This Franciscan Spirit blog series explores how study and theology impact the lived experience of faith. St. Francis of Assisi was known to caution his brothers from owning books, emphasizing lifestyle over the study of theology. He believed that while knowledge “puffs up,” charity “builds up.” Early in 1222, however, Francis granted permission to St. Anthony of Padua to teach theology. Wrote Francis to Anthony: “It pleases me that you should teach sacred theology to the brothers as long as–in the words of the rule–you ‘do not extinguish the spirit of prayer and devotion with study of this kind.’” This series explores this tension and potential. What does study and theology look like from a Franciscan perspective?
“If the degree would look good on your resume, go for it!”
That was Dad’s response when I told him that I was thinking about getting a master’s degree in Franciscan theology. As a parent, Dad was particularly concerned about the practical reasons for my embarking on a two-year program of study when I was already just a few years away from retirement. From Dad’s perspective, my decision to go back to school must have appeared impulsive. After all, I had learned about the program by clicking on a banner ad in a Franciscan Media Saint of the Day email message.
Decades earlier, Mom had expressed similar concerns about the practical reasons for getting a particular bachelor’s degree. When I showed interest in majoring in chemistry, Mom—who herself held a bachelor’s degree in chemistry—cautioned that I would not be able to accomplish much in the field without an advanced degree. Considering my aptitude for calculus, I reasoned that chemistry plus math equaled chemical engineering. What a burgeoning field chemical engineering was at the time! Young people with newly-minted degrees were moving to Texas in droves and making lots of money in petrochemicals.
I went on to obtain a Bachelor of Engineering degree in chemical engineering. Now, the difference between a “Bachelor of Engineering” (BE) degree and a “Bachelor of Science” (BS) degree is that the BE focuses more on specific practical applications of engineering while the BS may be considered more broad-based and theoretical.
I would end up never working in the field of chemical engineering. By the time I graduated from college, entry-level chemical engineering positions were few to be had. However, I was able to put to good use some of what I learned in engineering school in my work in disparate fields. I didn’t have to be a professional engineer to use my skills in deductive reasoning, critical thinking, data analysis, root cause determinations, and technical writing on the job.
Then there was the time that I decided to return to school for a master’s degree in counseling psychology. Over the next two years, I would go on to complete all but practicum for the degree—including my master’s thesis—before I reluctantly realized that a terminal degree in psychology simply wasn’t practical. But what I learned in school didn’t go to waste. I didn’t have to be a psychologist to use my skills in active listening, facilitating a group discussion so that everyone is heard, and evaluating the factors that lead to job satisfaction on the job.
What, you may ask, does any of this have to do with pursuing a Master of Theological Studies degree in Franciscan theology? Well, since obtaining this degree earlier this year, I have yet to discern what is mine to do with it, at least as it pertains to paid full-time employment. Does that mean that I have ended up with another degree that does not have any obvious practical applications?
From the beginning of my studies of Franciscan theology, I claimed that I was pursing this degree for personal fulfillment, not for career advancement. In my application to the program, I wrote that the degree “would augment my ongoing formation as a Secular Franciscan through academic rigor and opportunities to engage with other intellectually curious Franciscan-hearted people.” (In the spirit of full disclosure, I admit that during my time as a grad student, I sometimes thought, “Maybe not this much academic rigor!”)
Since graduation, my studies have: 1) inspired me to take a more active role in my faith journey; 2) helped me discover and develop my unique Franciscan voice through storytelling; 3) encouraged me to model in secular environments what I have learned about Franciscan spirituality; and 4) motivated me to educate my Secular Franciscan sisters and brothers about some life-affirming yet less well-known aspects of Franciscan theology. I have found myself talking about my capstone project on the Primacy of Christ with the pastor of a Franciscan parish a hundred miles away from home, a fellow pilgrim on the Camino de Santiago, and even my dental hygienist (but not while she was cleaning my teeth!). That I am not getting paid for any of these activities allows me to claim that I am an amateur Franciscan scholar who is performing them for love rather than for money. Perhaps it was not to get a job in the field that God led me to click on that banner ad.
Indeed, it was not to add to the length of my resume that I obtained this degree. As a lifelong learner, I have never tired of acquiring knowledge that I may never use except when playing Trivial Pursuit. What I learned about Franciscan theology, far from being trivial, satisfied the curiosity of my mind and the longing of my heart to know more about the saint whom I strive to follow as a Secular Franciscan. Perhaps the sincerest response I can offer to the question, “Why did you get a master’s degree in Franciscan theology at your age?” is “Because I could.”
But yes, Dad, I have updated my resume to include my new degree. I think it looks good.
