Our Program

Saints: Historical Reality and Spiritual Legacy

SAINTS: HISTORICAL REALITY AND SPIRITUAL LEGACY

Assisi, Italy, July 6-15

Day 1
06 Jul 2026

Introductions

Introduction to each other, to Elliah, Global House, Summer school

Panel: Are saints a universal phenomenon?

Terminology and phenomenology in a comparative context.
Catherine Cornille
Prof. Catherine Cornille
Volker Leppin
Prof. Volker Leppin
Jeffery Long
Prof. Jeffery Long
Rabbi Alon Goshen-Gottstein
Peta Jones Pellach
Prof. Vincent Cornell
Prof. Vincent Cornell
Day 2
07 Jul 2026

Panel:

Question 1: How important is having a historical understanding of the saint?
Question 2: Is being interreligious a trait of the saint?
Catherine Cornille
Prof. Catherine Cornille
Volker Leppin
Prof. Volker Leppin
Jeffery Long
Prof. Jeffery Long
Rabbi Alon Goshen-Gottstein
Peta Jones Pellach
Prof. Vincent Cornell
Prof. Vincent Cornell

Chevruta study:

Texts / quotes on sainthood / religious genius from various perspectives
Day 3
08 Jul 2026

Bibliodrama

Some excerpts from the life of St Francis
Day 4
09 Jul 2026

Ramakrishna and Sarada Devi as Hindu phenomena, against his time and its legacy

The meaning of Ramakrishna for interreligious relations
Jeffery Long
Prof. Jeffery Long

Panel discussion: Saints, identity and nationalism

Volker Leppin
Prof. Volker Leppin
Jeffery Long
Prof. Jeffery Long
Prof. Vincent Cornell
Prof. Vincent Cornell
Peta Jones Pellach
Rabbi Alon Goshen-Gottstein

Panel discussion: The saint as peacemaker

Do saints bring something unique to the task of peace making?
Volker Leppin
Prof. Volker Leppin
Jeffery Long
Prof. Jeffery Long
Prof. Vincent Cornell
Prof. Vincent Cornell
Peta Jones Pellach
Rabbi Alon Goshen-Gottstein
Day 5
10 Jul 2026

Rav Kook

Historical context, particularity and profile.
Jewish theology of religion and the contribution of Rav Kook.
Rabbi Alon Goshen-Gottstein

Textual Reading

Introduction to Song of Songs and introduction to Shabbat
Day 6
11 Jul 2026

“Shabbat”

[Shabbat for Jewish participants]
Day 7
12 Jul 2026

Chevruta: “The ideal of sainthood articulated from within”

Readings from all traditions, followed by group discussion.

Saints in Islam, a typology:

Muḥammad ibn Sulaymān al-Jazūlī (d. 1465) and Abū Yi‘zzā Yalannūr (d. 1177)
Prof. Vincent Cornell
Prof. Vincent Cornell
Day 8
13 Jul 2026

Visit to Santa Chiara and to Basilica of San Francesco

Including learning on-site
Finish with Vespers
Day 9
14 Jul 2026

The argument against saints

Chavruta on texts from various traditions

Panel discussion of anti-saint voices within traditions

What is the price of sainthood; what are checks and balances? What is the cost/benefit analysis?

The “pro” argument: Panel of Elijah leaders

How saints inspire world religious leaders today
Day 10
15 Jul 2026

THE SAINTS OF ASSISI

What does Francis mean to the world today? What is the significance of Assisi (personal reflections)?
BISHOP DOMENICO SORRENTINO
Bishop Domenico Sorrentino

Personal essay writing:

“What have saints taught me? How have I been enriched by the testimony of encountering saints?”

* Program is subject to change