FRANCISCAN SPIRITUALITY – THE HOLY GOSPEL

Having seen that each religious order has a spirituality that is its own, we look at our own way to holiness – the Franciscan way. The spirituality of each order is based upon the intention of its founder, to whom Christ assigned a special place and work in His Mystical Body and a particular way of holiness, along which he was to lead others to sanctity. Hence we need only to look to our Seraphic Father to find out the manner by which we are to attain holiness.

Pope Pius XII, has this to say concerning us Franciscans and our Seraphic Father: ‘The Patriarch of Assisi, the most fiery lover of the Gospel, the herald of the Great King, the shining image of Christ, wields an indescribable influence upon the hearts of all men. This influence is so great that he very frequently draws to his love even those who do not profess the Catholic Faith. How much more, then, should you who are his sons and followers, give an example of extraordinary devotion to him! Let this devotion however be evidenced more by your actions than by your words. If you truly love him, follow his precepts, walk faithfully in his footsteps, become inflamed by the inspiration of his seraphic spirit.’

We see it in the very first words of our Rule: ‘To observe the Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ.’

Enlightened by the Holy Spirit, our Seraphic Father longed for the simple observance of the Gospel. In these words of the Rule we see the simple man. He was not tainted by the influences of pagan literature, philosophy or ethics. Thomas of Celano states: ‘His greatest desire and foremost purpose was to observe the Holy Gospel in all and through all things, to follow the doctrine of Our Lord Jesus Christ perfectly and to imitate His life with all care, with consuming zeal, with his whole mind and with all the fervor of his heart.’

To do this, our way must follow that of our Seraphic Father – complete acceptance of the Holy Gospel, led solely by the rule of Divine Love with the desire for perfection and holiness, observing ‘…poverty, humility, and the Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ, as we firmly promised.'

We see the distinguishing character of our way to God – the observance of the purity of the Gospel, which we are to keep free from any influence that would detract from its teaching. We are to live and preserve it in its integrity, vigilant lest we fall into only a partial observance of it or look upon it with the prejudiced eye. Moreover, our total dedication to its observance must find its strength in Love. ‘You shall love the Lord Your God with your whole heart, and with your whole soul, and with your whole strength, and with your whole mind.'

IMPORTANCE OF SPIRITUALITY

CATHOLIC theology teaches us that all Christians are bound to strive for holiness as they journey toward God.Regular and secular religious, however, are to seek holiness in an incomparably greater manner than that of the ordinary Christian's. Our very vocation is to live in the state of holiness – to strive daily, even hourly, to become saints.

This manner of holiness is taken upon ourselves by our profession. The manner of obtaining perfection and holiness is proper to each religious order, although essentially perfection and holiness are the same for everyone, consisting in an intimate union with God through love, in a participation in His nature and life.

God would not establish such a variety of religious institutes and inspire their founders unless He approved this difference in their mode of spirituality. We read that, ‘each religious order should have its own nature and character and it is necessary that it preserve them, if it desires to occupy the place destined for it by God in the Mystical Body of Christ, which is beautified in many ways.’

Continuing further, we find that this goal is reached only by the imitation of Christ and identification with Him. The perfection of Christ, however, is infinite and proper to Christ alone. Perfection is achieved only in the fullness of His Mystical Body, in the unity that exists in its many members. Among these members are the various religious orders, which possess their own individual spirituality.

Each order completes this Body only by the preservation of its own spirituality, sanctifying its own members, by its own proper rule. If this is not accomplished, what further reason can there be for the existence of any particular order and its members? The religious would continue to live on, but on a false basis. They would be traitors to the original purpose of their order and would be straying completely from the path of sanctity.

The Creed and Mission of a Disciple

A Blessed New Year to all. A brother of mine (a Secular Franciscan) wrote a short piece on the mission of a Disciple of Christ. Here it is.





The Creed and Mission of a Disciple


As a disciple of my Lord and Savior,
I profess that

Through Jesus Christ
we have been given the perfect gift,
the Incarnation of the Love of God.

Through His birth,
we have been given the hope of redemption in Him.

Through His death,
we have been given His infinite compassion and mercy.

Through His resurrection,
we have been given the fulfillment of the promises of our faith in Him.

And through His Holy Spirit,
we have been given the grace

to become witnesses of His Love.

to be instruments of His Will,

to be servants in leading others to Him,

that we may be all united
in the peaceful bliss of eternal life.

By this creed,
I live and sanctify my daily life.

For this mission,
I commit and consecrate my whole self.

HOLY POVERTY AND THE HOLIDAYS (Advent reflections for Franciscans based on an article by Br. JR)- LAST PART

The Gospel invites us to poverty and to detachment that Francis took very literally. Christmas is a great opportunity to express to the world that we have found a different path, by simplifying our celebration, our purchasing, and by sharing our surplus with the poorest of the poor. These are not the only days of the year when we observe Holy Poverty. They are special opportunities to ‘preach without words.’

While the world is engaged in the material aspects of these feasts, our focus is on the meaning and message of the day. If we do it right, we will stand out among our relatives and friends, just as Francis stood out from those around him, just as Jesus and Mary did too. We will have preached a good sermon.

May the Peace of the Lord be with you.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year...!

HOLY POVERTY AND THE HOLIDAYS (Advent reflections for Franciscans based on an article by Br. JR)- Part III

Christmas draws near. It is but proper to meditate on how Francis celebrated Christmas and on his deep devotion to the child Jesus. To remember that he set up the first live nativity scene in history or that he saw the live Christ child in the crib is a moving thought, but these are ordinary meditations for every Roman Catholic.

What is exclusively Franciscan is the poverty that Francis observed as he celebrated the Christian holidays. His joy and his faith always strengthened his resolve to live as Christ said, to empty himself of everything – property, attachments, surplus, sharing with the poor, trusting that Christ would provide from day to day.

As Franciscans, we think ahead toward Christmas and ponder how we will show our gratitude to God for everything that he has given us. We reflect on how much our Heavenly Father loved the world that His only begotten son became flesh and dwelt among us for the sole purpose of dying for us. Let us keep in mind that our celebrations must reflect Gospel poverty, not worldly consumerism.

HOLY POVERTY AND THE HOLIDAYS (Advent reflections for Franciscans based on an article by Br. JR)-Part II

For the Secular Franciscan, he must gently remind himself that he does not own everything that is within his means, just because he does not live in a religious community. This is not the way of Francis. He did not live in a religious community when he embraced poverty and the Gospel. He was alone. The community came later. The Holy Rule came later. He wrote the rule the manner of life he lived in solitude as a secular man.

Francis designed a simple tunic with a hood and wrapped a rope around his waist. This was the only garment that he kept as his own. He did not possess a closet full of clothing that he never wore. This he had left at his parents’ home or had given away. The only garments he had were what he needed for his daily life and work.

If we are married, have children, older parents or both, charity and justice require that we provide for our families. Providing for our families should not prevent us from practicing real poverty when it comes to ourselves. On the contrary, the family is the domestic Church. Every effort, every talent, and every possession should be spent on making the domestic Church a reflection of Christ’s Mystical Body.

Every cent or material resource that a Secular Franciscan has really belongs to his family and to the poor, NOT TO HIMSELF. Let us observe how Francis returned his clothes to his father while standing naked at the square in front of the bishop’s home. Francis begins his life with Holy Poverty by returning to his family what is rightfully theirs and more. HE KEEPS NOTHING FOR HIMSELF. He is but a good steward.

When the first secular men and women asked to be admitted to the Order, Francis gave them the Rule of Penance. These men and women have stood out through the centuries by their lives of poverty and their generosity toward their families and the poor. They have stood out for their simplicity in entertainment, dress, living conditions and associations. The many Secular Franciscans brothers and sisters who became saints or blessed were committed to poverty as Christ taught it in the Gospel. Their fidelity to this commitment, led them down the road to peace, joy and a deeper relationship with God, just as it did for Francis.

HOLY POVERTY AND THE HOLIDAYS (Advent reflections for Franciscans based on an article by Br. JR)-Part 1

As Advent dawns upon us, we begin to think of the holidays – Christmas is just around the corner. Many are thinking of the gifts to receive, the dinner parties they are going to host, how they will decorate their homes, who to invite, where they are going to travel. This may seem normal, but there is something that must be considered but is often forgotten. Anyone wanting to imitate Francis of Assisi’s Gospel Life must consider his plans to be consistent with the evangelical counsel of poverty as Francis understood and taught it.

Francis’ spirituality is a moral commitment. The Gospel still calls us to ‘leave everything and follow Christ.’ These words moved our holy father Francis to begin a new life, and nothing has changed in 800 years.

The Gospel still says ‘Deny yourself. Take up your cross and follow me.’

This was exactly what Francis and his brothers did. They denied themselves of many things – family, property, comfort, money, and sometimes, food. They worked for what they had. They kept what they needed and the rest were given to the poor. They put their talents to serve the brotherhood and the poor. Nothing was kept for themselves.

The Gospel still says, ‘If you want to be perfect sell all that you have; give it to the poor, then come and follow me.’

This was exactly what Francis and Brother Bernardo did on the town square the day after they heard these words from the Holy Gospel.