Dr. Adam DeVille (Assistant Professor of Theology, Director of Graduate Studies), Sr. Anita Holzmer (Instructor of Theology, Director of the Center for Franciscan Spirit and Life), and Dr. Lewis Pearson (Assistant Professor of Philosophy) will be among the presenters at Midwestern Conference on Christianity and Literature, which will be held at the University of Saint Francis, Fort Wayne, IN, on September 22-24, 2011.
The theme of this year's conference is "The Limits of Understanding: Encountering Mystery." From the Conference Program:
"And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus," writes St. Paul in his letter to the Philippians (4:7). This conference explores literature’s engagement with that "which passes all understanding." How have humans found rest and peace in the embracing of mystery? How have they wrestled with that which cannot be grasped? How have they rebelled? Surrendered? Resigned themselves? From the mysticism of Saint Francis to the rebellious inquisitiveness of Faust, all human responses to the mystery at the heart of life are of interest. 
Dr. Adam DeVille is the conference Keynote Speaker. His Keynote Address is entitled, "Guarding the Mystery under the Guise of Madness: East Meets West in Evelyn Waugh’s Iurodivy." The Keynote Address takes place in the Brookside Mansion Ballroom on Thursday, September 22, from 4:00 PM to 5:15 PM.
Sr. Anita Holzmer's is presenting "The Canticle Experience," an audio-visual "prayerful immersion" into Saint Francis of Assisi's "Canticle of the Creatures," developed specifically for the Schouweiler Planetarium at the University of Saint Francis. "The Canticle Experience" combines the vastness of outer space with visual and musical images. Sr. Anita will provide an historical and theological prelude to prepare participants for this meditative experience of the Canticle. "The Canticle Experience" will take place in the Schouweiler Planetarium in Achatz Hall on Friday, September 23, from 3:30 PM to 4:45 PM.
Dr. Lewis Pearson's presentation is entitled, "The God of Universals, Particulars, and Literature." In his presentation, Dr. Pearson will develop along literary lines a claim made by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) in his book, Introduction to Christianity, that the particularity of the Incarnation should not be a scandal to belief, but rather, a reason for belief. Dr. Pearson is presenting in a session entitled "Theoretical/Philosophical Approaches to 'Mystery' in Literature," which takes place in Pope John Paul II Center, Room 308, on Saturday, September 24, from 9:15 AM - 10:45 AM.
Two other USF faculty are also presenting at the conference: Dr. Mark Buechsel (Assistant Professor of English) and Dr. Thomas Schneider (Assistant Professor of Political Science).
All conference events (excepting meals) are free and open to the public.
For inquiries about the CCL Conference Program, please contact Dr. Mark Buechsel, (260) 399-7700, ext. 8107.
