**Peace and Good ! **(In Italian: Pace e Bene! )
Thank you so much Luigi, Barb, Thomas etc. for your spiritual curiosity! Sorry that I haven’t been able to reply earlier as I’ve been in pilgrimage, hitch-hiking through Italy from Padova (where there is the tomb of St. Anthony) through to Rome and then down to Sicily preparing for our departure to the US !..
So then, now to reply your questions:
Ma siete in Italia, allora? You are in Italy, then?
Answer: Our founder is residing in the diocese of Noto (Sicily); we have some friars and nuns that will be studying in Rome within a few months; we have a community of friars and nuns welcomed into the diocese of Cremona (northern Italy); we have a community of friars and nuns welcomed into a diocese of Mexico, and I with another two sisters with the Grace of God will be opening up a community in Luisiana (USA).
I depart from Rome mid August, then the sisters will soon follow.
Una domanda: uno come me che abita in America potesse diventare un terzo ordine con voi? A question: is it possible for one like myself who lives in America to become a third order member with you?
Se esiste, e un vero terzo ordine? If it exists, is it a true third order?
Answer: Yes! We are have true third order groups of prayer entitled: “the Allies of the Little Ones”… you can find all the information about them on the web site:
www.poorfriars.net and then by clicking on the right hand window/selection. We have about 100 groups that pray with us in Italian, 2 in French, 2 in Portuguese, and now one in English (in Malta). These groups (after a period of trial) sign an enrolment form with three promises (without obligation, but with the effort) of:
1) Participation to the Holy Eucharist once a Week (and Holy Confession once a month)
2) Recital of the Holy Rosary (Meditated with the simple systematical method of prayer taught by our founder Friar Volantino – with three steps: a) a short biblical passage referring to the mystery; b) a meditation from the Charisma of our community referring to the mystery; c) a short phrase from the teachings of the Catholic Church referring to the mystery.
3) Good deeds to ones brothers in spiritual need. ( As we don’t want money… If our groups ca help us in our work of evangelization, great !)
We periodically visit these groups as often as we can, going into their homes and praying with them, helping them in their spiritual needs. To become a new group, or to at least try out praying our meditations, contact me personally on my email:
vocations@poorfriars.net and I can send you the A4 Holy Rosary cards on PDF… and who knows, maybe we can come directly to you house and pray with you !
Vivete insieme (cio’e le donne e gli uomini in una stessa casa)? Do the sisters and brothers live together? (They do not, I asked this before finding the answer–they live in communities separately, but near a central house of prayer)
Answer: Yes, your right ! We are very clear about this!.. in fact, if a Brother is found in the females cloister or visa versa, one risk expulsion from the community. Like wise where ever they are a brother or a sister can never be found alone, otherwise they also risk expulsion from the community. This is imposed to avoid our human weaknesses, but also to give a clearer witness.
Da quello che vedo siete 100% colla Chiesa e col Papa, giusto? From what I see, you all are 100% orthodox members of the Roman catholic Church and under the Holy Father?
Answer: We have a grateful to have learnt that the Full Truth be found in the Holy Catholic Church… We have renounced our youth, in vows of Obedience, Poverty and Chastity to God through the Word of God, through the Holy Mother Catholic Church (Roman Apostolic, of Latin Rite) ant through or Rule of Life. Our lives are founded on Obedience to the Holy Father, and the Holy advice of his Bishops. To see a Catechetical Video that we have produced on: “Why must one be Christian Catholic”, see this link:
vimeo.com/9765983
I Hope that I have answered your questions, I’ll be more than happy to hear from you and answer other questions, and as we still do not have a group of prayer in the US, we have to begin (even more) praying !
Best wishes of Holiness and Beatific Immortality,
Friar Antonio.
