Modern Francis of Assisi's

[Vimy_Ridge]

Why not? We have brothers who live that way and they are very holy men. I’m not a very holy man, but I took my turn living that way too. It was a very special time in my life. We were able to serve many people and to bring the Word of God’s love to many who never felt loved before. This was probably the greatest help that we offered.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

When I did it I ended up living under a bridge, working day labour and eating out of soup kitchens often. I could never get proper sleep and would walk around like a zombie. I was of no use to anyone then.

I think the Benedictine life is better if you want to live the life of a monk.

 

[JReducation]

When I did it I ended up living under a bridge, working day labour and eating out of soup kitchens often. I could never get proper sleep and would walk around like a zombie. I was of no use to anyone then.

I think the Benedictine life is better if you want to live the life of a monk.

Benedictine life is designed for monks. Therefore, it is better for those who have a monastic vocation.

Francis and his sons are not monks. We’re mendicants. That means that we are beggers. The only branch of the Franciscan order that is monastic is the Poor Clares. The other Franciscan obediences, as we call them, are all mendicants. The idea is not to raise the level of poverty of those who live under bridges. That was never the vision of St. Francis or the early brothers. The idea was to do two things. 1) to obey the Gospel call to live without mateiral goods and 2) to proclaim the Gospel to all men. Therefore, the early friars and early secular Franciscans all devoted themselves to a life of absolute poverty and preaching the good news. They did eat what was given to them, today’s equivalent of a soup kitchen.

Many of our friars still live this way today, because it is necessary to preserve the charism of the order. Unless we have some brothers who live this way, we lose part of our heritage.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Vimy_Ridge]

Benedictine life is designed for monks. Therefore, it is better for those who have a monastic vocation.

Francis and his sons are not monks. We’re mendicants. That means that we are beggers. The only branch of the Franciscan order that is monastic is the Poor Clares. The other Franciscan obediences, as we call them, are all mendicants. The idea is not to raise the level of poverty of those who live under bridges. That was never the vision of St. Francis or the early brothers. The idea was to do two things. 1) to obey the Gospel call to live without mateiral goods and 2) to proclaim the Gospel to all men. Therefore, the early friars and early secular Franciscans all devoted themselves to a life of absolute poverty and preaching the good news. They did eat what was given to them, today’s equivalent of a soup kitchen.

Many of our friars still live this way today, because it is necessary to preserve the charism of the order. Unless we have some brothers who live this way, we lose part of our heritage.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

I live in Toronto and used to volunteer at ‘St. Francis Table’ which is run by the Capuchin Franciscans. They actually encouraged me to go back to a more normal lifestyle. I was fascinated by the Franciscan way and wanted to really try it, but did not know anyone else who thought that way.

 

[JReducation]

I live in Toronto and used to volunteer at ‘St. Francis Table’ which is run by the Capuchin Franciscans. They actually encouraged me to go back to a more normal lifestyle. I was fascinated by the Franciscan way and wanted to really try it, but did not know anyone else who thought that way.

It’s not something that you should go at alone. I agree with the Caps on that. It must be a sustained effort by a fraternity of brothers. It has to be well coordinated by a leadership that will also protect your spiritual and physical welfare. Come to the Brothers of Life.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

PS. We were inspired by the Caps.

 

[Vimy_Ridge]

It’s not something that you should go at alone. I agree with the Caps on that. It must be a sustained effort by a fraternity of brothers. It has to be well coordinated by a leadership that will also protect your spiritual and physical welfare. Come to the Brothers of Life.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

PS. We were inspired by the Caps.

Yes, I definitely did it the wrong way, live and learn. Have not considered that kind of vocation for a while now but I’d check out your website if you have one.

 

[JReducation]

Yes, I definitely did it the wrong way, live and learn. Have not considered that kind of vocation for a while now but I’d check out your website if you have one.

We have not been able to put one up yet, because we need the money. Hopefully, we will find someone who knows how to do this who will donate it.

Right now, the bishop has asked us to work with an OMI priest, who is a very holy man, to discern how we’re going to go forward into the future. It’s a very exciting period, because we are building, not an actual building.

If you PM or email, I’d be happy to tell answer questions, as well as I can.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[jimcintosh]

1. The number of people who ACTUALLY work in the Vatican.

When asked how many people worked in the Vatican, the saintly Pope John XXIII thought about it and replied, “About half.”

 

[JReducation]

When asked how many people worked in the Vatican, the saintly Pope John XXIII thought about it and replied, “About half.”

I read that somewhere. I can’t recall where. In my younger days I was a passionate student of John XXIII. I read everything he wrote or was written about him. He and John Paul II still remain my modern day heroes.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Cluny]

IT was quite a common thing in Imperial Russia–the “strannik” (feminine “strannitsa”) or “pilgrim.”

 

[JReducation]

IT was quite a common thing in Imperial Russia–the “strannik” (feminine “strannitsa”) or “pilgrim.”

HELP! You lost me.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[jimcintosh]

The idea was to do two things. 1) to obey the Gospel call to live without mateiral goods and 2) to proclaim the Gospel to all men. Therefore, the early friars and early secular Franciscans all devoted themselves to a life of absolute poverty and preaching the good news. They did eat what was given to them, today’s equivalent of a soup kitchen.

Although Francis never said the popular saying currently being attributed to him (“Preach the gospel always; if necessary, use words”), it is a good summary of his life.

David Flood’s research says that the first friars worked for their food (although they always refused money) and only begged if they didn’t have enough.

Francis, in his Testament, says, “And I worked with my hands, and want to do so still. And I definitely want all the other brothers to work at some honest job. Those who don’t know how should learn, not because they want to receive wages but as an example and to avoid idleness. And when our wages are withheld from us, let us return to the Lord’s table, begging alms from door to door”.

Other current scholarship suggests that the Rule for Hermitages was actually commonly lived. That is, one part of a fraternity would be in prayer and the other part would go out to work – and, if necessary, beg – in order to provide for the brothers who were living in prayer.

In other words, a life of prayer and a life of hard work – preaching the gospel through their lives. Fascinating stuff.

 

[JReducation]

Although Francis never said the popular saying currently being attributed to him (“Preach the gospel always; if necessary, use words”), it is a good summary of his life.

David Flood’s research says that the first friars worked for their food (although they always refused money) and only begged if they didn’t have enough.

Francis, in his Testament, says, “And I worked with my hands, and want to do so still. And I definitely want all the other brothers to work at some honest job. Those who don’t know how should learn, not because they want to receive wages but as an example and to avoid idleness. And when our wages are withheld from us, let us return to the Lord’s table, begging alms from door to door”.

Other current scholarship suggests that the Rule for Hermitages was actually commonly lived. That is, one part of a fraternity would be in prayer and the other part would go out to work – and, if necessary, beg – in order to provide for the brothers who were living in prayer.

In other words, a life of prayer and a life of hard work – preaching the gospel through their lives. Fascinating stuff.

These writings do not deny their poverty or their detachment from material things. In fact, the emphasis was to work for what they needed, not what they wanted. They prayed, preached and worked for the necessities of life. This was the understanding of Gospel living by our early brothers. What was most beautiful about it was that they did this in communion with the Church and with each other. Their strength came from prayer, but also from fraternal living.

Today’s call to be a Franciscan remains the same as it did in the 1200s. It is a call to leave everything behind and take risks, always aware that God in his Divine Providence will provide, be it through work or through charity.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[jimcintosh]

Today’s call to be a Franciscan remains the same as it did in the 1200s. It is a call to leave everything behind and take risks, always aware that God in his Divine Providence will provide, be it through work or through charity.

And, I think that Francis saw this – and I would too – as a central component of the Gospels (which brings us back to the original poster’s message).

When I was growing up in the States, the sermons following the story of the Rich Young Man always described it as “difficult”. Perhaps, it was said, the “eye of the needle” was a gate in Jerusalem so that it would actually be possible for a rich man to get into heaven. Perhaps this and perhaps that.

This story, though, is only “difficult” if you read it through the eyes of the rich. In the eyes of the poor, the story isn’t difficult at all. Jesus, who, remember, had no place to lay his head, was sitting with other poor people when a rich man asked what he had to do to be saved. After saying that he followed all the commandments and asking what else he had to do, Jesus said, “Sell all you have.” In other words, come and join us. Come join the poor who you can find all around you.

In this journey to be at the side of Jesus, I think that Matthew 11:30 can be a great help. Jesus tells us, “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” But how can it possibly be easy joining the poor? The key, I think, is to take little steps and don’t think too far ahead of yourself. Each step can be easy, and at the end you will find that you have progressed far on your journey.

 

[CHRIS_DICKSON]

All of this is wonderful and good, but we must never exclude those who are Franciscans in their hearts. After all, many, like myself, have vocations. My vocation has a name. It’s called “Karen.” My wife has a degenerative, incurable disease, and I would therefore be in violation of the vows I took before God to walk away from her in her time of need.

That is why Francis came up with the Third Order, so that those of us who are unable to completely walk away from the world can still embrace the core principles of the Order.

At first glance, there appears to be large numbers within the Third Order Seculars who more openly attempt to live the Rule of 1221 than those in the First and Second Orders. Laxists appear to be the rule rather than the exception in monasteries and convents alike. In the eyes of many in the Church, Franciscans no longer worship the “Creator” as much as they do “creation” (and the United Nations!) Rather than following the example of our Seraphic Father Francis and going around the countryside preaching Repentance and Penance, we find ourselves preaching New Age Reiki, living in homes of luxury and the only fasts we adhere to is from wearing Franciscan habits!

 

[jimcintosh]

At first glance, there appears to be large numbers within the Third Order Seculars who more openly attempt to live the Rule of 1221 than those in the First and Second Orders. Laxists appear to be the rule rather than the exception in monasteries and convents alike. In the eyes of many in the Church, Franciscans no longer worship the “Creator” as much as they do “creation” (and the United Nations!) Rather than following the example of our Seraphic Father Francis and going around the countryside preaching Repentance and Penance, we find ourselves preaching New Age Reiki, living in homes of luxury and the only fasts we adhere to is from wearing Franciscan habits!

I don’t know about any of that. Since the Rule of 1221 was never approved by Rome, it’s probably good that aren’t judged on how well we try to follow it. It’s spirit, however, is hopefully present in the following Rule. The Rule we vow to live is the Rule of 1223.

I would have to disagree with your characterization of the Second Order. In all my years, the women I have encountered who are Poor Clares are deeply committed to poverty and living their lives faithfully.

I learned long ago that two words you can never use in Franciscan life are “everyone” and “never”. There are always exceptions, but by-and-large, I think the Poor Clares have held onto their charism very faithfully.

All the best. Peace.

 

[CHRIS_DICKSON]

I don’t know about any of that. Since the Rule of 1221 was never approved by Rome, it’s probably good that aren’t judged on how well we try to follow it. It’s spirit, however, is hopefully present in the following Rule. The Rule we vow to live is the Rule of 1223.

I would have to disagree with your characterization of the Second Order. In all my years, the women I have encountered who are Poor Clares are deeply committed to poverty and living their lives faithfully.

I learned long ago that two words you can never use in Franciscan life are “everyone” and “never”. There are always exceptions, but by-and-large, I think the Poor Clares have held onto their charism very faithfully.

All the best. Peace.

Thank you, Jim.

I couldn’t agree with you more. There is a group of Poor Clares just outside of Steubenville, Ohio who exemplify everything Sts. Francis and Clare stood for. That’s why their numbers continue to grow daily while others have not seen novices enter their orders for nearly 30 years.

Pace!

 

[JReducation]

I don’t know about any of that. Since the Rule of 1221 was never approved by Rome, it’s probably good that aren’t judged on how well we try to follow it. It’s spirit, however, is hopefully present in the following Rule. The Rule we vow to live is the Rule of 1223.

I would have to disagree with your characterization of the Second Order. In all my years, the women I have encountered who are Poor Clares are deeply committed to poverty and living their lives faithfully.

I learned long ago that two words you can never use in Franciscan life are “everyone” and “never”. There are always exceptions, but by-and-large, I think the Poor Clares have held onto their charism very faithfully.

All the best. Peace.

Even among the friars there are reforms taking place within and outside of the the four obediences: OFM, OFM Cap, OFM Conv, and TOR.

I can name several reforms in the USA alone that are trying very hard to follow the rule of 1223 as closely as possible.

1. Franciscans of the Renewal (come from the Capuchins)
2. Franciscans of Peace (come from the OFMs)
3. Little Brothers of St. Francis (I believe come from the OFMs)
4. Franciscan Brothers of Peace (come from TORs)
5. Franciscan Brothers of Life (come from Capuchins and SFO)
6. Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word (come from PCPAs)
7. Franciscans of the Primitive Observance (come from CFRs)
8. Francsicans of the Immaculate (come from OFM Conv)
9. Brothers and Sisters of Charity (come from SFO)

Many of these communities retain their canonical connection with the mother communnity. I know that the Little Brothers of St. Francis answer the to OFM Minister General or the OFM Conv. Minister General. I get confused.

My community, Brothers of Life, still answer to the Capuchin Minister General, though we profess the Rule of the Brothers of Penance. The Missionaries of the Eternal Word were founded by Mother Angelica, but were formed in the Capuchin tradtiion by Fr. Angelus Shaughnessy, OFM, Cap. They profess to follow the rule of the Friars Minor. Their lives are very contemplative as were the early Capuchins.

We can’t make a blanket statement about the entire Franciscan family. We are like a collage.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF