Brothers and Sisters of Charity

[LilFranciscan25]

I am currently reading “The Lessons of St. Francis” by John Michael Talbot. I discovered that he is the founder of the Brothers and Sisters of Charity at Little Portion Hermitage in Arkansas. I was interested in finding out more about this order, as all Franciscan orders interest me greatly, since I am discerning a Franciscan vocation. I am currently discerning with the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal, but I am open to other possibilities.

Has anyone ever been to the hermitage for a retreat? Have you met John Michael Talbot? I think I’ve heard several of his songs in Church.

Thanks for the help!

littleportion.org/

 

[RevDrNorth]

I am currently reading “The Lessons of St. Francis” by John Michael Talbot. I discovered that he is the founder of the Brothers and Sisters of Charity at Little Portion Hermitage in Arkansas. I was interested in finding out more about this order, as all Franciscan orders interest me greatly, since I am discerning a Franciscan vocation. I am currently discerning with the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal, but I am open to other possibilities.

Has anyone ever been to the hermitage for a retreat? Have you met John Michael Talbot? I think I’ve heard several of his songs in Church.

Thanks for the help!

littleportion.org/

Hi LilFranciscan25,

I may have missed it but why did you change your usename? Is it because you are exploring Franciscan rather than Carmelite?

I don’t know much about the BSC except what is on the site. John Michael Talbot has wonderful music. I imagine his success has made the community a little more financially stable. You might look into taking a trip there and exploring it. I get the impression he is orthodox.

 

[LilFranciscan25]

I may have missed it but why did you change your usename? Is it because you are exploring Franciscan rather than Carmelite?

Yes, I discerned it was not my calling to be a Carmelite. I love the spirituality, but the life does not fit me. I have discerned that God is calling me to look into the Franciscan orders, specifically, the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal. I hope to make a retreat there soon.

 

[JReducation]

I am currently reading “The Lessons of St. Francis” by John Michael Talbot. I discovered that he is the founder of the Brothers and Sisters of Charity at Little Portion Hermitage in Arkansas. I was interested in finding out more about this order, as all Franciscan orders interest me greatly, since I am discerning a Franciscan vocation. I am currently discerning with the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal, but I am open to other possibilities.

Has anyone ever been to the hermitage for a retreat? Have you met John Michael Talbot? I think I’ve heard several of his songs in Church.

Thanks for the help!

littleportion.org/

The Brothers and Sisters of Charity are a wonderful community. However, they are not Franciscan nor are they an order.

They have a very interesting spirituality based on St. Francis, St. Benedict and the Fathers of the Church. They are a public association of the faithful of diocesan rite. I’m not sure if they are applying for status as a religious congregation.

They have several branches for celibate and for married people. They also have a branch that is monastic and a branch that is domestic. This is where they differ from Franciscans. Franciscans are not monastic. The only monastic branch that we have are the Poor Clares, but their style of monasticism does not follow the Benedictine model, which is the classic model, nor do they follow the Basilian model, which is the Eastern model. The Poor Clares follow a model of monasticism that is less enclosed than Benedictines and Carmelites.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[LilFranciscan25]

Thanks for the information. I really appreciate it. I appears, though, that my interest has waned. I looked at the website and they are not what I am looking for at all. I am called to a vowed community, not a lay community.

I still am searching for the “right” one, and I think that might be the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal. I have also acquired an interest in the Franciscan Sisters T.O.R. of the Sorrowful Mother after hearing about them from a friend. I’m also considering the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate. I plan to make a retreat as soon as I can with the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal, and I’m so excited to see them later this year at the Advent retreat!

 

[JReducation]

Thanks for the information. I really appreciate it. I appears, though, that my interest has waned. I looked at the website and they are not what I am looking for at all. I am called to a vowed community, not a lay community.

I still am searching for the “right” one, and I think that might be the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal. I have also acquired an interest in the Franciscan Sisters T.O.R. of the Sorrowful Mother after hearing about them from a friend. I’m also considering the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate. I plan to make a retreat as soon as I can with the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal, and I’m so excited to see them later this year at the Advent retreat!

I don’t know if you noticed, but the Brothers and Sisters of Charity do have a vowed community.

Or are you trying to say that you’re looking for a religious congregation?

I’m not sure if the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal are a religious congregation. I know that the Friars are a diocesan congregation. But I don’t know if the sisters are or if they’re a public association of the faithful.

In the end, these are the canonical status of the communities, the only bearing that they have on the vows of the members is on issues concerning

1. the ownership of property
2. whether they promise obedience to the Holy Father or the local bishop
3. whether their vows are simple or solemn
4. whether their vows are private or public
5. who dispenses the vows

The vows themselves are the same as those of any order, secular or regular.

Go for the community where you find happiness and compatibility.

If you’re interested in Respect Life as a Franciscan, let me know. We’re starting something in which you may be interested.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[LilFranciscan25]

I don’t know if you noticed, but the Brothers and Sisters of Charity do have a vowed community.

Or are you trying to say that you’re looking for a religious congregation?

I’m not sure if the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal are a religious congregation. I know that the Friars are a diocesan congregation. But I don’t know if the sisters are or if they’re a public association of the faithful.

In the end, these are the canonical status of the communities, the only bearing that they have on the vows of the members is on issues concerning

1. the ownership of property
2. whether they promise obedience to the Holy Father or the local bishop
3. whether their vows are simple or solemn
4. whether their vows are private or public
5. who dispenses the vows

The vows themselves are the same as those of any order, secular or regular.

Go for the community where you find happiness and compatibility.

If you’re interested in Respect Life as a Franciscan, let me know. We’re starting something in which you may be interested.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

I can’t ever figure any of this stuff out, LOL! It’s hard discovering whether something is one thing or another. I guess I’m just not interested in the Brothers and Sisters of Charity as a whole. The Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal have held my interest for a good year and a half (since the beginning of my discernment) while others have flickered out for one reason or another. That’s why I think they are “the one.” Their apostolate is an excellent fit for my personality and interests, and I love their reverence to the Blessed Sacrament. I knew that when I met the friars that if I was a man, I’d join them in an instant, but I am not. So, the Sisters will have to do.

 

[JReducation]

I can’t ever figure any of this stuff out, LOL! It’s hard discovering whether something is one thing or another. I guess I’m just not interested in the Brothers and Sisters of Charity as a whole. The Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal have held my interest for a good year and a half (since the beginning of my discernment) while others have flickered out for one reason or another. That’s why I think they are “the one.” Their apostolate is an excellent fit for my personality and interests, and I love their reverence to the Blessed Sacrament. I knew that when I met the friars that if I was a man, I’d join them in an instant, but I am not. So, the Sisters will have to do.

The way that you’re explaining it now, sounds like you may have found a compatible group. I hope they are, not only because we come from the same family, the Capuchins, but also because they are a very holy group of men and women.

My community has its roots in the Capuchins also. So we share much in common with the CFRs.

I’ll pray for you. Please pray for me.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[LilFranciscan25]

The way that you’re explaining it now, sounds like you may have found a compatible group. I hope they are, not only because we come from the same family, the Capuchins, but also because they are a very holy group of men and women.

My community has its roots in the Capuchins also. So we share much in common with the CFRs.

I’ll pray for you. Please pray for me.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

Neat. I hope that I have found “the one” and I can become a religious when God wills it to happen. I am open to whatever He wants of me. I was even thinking today that I am open to marriage (which is good; one must be open to all possibilities), but it’s not what I feel called to.

I prayed this weekend, during the feast of the Sacred Heart for patience in all things. Patience in knowing that God is leading me somewhere He had chosen just for me, and courage to commit to whatever He has planned, all for the good of His Kingdom.

If God wills me to be a Capuchin Franciscan sister, I know that it will happen when He knows I’m ready. I understand fully that He knows me better than I know myself.

God bless!

 

[JReducation]

Neat. I hope that I have found “the one” and I can become a religious when God wills it to happen. I am open to whatever He wants of me. I was even thinking today that I am open to marriage (which is good; one must be open to all possibilities), but it’s not what I feel called to.

I prayed this weekend, during the feast of the Sacred Heart for patience in all things. Patience in knowing that God is leading me somewhere He had chosen just for me, and courage to commit to whatever He has planned, all for the good of His Kingdom.

If God wills me to be a Capuchin Franciscan sister, I know that it will happen when He knows I’m ready. I understand fully that He knows me better than I know myself.

God bless!

I think you are approaching this the right way, waiting and praying to understand God’s will. I’m reminded of the scripture passage that says, “Mary treasured all these things in her heart.” As God reveals himself and his will for our lives, we hold these things in our hearts until it’s time to take action.

I do want to correct a misimpression that I may have given. The CFRs and the OSFs are not Capuchins. We were founded by Capuchins and we share the Capuchin spirit. Be we are all autonomous communities.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF