How has Pope Francis impacted your spirituality so far?

[Sirach2]

His name is Brother Tarcisius Maria, FFV. He’s a non clerical friar. I only mention this, because people often think that we who are religious men and not ordained are not priests because we’re dumb or too lazy to go to school. Brother is a lawyer, theologian and now studying to be a philosopher. He’s from Argentina. He’s absolutely insightful and a delightful person. I love being around him. He looks like a kid to begin with. He’s often teased about that.

I’m from central VA. We use gumbands, drink pop, eat hoagies, and we’ll see ya’ll later.

Here’s a very nice profile of him on EWTN. However did not understand your title of FFV, as being different from MVFA. Could you explain? Also, how do you know him, since he is in another state from you and is cloistered?

Oh, and our natives “worsh” their clothes in the “cellar” and “arn” them. But I’m from Michigan and never picked up much of that lingo.

 

[cheezey]

I believe that this man is going to teach us a great deal about charity. I just heard a Franciscan non-clerical friar from Argentina tell the most wonderful story…

I like this! I cannot define how he has already impacted me, yet, as these stories some out, they support the “intuitive gut feeling” I immediately received from his presence as well as his first words and actions; his obvious humility of compassion. Compassion should flow easily; it doesn’t for some. For Pope Francis, it is second nature…God Bless him!!

I watched it, too, Brother JR – EWTN Live. He had a most delightful accent and was such an interesting speaker. I forget his name. Incidentally, in my neck of the woods, “gumbands” is a phrase that most people lovingly joke about almost as frequently as “yuns.” I was not aware that this is commonly used anywhere else but here. It was our identifying colloquialism. We sell T-shirts at the airport with a whole list of them.

( I see another thread on colloquialisms…)

 

[TimothyH]

His name is Brother Tarcisius Maria, FFV. He’s a non clerical friar. I only mention this, because people often think that we who are religious men and not ordained are not priests because we’re dumb or too lazy to go to school. Brother is a lawyer, theologian and now studying to be a philosopher. He’s from Argentina. He’s absolutely insightful and a delightful person. I love being around him. He looks like a kid to begin with. He’s often teased about that.

I’m from central VA. We use gumbands, drink pop, eat hoagies, and we’ll see ya’ll later.

Real southerners skip ya’ll and go straight to yaw.

***Aw yaw do’in aw’rite? ***

On a serious note, I did a class on Catholic Spirituality for RCIA and learned much in my research, and much from your posts Brother.

Jesuit spirituality is different from monasic spirituality. Monastic spirituality is one of Christ retreating in the destert to pray alone. Jesuits don’t need to go someplace special, off into the desert of the monastery to pray. Jesus is a friend who is close all the time, someone with whom they can have a very intimate conversation at any time. God can be found in the sick, the suffering, in changing a diaper, cutting the grass or riding a bus. Jesuit spirituality is one of a very close, personal God.

I think this is going to challenge some with a “High Christology” view of our Lord. That’s not so say that a high christology view is bad or wrong, just that I think that this Jesuit spirituality will be a challenge to those who overemphasize Christ’s divinity at the expense of his humanity. I fear that some will see this as a lack of reverence, or a de-emphasis of sin. I was in a cowering “Imitation of Christ” high christology mindset for some time, until I learned to relax a little.

St. Josemaria’s idea of divine filiation and the eastern idea of divinization helped a great deal to instil a sense of pride and empowerment in me, allowed me to live the reality of my sacramental confirmation instead of cowering in fear of God. I hope that many find that same empowerment and freedom through the ministry of our new Holy Father.

-Tim-

 

[JReducation]

Here’s a very nice profile of him on EWTN. However did not understand your title of FFV, as being different from MVFA. Could you explain? Also, how do you know him, since he is in another state from you and is cloistered?

Oh, and our natives “worsh” their clothes in the “cellar” and “arn” them. But I’m from Michigan and never picked up much of that lingo.

No no no, don’t misunderstand. Franciscan men are never cloistered. That’s not allowed by the holy rule. Brother is not cloistered at all. Their ministry is very centered around communication and adoration, but the MFVA friars are not monks. Only Franciscan women can be monastic, never men. A Franciscan man can be a hermit, but not cloistered.

I know the MFVA friars from visits to the shrine. We’ve been there on retreat three times and I was also there for a tour of EWTN.

 

[Sirach2]

Thanks for ‘splainin’ things. I had thought Mother Angelica founded the order with some who were responsible for the network and priesthood, and other who were simply cloistered. Aren’t the sisters cloistered, Brother?

 

[TimothyH]

Thanks for ‘splainin’ things. I had thought Mother Angelica founded the order with some who were responsible for the network and priesthood, and other who were simply cloistered. Aren’t the sisters cloistered, Brother?

I thought they were Benedictine at first.

Mother Angelica’s community seems to be a conteplative, monastic Franciscan community.

-Tim-

 

[Rich_C]

Thank you, Wanderer. I love him, too, and I’m sure many others world-wide love him and are inspired by his example.

As you said, the topic of the thread is not for speculating on what the pope may or may not do. In fact, it has been derailed long enough.

Please, let us go back to topic. Those who want to prepare a sour wine with regard to the pope, start another thread.

I hung his holiness’ picture in our living room in the frame that used to hold Pope Benedicts’, and I now pray for “Pope Francis” at Mass and in my rosary.

On Sunday, Monsignor reminded us that we have entered Passiontide and we ought to put aside the excitement of the papal conclave and get everything we can out of Lent before Easter comes. I am trying to take his direction on that and not worry about anything but the Passion for right now.

Of course, easier said than done.

 

[Sirach2]

I hung his holiness’ picture in our living room in the frame that used to hold Pope Benedicts’, and I now pray for “Pope Francis” at Mass and in my rosary.

On Sunday, Monsignor reminded us that we have entered Passiontide and we ought to put aside the excitement of the papal conclave and get everything we can out of Lent before Easter comes. I am trying to take his direction on that and not worry about anything but the Passion for right now.

Of course, easier said than done.

My pastor already obtained a large picture of Pope Francis that presently replaces the one of Pope Benedict in the back of the church. It was so nice to see it there. God bless your family for placing him in your living room. What a lovely reminder to pray for him. To be honest, I have include him in my 3 PM devotion to Divine Mercy and never miss offering a portion of my mass intention for him. Strangely, I was not moved do that for Pope Benedict, except to unite with the priest as he prays for the pope and clergy in the Eucharistic Prayer.

Last night in EWTN Live, the panelists mentioned that the Cardinals realized very strongly the prayers of the world community as they met in conclave. It was a felt manifestation amongst themselves, the reality of which could not be denied.

 

[MarkThompson]

It seems that the day after the election, Pope Francis made calls to many people back home for different reasons. When he was archbishop, he had the newspaper delivered to his apartment daily. The next day, he called the paper delivery man. When the man asked who’s calling, His Holiness responded, “This is Father Jorge.” No one in Buenos Aires called him Cardinal or Bishop. He was always Father.

I know that makes for a good story, but according to the kiosk owner in question, the Holy Father called and said, “Habla el cardenal Jorge” (“This is Cardinal Jorge calling”).

The gentleman at the other end thought that it was some clown making fun of the pope and started to curse and holler.

Actually, he thought it was his friend Mariano, who knew that Cardinal Bergoglio had bought his paper from his newsstand, and he said, “Come on, Mariano, don’t screw with me.”

The Holy Father had to prove that he was whom he said he was.

He did not have to prove it; he simply said, “No really, this is Jorge Bergoglio; I’m calling you from Rome,” at which point the kiosk owner broke into tears. He would have known his voice, since every Sunday Cardinal Bergoglio would come by the kiosk in person to get the paper and spend ten minutes or so chatting while waiting for the bus.

When the commotion died down, the Holy Father said, “I just wanted to let you know that I won’t be needing the paper anymore. How much do I owe you?”

I haven’t seen a source that says that. Rather, “He thanked me for the time during which we had delivered the paper to him, and sent greetings to my family.”

Brother also told story that Father Jorge would collect the plastic bags and gumbands used to wrap the newspaper. At the end of each month, he would take them back to the paper man so that they would not go to waste.

There were no plastic bags, just rubber bands. “I could tell thousands of anecdotes. For example, I delivered La Nación to him with a rubber band, so it wouldn’t come apart when there was wind or rain. At the end of the month he would bring me all the rubber bands from the month, all 30!”

 

[JReducation]

Thanks for ‘splainin’ things. I had thought Mother Angelica founded the order with some who were responsible for the network and priesthood, and other who were simply cloistered. Aren’t the sisters cloistered, Brother?

Mother is the founder of the MFVA, but she was never their superior nor are they part of her order. Mother belongs to the second order of Franciscans. The second order founded by our holy parents, Francis and Clare is for monastic women only. Yes, they are cloistered.

In Franciscan life, the cloister is not as strict as it is in the Carmelite tradition. This allowed Mother to travel around the world, to be in front of the cameras, to be the CEO for a long time and do many many things outside of the cloister. Franciscan women do not make a vow of enclosure nor a vow of silence. Those sisters who are nuns are not as cloistered as those sisters who are nuns in the Carmelite, Benedictine and Carthusian traditions.

You’ll find Poor Clare nuns at WYDs, athletic events, retreats, special events in the Church, in front of the camera, or even behind the camera. Those female voices that you often hear on EWTN, be never see, such as when they put up those 30 second prayer spots, those are the nuns who make those recordings. The go out to the studio to make them.

Francis and Clare were evangelists. They did it differently from each other, but they also did it differently from other orders.

The friars are a clerical association of the Christian faithful. There are not priests and others. They are all friars (brothers). Some brothers are priests as well. Notice the “as well”. It’s not an either/or in the Franciscan family. Every man is a brother, even the secular Franciscan men are brothers. We’re not speaking brothers only in the fraternal sense. We’re also speaking canonically. Imagine if we were to make distinctions between the priest and the brother. Would Francis of Assisi be welcome back to govern his order? Would he be welcome back to preach? Would he be welcome back to teach?

Do you see the difficulty for Franciscans? For this reason, every Franciscan male is a canonical brother, even those who are married. The married brothers are secular Franciscans, not friars. That’s the difference. The celibate brothers are friars. The Franciscan family is a little confusing for many, because we’re an exception to many traditions. We are a tradition within the great tradition of the Church.

Therefore, every Franciscan male must vow to live the canonical life of a brother until death. Some brothers are called to be priests. It’s a vocation within a vocation. Their ministry is sacramental. Other brothers are called to other ministries. Again, remember that some brothers are secular and some are friars. Those secular brothers called to be priests would be attached to a diocese. Those who are friars would be attached to one of the branches of the friars.

In the case of Brother Tarcisius, if you look at his bio, he is also a Vocation Director and I believe he may be a vicar. You need not be a priest to hold a post in the Franciscan family or to perform a ministry that does not require Holy Orders.

The network is entirely lay. It is Franciscan, but it is not run by the religious. The friars are employees of the network. The network is both their ministry and a source of income for them. According to the rule, every brother must work to earn a living. Begging is only allowed when we cannot earn enough.

Some of the MFVA brothers have very important positions at EWTN: in production, finances, technology and even in front of the camera. For example, Brother Leo is not only a “star” of his own show, he’s also an author. He’s an inventor as well and he does much for EWTN in front of the camera and behind the camera. One of the priests is in the finance department.

The MFVA is very different from most religious communities. We hope and pray that someday they will be elevated to a religious congregation. Right now, they’re an association. My guess is that it may have to do with numbers. I’m guessing this, because that’s our status as well. Until you have a certain number of solemnly professed religious, you can’t be a congregation. You don’t really need solemnly professed religious. Even a number of perpetually professed religious is enough. But you must reach that number before the Holy See will grant you the status of a congregation.

 

[Sirach2]

The MFV-**A **is very different from most religious communities. We hope and pray that someday they will be elevated to a religious congregation. Right now, they’re an association. My guess is that it may have to do with numbers. I’m guessing this, because that’s our status as well. Until you have a certain number of solemnly professed religious, you can’t be a congregation. You don’t really need solemnly professed religious. Even a number of perpetually professed religious is enough. But you must reach that number before the Holy See will grant you the status of a congregation.

I’m assuming the “A” stands for association? Our chapter in Carmel began just this way. Until we had ten members who made first promises and at least one who had made final promises to serve as President, we could not apply for canonical erection. It was such an interesting experience to go through. Our first elections and drawing up the statutes, choosing the name, etc. were a wonderful experience in seeing how all of this unfolds.

Thanks again for kindly interrupting the thread for this thorough explanation. I never quite understood how Mother Angelica’s priests and nuns were formed, and I did not read Raymond Arroyo’s books either, which may have explained it.

 

[JReducation]

I know that makes for a good story, but according to the kiosk owner in question, the Holy Father called and said, “Habla el cardenal Jorge” (“This is Cardinal Jorge calling”).

Actually, he thought it was his friend Mariano, who knew that Cardinal Bergoglio had bought his paper from his newsstand, and he said, “Come on, Mariano, don’t screw with me.”

He did not have to prove it; he simply said, “No really, this is Jorge Bergoglio; I’m calling you from Rome,” at which point the kiosk owner broke into tears. He would have known his voice, since every Sunday Cardinal Bergoglio would come by the kiosk in person to get the paper and spend ten minutes or so chatting while waiting for the bus.

I haven’t seen a source that says that. Rather, “He thanked me for the time during which we had delivered the paper to him, and sent greetings to my family.”

There were no plastic bags, just rubber bands. “I could tell thousands of anecdotes. For example, I delivered La Nación to him with a rubber band, so it wouldn’t come apart when there was wind or rain. At the end of the month he would bring me all the rubber bands from the month, all 30!”

I was not there, so I wouldn’t know the details as well as you do. I’m only reporting what Brother reported.

I will say this though, it’s not necessary to correct the details as much. Sometimes, we get too caught up in the details and miss the essence. I believe that the essence is what Brother was trying to point out. The essence is that this man is truly a Jesuit.

I’m assuming the “A” stands for association? Our chapter in Carmel began just this way. Until we had ten members who made first promises and at least one who had made final promises to serve as President, we could not apply for canonical erection. It was such an interesting experience to go through. Our first elections and drawing up the statutes, choosing the name, etc. were a wonderful experience in seeing how all of this unfolds.

Thanks again for kindly interrupting the thread for this thorough explanation. I never quite understood how Mother Angelica’s priests and nuns were formed, and I did not read Raymond Arroyo’s books either, which may have explained it.

I’ve never read that book either. It’s on my long long list of must reads. However, if I were to purchase every book on that list, I would be in deep trouble. Poverty does not allow us to own books. It’s already an exception to the rule when you have a few.

Speaking of which, that’s one thing that I feel that Pope Francis has reawakened in me personally. I’ve always been poor. But being poor and being joyfully poor are not the same thing. There is a joy in this man’s poverty that I find contagious.

 

[Sirach2]

Speaking of which, that’s one thing that I feel that Pope Francis has reawakened in me personally. I’ve always been poor. But being poor and being joyfully poor are not the same thing. There is a joy in this man’s poverty that I find contagious.

Aha! You inadvertently brought the thread back to topic in a very lovely witness of how his life impacted you spiritually so far. Amen!!!

 

[choliks]

In my country’s capital, you’ll find those in poverty in almost every square meter of major thoroughfares. I’m a commuter and I see them everyday. What Pope Francis has reminded is that my pay grade doesn’t make me any better than the beggar on the street. At the end of the day, or this life, I am as poor as he is.

 

[JReducation]

Aha! You inadvertently brought the thread back to topic in a very lovely witness of how his life impacted you spiritually so far. Amen!!!

Actually, I tried to say something else before, but I guess I didn’t say it clearly enough. I commented how I thought this pope would teach us a great deal about charity. I made the comment, because I feel that he really puts charity in your face, if you know what I mean. You can’t listen to him and not ask yourself, if you’re being faithful to charity.

 

[HelenRose]

Did any of you notice a change in attitude that caused you to make changes in your customary life with Our Lord?

In what way?

It is especially providential that this election occurred during lent, wherein we may finish these last days in true and deeper holiness as we reflect on the work of the Holy Spirit in response to our new Pontiff.

For one, I am going to try his practice of praying all three mysteries of the rosary, rather than my usual ‘one.’

For another, I am discovering a new courage and strength, combining John Paul II’s motto, “Be not afraid,” with Francis’s “Let us never give in to pessimism, to that bitterness that the devil offers us every day.”

Yes and for this reason:

I believe that the Holy Spirit chose Pope Francis to follow Pope Benedict because Pope Benedict has beautifully articulated our faith and has built a solid foundation of the Church’s doctrine. We now have Pope Francis to teach us how to live this faith.

I am beginning to understand now the the power of the Holy Spirit. It will make a difference in my understanding of prayer,

 

[Tigg]

Last night in EWTN Live, the panelists mentioned that the Cardinals realized very strongly the prayers of the world community as they met in conclave. It was a felt manifestation amongst themselves, the reality of which could not be denied.

This is beautiful!

 

[crazzeto]

Like some, I’m still a bit too euphoric to really know. I know how I hope to change, I wish to better recognize Christ where I am needed too. This is an area where I have failed on many occasions, and I think the witness offered by this pontiff will help greatly here.

 

[Mike30]

He has not impacted upon it in any way.

 

[Sirach2]

He has not impacted upon it in any way.

Why doesn’t that surprise me?