Can a Secular Franciscan in formation wear a Tau?

[FranciscanDoc]

Hello,

I am currently in formation to join the Secular Franciscan Order and would like to wear a Tau cross around my neck instead of the cross I currently wear. Is this allowed or do I need to wait until I am officially professed before I can wear the tau? I still have about a year and a half to go before I’m professed and would rather not wait that long if I don’t have to.

Thanks!

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Hello,

I am currently in formation to join the Secular Franciscan Order and would like to wear a Tau cross around my neck instead of the cross I currently wear. Is this allowed or do I need to wait until I am officially professed before I can wear the tau? I still have about a year and a half to go before I’m professed and would rather not wait that long if I don’t have to.

Thanks!

The best place to receive the correct answer to your question would be from your formation director in the SFO.

 

[albertziggy]

Hello,

I am currently in formation to join the Secular Franciscan Order and would like to wear a Tau cross around my neck instead of the cross I currently wear. Is this allowed or do I need to wait until I am officially professed before I can wear the tau? I still have about a year and a half to go before I’m professed and would rather not wait that long if I don’t have to.

Thanks!

Hi:

At what stage of your formation are you in right now? Upon the completion of your Inquirer stage, you are accepted into the Franciscan Family as a Candidate (i.e., Secular Franciscan Novice). During the Rite of Admission, you are given a distinct sign - the TAU that you wear around your neck.

If you have still about a year and a half to go, I assume you are either nearing the end of your Inquirer stage and entering the Candidacy stage.

In Christ,

albertziggy

 

[JReducation]

The Secular Franciscan Order follows the same protocols and systems as the other Franciscans. The external symbols of the order (i.e. Tau, habit or other) are not received until the beginning of the novitiate, which the SFO calls the candidacy in English. Don’t ask me why they use that word in English. It’s not in the Latin documents. The Latin documents say the same thing as the constitution of the friars and the nuns, “period of probation”, which canon law translates into novitiate.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[albertziggy]

Don’t ask me why they use that word in English. It’s not in the Latin documents. The Latin documents say the same thing as the constitution of the friars and the nuns, “period of probation”, which canon law translates into novitiate.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

Hi Br. JR,

I wish we used more common terms. When you tell someone you are a Candidate… all you get is a sratch on the head… (‘A candidate of what??’). As for ‘Inquirer’, it often brings to mind a newspaper or periodical! So you end up explaining to the person you are a novice… you are a postulant of the order, in order to make the person understand. This need to be unique can get to your nerves sometimes. Boy, I hope this thing gets straightened up.

In Christ,

albertziggy

 

[albertziggy]

Hi Br. JR,

I wish we used more common terms. When you tell someone you are a Candidate… all you get is a sratch on the head… (‘A candidate of what??’). As for ‘Inquirer’, it often brings to mind a newspaper or periodical! So you end up explaining to the person you are a novice… you are a postulant of the order, in order to make the person understand. This need to be unique can get to your nerves sometimes. Boy, I hope this thing gets straightened up.

In Christ,

albertziggy

I read from somewhere that the terms ‘Observer’, ‘Inquirer’ and ‘Candidate’ were post-Vatican II buzz words that were supposed to replace ‘Aspirant’, ‘Postulant’, and ‘Novice’. Apparently, the SFO was one of the groups that took the bait. Now the reason I get is that, ‘we want to differentiate ourselves’ from those who live in community’. By now, I see some impracticality in the use of these terms. I would not be surprised if someone someday would dare stand up and propose a change.

albertziggy

 

[JReducation]

I read from somewhere that the terms ‘Observer’, ‘Inquirer’ and ‘Candidate’ were post-Vatican II buzz words that were supposed to replace ‘Aspirant’, ‘Postulant’, and ‘Novice’. Apparently, the SFO was one of the groups that took the bait. Now the reason I get is that, ‘we want to differentiate ourselves’ from those who live in community’. By now, I see some impracticality in the use of these terms. I would not be surprised if someone someday would dare stand up and propose a change.

albertziggy

These terms were attempted in the first draft of the Code of Canon Law of 1983. But they did not fly. So the final edition of the code uses the traditional terms. From what I undrstand the Secular Franciscans of the USA and Europe wanted to push the secular identity. Unfortunately, the term secular took on another nuance after 1978. Secular is a cononical term referring to one who is not in public vows. The term does not quite work fo the SFO, because the SFO does make a public profession and does promise to observe the rule of St. Francis.

One can argue that the SFO does not vow to observe the evangelical counsels. But that’s nonsense. Every Christian is bound to the evangelical counsels. The Benedictines do not make vows of chastity, poverty and obedience either. They vow obedience to the rule and stability. But they are bound to the evangelical counsels

While the SFO is a secular order, it is bound by a solemn public promise to live the rule of St. Francis and thus bound to live the evangelical consels. Those who are single, must observe celibacy until they are married. Poverty is clearly mentioned in your rule and constitutions. So I’m not sure what is the secularity that they want to protect. I think it was just an attitude of the late 70s that just stuck.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[albertziggy]

These terms were attempted in the first draft of the Code of Canon Law of 1983. But they did not fly. So the final edition of the code uses the traditional terms. From what I undrstand the Secular Franciscans of the USA and Europe wanted to push the secular identity. Unfortunately, the term secular took on another nuance after 1978. Secular is a cononical term referring to one who is not in public vows. The term does not quite work fo the SFO, because the SFO does make a public profession and does promise to observe the rule of St. Francis.

One can argue that the SFO does not vow to observe the evangelical counsels. But that’s nonsense. Every Christian is bound to the evangelical counsels. The Benedictines do not make vows of chastity, poverty and obedience either. They vow obedience to the rule and stability. But they are bound to the evangelical counsels

While the SFO is a secular order, it is bound by a solemn public promise to live the rule of St. Francis and thus bound to live the evangelical consels. Those who are single, must observe celibacy until they are married. Poverty is clearly mentioned in your rule and constitutions. So I’m not sure what is the secularity that they want to protect. I think it was just an attitude of the late 70s that just stuck.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

Hi Br. JR,

You are absolutely right. It seems that when the 1978 rule was passed, everyone in the Order at the time wanted a drastic change. The problem is that they could not shake off that attitude once the dust was settled. When I was just starting, there was too much emphasis on the secularity aspect. I guess this attitude will be changed once a newer generation gets in and the 1970s will just be a thing of the past TV reruns (I also grew up in the 70s and the 80s so I guess I am not part of that!).

What impressed me most is the prayerful attitude of most secular franciscans, though I wish we could go beyond the usual formation modules. Once they reach the end of the novitiate stage, most Secular Franciscans don’t venture further. I am not expecting every Secular Franciscan to make a critical analysis of Bonaventure’s works or go and do a paper on John Duns Scotus, but I am expecting at least everyone to deepen their knowledge about our spirituality. Until now, I still encounter some Secular Franciscans who are not aware about the deeper meaning of the TAU or the three knots that go with it… or the awareness of the commitment they made when they professed. However, what surprises me most is when I encounter a Secular Franciscan who is quite impressed with the… Brother Sun Sister Moon movie (goodness!).

If I can get that chance, I will cause an overhaul in the formation program…among others.

albertziggy

 

[JReducation]

Hi Br. JR,

You are absolutely right. It seems that when the 1978 rule was passed, everyone in the Order at the time wanted a drastic change. The problem is that they could not shake off that attitude once the dust was settled. When I was just starting, there was too much emphasis on the secularity aspect. I guess this attitude will be changed once a newer generation gets in and the 1970s will just be a thing of the past TV reruns (I also grew up in the 70s and the 80s so I guess I am not part of that!).

What impressed me most is the prayerful attitude of most secular franciscans, though I wish we could go beyond the usual formation modules. Once they reach the end of the novitiate stage, most Secular Franciscans don’t venture further. I am not expecting every Secular Franciscan to make a critical analysis of Bonaventure’s works or go and do a paper on John Duns Scotus, but I am expecting at least everyone to deepen their knowledge about our spirituality. Until now, I still encounter some Secular Franciscans who are not aware about the deeper meaning of the TAU or the three knots that go with it… or the awareness of the commitment they made when they professed. However, what surprises me most is when I encounter a Secular Franciscan who is quite impressed with the… Brother Sun Sister Moon movie (goodness!).

If I can get that chance, I will cause an overhaul in the formation program…among others.

albertziggy

Here are some ideas for your fraterntiy. As spiritual assistant to one fraternity of SFO I was able to guide them to do several ineresting and very Franciscan things.

1. The fraternity gets together to study the writings of the Franciscan doctors: ie. Bonnie, Lawrence of Brindisi, Pius X, Leo XIII and John XXIII, for example.
2. They have teemed up with the Franciscan Brothers of Life (my order) to run the Respect Life Ministry in our diocese. They have five pregnancy centers, an outreach program to school kids, an education program for parishes, retreats for volunteers in the Respect Life Ministry, workshops to train counselors, counseling for parents who opted for abortion, prayer crusades outside of abortion mills, fund raising and other resources to help families who are in crisis pregnancies.
3. They run youth days four times a year.
4. They gather for special events such a viewing and critiquing the latest movie Francis and Clare.
5. They have teamed up with other fraternities to celebrate the Solemnity of our holy Father Francis this year.
6. They raise money for those fraternity members who have become unemployed in this financial crisis.
7. They deliver food to the fraternity members who are out of work.
8. They have teams that visit the older members who can no longer attend fraternal gatherings.
9. They have a luandry service. They take in the clothing that is going to the poor, wash it, iron it, fold and package it, then deliver it to the distribution centers.
10. They have an adoration night every month before the Blessed Sacrament.
11. They have a liturgy class and they’re studying the EF and the OF, both the mass and the Liturgy of the Hours.

Not everyone has to go to everything. But there are some people who attend almost everything. They make sure that there are enough brothers and sisters for each ministry or activity.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[albertziggy]

Here are some ideas for your fraterntiy. As spiritual assistant to one fraternity of SFO I was able to guide them to do several ineresting and very Franciscan things.

1. The fraternity gets together to study the writings of the Franciscan doctors: ie. Bonnie, Lawrence of Brindisi, Pius X, Leo XIII and John XXIII, for example.
2. They have teemed up with the Franciscan Brothers of Life (my order) to run the Respect Life Ministry in our diocese. They have five pregnancy centers, an outreach program to school kids, an education program for parishes, retreats for volunteers in the Respect Life Ministry, workshops to train counselors, counseling for parents who opted for abortion, prayer crusades outside of abortion mills, fund raising and other resources to help families who are in crisis pregnancies.
3. They run youth days four times a year.
4. They gather for special events such a viewing and critiquing the latest movie Francis and Clare.
5. They have teamed up with other fraternities to celebrate the Solemnity of our holy Father Francis this year.
6. They raise money for those fraternity members who have become unemployed in this financial crisis.
7. They deliver food to the fraternity members who are out of work.
8. They have teams that visit the older members who can no longer attend fraternal gatherings.
9. They have a luandry service. They take in the clothing that is going to the poor, wash it, iron it, fold and package it, then deliver it to the distribution centers.
10. They have an adoration night every month before the Blessed Sacrament.
11. They have a liturgy class and they’re studying the EF and the OF, both the mass and the Liturgy of the Hours.

Not everyone has to go to everything. But there are some people who attend almost everything. They make sure that there are enough brothers and sisters for each ministry or activity.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

Hi Br. JR:

Sorry for the late reply. Many thanks for such wonderful ideas! I hope to bring these up with our fraternity, and see how these can be discussed with our regional minister. Btw, we are an ‘emerging fraternity’. Our mother fraternity is under the Observants. Our young fraternity hopes to get a Spiritual Assistant soon (We are under the Capuchins).

You mentioned the Solemnity of our Seraphic Father. In our case, this is an Inter-Franciscan activity. Every year, members of the different orders choose a venue where the Transitus would be held. The mass is concelebrated by the provincial ministers of the OFM, OFMCap and OFMConv. The SFO National Minister and the superiors of the numerous third order regulars are all in attendance. This is an exciting event - Franciscans of different ages, shapes, sizes and habits gather together as a family - even the Poor Clares attend . This must be a glimpse of the Franciscan afterlife.

I hope you don’t mind, but how is Transitus celebrated in your area?

Again, many thanks!

albertziggy

 

[JReducation]

Hi Br. JR:

Sorry for the late reply. Many thanks for such wonderful ideas! I hope to bring these up with our fraternity, and see how these can be discussed with our regional minister. Btw, we are an ‘emerging fraternity’. Our mother fraternity is under the Observants. Our young fraternity hopes to get a Spiritual Assistant soon (We are under the Capuchins).

You mentioned the Solemnity of our Seraphic Father. In our case, this is an Inter-Franciscan activity. Every year, members of the different orders choose a venue where the Transitus would be held. The mass is concelebrated by the provincial ministers of the OFM, OFMCap and OFMConv. The SFO National Minister and the superiors of the numerous third order regulars are all in attendance. This is an exciting event - Franciscans of different ages, shapes, sizes and habits gather together as a family - even the Poor Clares attend . This must be a glimpse of the Franciscan afterlife.

I hope you don’t mind, but how is Transitus celebrated in your area?

Again, many thanks!

albertziggy

Normally we do an interfraternal transitus led by the SFO, because they are more numerous than the friars in our diocese. We have only one OFM Conv fraternity and two OSF fraternities. There are only 13 friars in the entire diocese, between the two orders. There are over 100 SFO brothers and sisters.

This year, the Solemnity of St. Francis coincided with Respect Life Sunday. the decision was made that the Transitus would be dispensed with and that every Franciscan would participate in the Respect Life activities of October 3. On Sunday, October 4, we are having the solemn mass of our holy Father St. Francis, because the mass of the day is trumped by the feast of St. Francis in our parish. After mass there will be a formal sit-down lunch, a social time and solemn vespers of the Solemnity of St. Francis, celebrated by all the Franciscans together.

The Ministers felt that our holy Father would not want us to pass up the oportunity to be present at the Respect Life activities to commemorate his passing, but the best way to commemorate his entrance into eternity would be to participate in the Respect Life activities of Oct 3, especially because the OSF and the SFO run the Respect Life ministry for the archdiocese. For us not to be there, while all the parishes of the archdiocese are, would be a very bad example of our holy Father’s true understanding of the Gospel.

After solemn vespers on Oct 4, I have to run clear across the city to do a prayer meeting with about 500 youth at Life Teen, who are also celebrating the Solemnity of our holy Father. I’m making arrangements for someone to pick me up, because we (the OSF) do not have cars. Our constitution does not allow cars. We walk and take public transportation or hitch-hike. We had two bikes, but they are not usable and we don’t have the money to fix them. It was either fix the bikes or buy a laptop for our Resepct Life Ministry. Well, guess what had to be sacrificed? LOL. Everntually, we will have money to get new wheels for our bikes.

I used to work as a high school principal and bring in a steady income for our fraternity. But since I got sick, the school for which I worked terminated my contract So we now beg for our food, rent money, utility money and medical care. We’re very happy. God has been so good. The SFO has been very generous to us. Every week they show up with some money or food. They drive us everywhere. They even help us pay for my medications. Since I’m the procurator of the fraternity, I have to find a new job to bring in some money so that we dont starve. I now we won’t. We have never gone to bed hungry. But we have two brothers who are widowers and have dependent children, myself and another. We not only have to support ourselves, but also our children.

But, as I always tell the novices, God is good.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[albertziggy]

We’re very happy. God has been so good. The SFO has been very generous to us. Every week they show up with some money or food. They drive us everywhere. They even help us pay for my medications. Since I’m the procurator of the fraternity, I have to find a new job to bring in some money so that we dont starve. I now we won’t. We have never gone to bed hungry. But we have two brothers who are widowers and have dependent children, myself and another. We not only have to support ourselves, but also our children.

But, as I always tell the novices, God is good.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

Hi Br.JR:

There is this unique relationship between the Secular and Regular Franciscans you brought up. The Regular Franciscans vow to live the life without property, and at the same time the Secular Franciscans live in simplicity so that he could share something for their Regular Brothers/Sisters… Really neat.

BTW. When I read your post, I could sense the Spirit of our Father Francis alive in you! God has indeed blessed you.

In Christ,
albertziggy

 

[jimcintosh]

You are absolutely right. It seems that when the 1978 rule was passed, everyone in the Order at the time wanted a drastic change. The problem is that they could not shake off that attitude once the dust was settled. When I was just starting, there was too much emphasis on the secularity aspect. I guess this attitude will be changed once a newer generation gets in and the 1970s will just be a thing of the past TV reruns (I also grew up in the 70s and the 80s so I guess I am not part of that!).

Here in Bolivia, the Secular Franciscans wear habits. It is generally a brown dress (most are women) and a white cord. This is a hold-over from the old 1883 Rule, where in Chapter 1.3 they were allowed a scapular and a cord.

The problem this creates is that it blurs the line between religious and secular. The SFO is not a religious order, it is a secular order. With the new Rule, this is made very clear in the second chapter (“In these fraternities the brothers and sisters, led by the Spirit, strive for perfect charity in their own secular state.”). The Constitutions go further in Article 3.1 to say “The secular state characterizes the spirituality and the apostolic life of those belonging to the SFO.”

The reason that religious words (Postulant, etc.) are not used is to make clear to both to the members of the SFO (and to those outside the Order) that they belong, not to a religious order, but a secular one.

I see you say that there was “too much emphasis on the secularity aspect” but in fact this aspect lies at the basis of the Order. As the Constitutions say, it characterizes the spirituality and apostolic life of its members.

Each part of the Franciscan Family has its particular charism. Poor Clares are cloistered. TORs emphasize penance – that is, conversion. OFMs emphasize minority. Together, a complete symphony is formed. If an orchestra only has woodwinds, the music it can play is quite limited.

The members of the SFO have a distinctive sphere into which they are called to bring the Franciscan message, and that sphere is the wider world where friars and sisters can’t go. It is to the workplace, to the daycare center, to all the centers where the secular people live their lives. This vocation is an incredibly challenging one.

Given this incredible vocation, I think it would be a mistake to return to the past where members of the SFO (then the Third Order Secular) were some type of “junior religious”. The 1978 Rule and subsequent Constitutions give the members of the SFO their own distinctive vocation and, in fact, they are the only ones who can do this vocation.

Peace and all good!

 

[JReducation]

Here in Bolivia, the Secular Franciscans wear habits. It is generally a brown dress (most are women) and a white cord. This is a hold-over from the old 1883 Rule, where in Chapter 1.3 they were allowed a scapular and a cord.

The problem this creates is that it blurs the line between religious and secular. The SFO is not a religious order, it is a secular order. With the new Rule, this is made very clear in the second chapter (“In these fraternities the brothers and sisters, led by the Spirit, strive for perfect charity in their own secular state.”). The Constitutions go further in Article 3.1 to say “The secular state characterizes the spirituality and the apostolic life of those belonging to the SFO.”

The reason that religious words (Postulant, etc.) are not used is to make clear to both to the members of the SFO (and to those outside the Order) that they belong, not to a religious order, but a secular one.

I see you say that there was “too much emphasis on the secularity aspect” but in fact this aspect lies at the basis of the Order. As the Constitutions say, it characterizes the spirituality and apostolic life of its members.

Each part of the Franciscan Family has its particular charism. Poor Clares are cloistered. TORs emphasize penance – that is, conversion. OFMs emphasize minority. Together, a complete symphony is formed. If an orchestra only has woodwinds, the music it can play is quite limited.

The members of the SFO have a distinctive sphere into which they are called to bring the Franciscan message, and that sphere is the wider world where friars and sisters can’t go. It is to the workplace, to the daycare center, to all the centers where the secular people live their lives. This vocation is an incredibly challenging one.

Given this incredible vocation, I think it would be a mistake to return to the past where members of the SFO (then the Third Order Secular) were some type of “junior religious”. The 1978 Rule and subsequent Constitutions give the members of the SFO their own distinctive vocation and, in fact, they are the only ones who can do this vocation.

Peace and all good!

The problem that I see is the confusion between what canon law defines as the secular state and what many Secular Franciscans think the term “secular” means. In canon law, any diocesan cleric or any cleric who does not belong to a religious community is also a secular man. Therefore, it is not quite accurate to say that the Secular Order goes where the religious cannot go, when in fact there are thousands of clerics in the Secular Franciscan Order. They are limited by their ordination.

The Secular Franciscans, at least in the USA, need to seriously ask themselves whether they are continuing the tradition of the original Brothers and Sisters of Penance as it was lived by the early Secular Franciscans such as Margaret of Cortona, Joan of Arc, Elizabeth of Hungary, Louis King of France and Contardo Ferrini. If you come to the USA, you’ll find that most SFs are simpoly members of an organization that meets once a month and goes home. They don’t have a Franciscan presence in the local Church. Every community in the Church, makes it its primary duty to promote itself in order to stay alive. Look at Opus Dei. They are very much secular men and women, but they are very visible and their ministry is very indentifiable.

Secular Franciscans in the USA have successfully earned for themselve the rejection of their religious brothers and sisters, because they continuously refuse anything that they suspect is “religious” and in so doing, they have very little knowledge about our Franciscan history, Franciscan thoelogy, Franciscan mysticism and spirituality, and often they don’t even know their own rule and constitutions. Do you realize that the solemnity of our Holy Father St. Francis often comes and goes and many Secular Franciscan fraternities just ignore it?

Then there is the issue of the apostolate. Every Franciscan fraternity, regular or secular, must have an apostolic mission in the Church. The Seculars often have nothing. Each one is attached to his parish, but they lack cohesiveness. They lack a fraternity ministry.

Finally, there is the issue of status. Even though the SFO claims to be a secular order, it still remains under the jurisdiction of the Sacred Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Why not transfer to the Sacred Congregation on the Laity? I believe that the answer is that the Holy See does not see the SFO as totally detached from this other population. They may be seculars, as are members of many societies of apostolic life, but they are not the same as the man in the pew. There is something different about you.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[jimcintosh]

If you come to the USA, you’ll find that most SFs are simpoly members of an organization that meets once a month and goes home. They don’t have a Franciscan presence in the local Church.

I agree that the ideals of the founder, the Rule, the Constitutions, etc. are rarely lived out in practice. One could argue the same thing about the Church as a whole. We’ve had 2,000 years. Where’s the Kingdom of God? Is it more present now than in year 33?

At the Second Vatican Council, religious orders and congregations were called to return to their founding charism. Most took this as an opportunity to “re-found” their congregations.

The SFO Rule of 1978 was an opportunity for the “re-founding” of the SFO. Some fraternities embraced this opportunity. I think the national and international leadership understood and understands this challenge. I think that “regionalization” was a good thing in that it reorganized the SFO into a distinctive whole.

The problem is that trying to organize Franciscans is like trying to herd cats. Many fraternities were composed of elderly persons who were not up to the challenge. Others, for whatever reason, chose not to take up the challenge.

It has been over 30 years since the Pauline Rule was promulgated. Perhaps it is time to re-re-found the Order.

Two minor points. One, it is my experience that the SFO accepts and celebrates their spiritual assistants. I have been one in the U.S. and know many other friars who very willingly accept this responsibility. Second, the SFO is a secular Order but is the secular arm of a religious family – the Franciscan family – and therefore is situated well within the Vatican hierarchy.

 

[JReducation]

I agree that the ideals of the founder, the Rule, the Constitutions, etc. are rarely lived out in practice. One could argue the same thing about the Church as a whole. We’ve had 2,000 years. Where’s the Kingdom of God? Is it more present now than in year 33?

At the Second Vatican Council, religious orders and congregations were called to return to their founding charism. Most took this as an opportunity to “re-found” their congregations.

The SFO Rule of 1978 was an opportunity for the “re-founding” of the SFO. Some fraternities embraced this opportunity. I think the national and international leadership understood and understands this challenge. I think that “regionalization” was a good thing in that it reorganized the SFO into a distinctive whole.

The problem is that trying to organize Franciscans is like trying to herd cats. Many fraternities were composed of elderly persons who were not up to the challenge. Others, for whatever reason, chose not to take up the challenge.

It has been over 30 years since the Pauline Rule was promulgated. Perhaps it is time to re-re-found the Order.

Two minor points. One, it is my experience that the SFO accepts and celebrates their spiritual assistants. I have been one in the U.S. and know many other friars who very willingly accept this responsibility. Second, the SFO is a secular Order but is the secular arm of a religious family – the Franciscan family – and therefore is situated well within the Vatican hierarchy.

I agree with everything that you’re saying, especially your last sentence. I too am a spiritual assistant to an SFO fraternity. Actually, it’s a very vibrant fraternity. But I have also had to correct some brothers and sisters from the SFO who post on this thread. They often confuse the average poster by denying their place in the Franciscan family and within the Vatican hierarchy. I had one SFO poster claim that there is no difference between the SFO and other Catholics in the pew. I was horrified. Why become a Franciscan in the first place, if you’re not looking for a way of life, a spirituality, a religious family that is different? I was wonderfing, what went wrong with this person’s formation?

Now I realize that you’re an American. I was wondering about your impeccable English. I was a missionary in Ecuador.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[albertziggy]

It has been over 30 years since the Pauline Rule was promulgated. Perhaps it is time to re-re-found the Order.

QUOTE]

I see we all agree on something. (What Br JR wrote applies a lot from where I come from…)

In Christ,
albertziggy

 

[JReducation]

jimcintosh;5803462:

It has been over 30 years since the Pauline Rule was promulgated. Perhaps it is time to re-re-found the Order.

QUOTE]

I see we all agree on something. (What Br JR wrote applies a lot from where I come from…)

In Christ,
albertziggy

The Secular Franciscan Order is the largest branch of the Franciscan family, over 600,000 brothers and sisers. But they need to tighten up on their formation and their presence in the Church as a community, not just as individual Catholics. You guys are an order. Order means that you are sent. It means that you have a organized life as individuals and as a fraternity. You are not isolated agents. You have co-responsibility with the rest of the Franciscan order to spread the Gospel in the manner of St. Francis.

You guys have tio pick up on your formation program. Read the rule and constituions prayerfully. Discuss them and find applications as a community. You’re not just a collection of individuals, but a brotherhood. You should bein engaged in ministry and fraternity life that can be observed by the rest of the faithful. If you can’t be observed, then you are no different from other Catholics. Then why join this way of life?

You have to read the Decree on the Apsotolate of the Laity, get involved in diocesan ministries as a fraternity, take care of your brothers and sisters who are sick, poor, and old. Don’t settle for a monthly meeting and call it fraternity. Event he local high school council meets more frequently than that. Most teens have busier schedules than adults.

Read the great masters of the order: Francis, Bonaventure, Clare, Louis King of France, Elizabeth of Hungary, Thomas Moore, Joan of Arc, Pius X, Leo XIII, John XXIII, Matt Talbot, and Catherine DeHueck. But don’t just read them, make it a point to immitate them as a fraternity.

For God’s sake, DO SOMETHING to bring the Franciscan spirit into the world. Give up this nonsense that you can bring Francis’s Gospel Living into the world in an anonymous fashion. There was nothing anonymous about Francis or about the early Secular Franciscans. Whose bright idea was this anonymity thing? A light has to shine.

Secular Franciscans have a great light to shine. GO FOR IT!

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[gmcbroom]

They can get married?

 

[JReducation]

They can get married?

Some Secular Franciscans are deacons, priests, bishops and even bishops. Most are married men and women. There are also celibate men and women.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

PS. OSF stands for Order of St. Francis and SFO stands for Secular Franciscan Order. Different branches of the Thrid Order of St. Francis. OSF men and women are celibate.