters represent twelve congregations inspired by the spirituality of the bishop of Geneva. Twelve works of art depict St. Francis de Sales, old and new together. And old books and works of art, all on display.
The conference will be conducted in a mixed mode, in-person and with the possibility of remote participation. Similarly, the exhibition can also be visited online.
To watch the live broadcast, learn about the speakers and their presentation, as well as for all other detailed information, visit: https://francescodisales.unisal.it
Source: ANS – “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana”