Religious Life

[JReducation]

That sounds like my ideal lifestyle! I also like that you are working in an area which face a great deal of poverty problems because that allows it to be an authentic Franciscan order.

It is a challenging life, but a beautiful life. I’m very happy. I was a Capuchin and was very happy. But this is an incredible experience. These next few years are going to be exciting, because we are young, so we are writing the future of the Franciscan family’s role in this field. This generation of brothers has to go through formation and at the same time, shape the future of Franciscan ministry to the Gospel of Life.

If you’re interested in more details, fill in the form at the site and I’d be happy to respond, so that you can save the information and pray over it.

Whatever you do, don’t stop praying to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. And remember what St. Maximilian said, which is the motto of the brothers, “Forget not love.”

The idea is to model the life of the brothers on the early Francisan friars, to reflect their simplicity, joy, fraternity, holiness and desire to learn more about Jesus by serving him and getting to know him personally in the poor and the suffering.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[DihydrogenOxide]

My vocation story is longer than most. It started with this deep fascination I had with the hierarchy of the Church, the archbishops, cardinals, etc. That was when I was very young. I had no real conception of what the priesthood was about. The year before high school things changed. A young priest at the parish had caused me to have an interest in the priesthood. I wanted to become a priest, but it was for terrible political reasons. As time went on, I actually began to love the faith. I started faithfully attending Mass. I was inspired by a Sister, who everyone thought was too strict, to go to Mass daily and become closer to God. At the same time I was working with another Sister, working with underprivileged youth and holding collections for the poor, etc. As time went on I lost the urge for the priesthood because I got involved with this girl. After going without speaking to her for a long time and realizing that my hope was over I was REALLY bad. I was doing things that were ludicrous. I became an atheist to justify my actions. I wasnt actually an atheist. Anyway, I was feeling called back to the Church. So I would go to Confession, where I found my spiritual director. However, I would always fall into my same atheistic ways. I decided that the only protection from sin was through isolationism, which I was wrong. I realized that God wasnt calling me to the priesthood, but to the Brotherhood. I realized this after having a strong desire to become a monk, but eventually losing that because I realized I am way too talkative, hence the reason for this enormously large reply. I found that spiritual purification came not so much from self-discipline, but from the loss of self to the service of others. Now, I live a life of structure with time for prayer, work, and penance. I have come to a conclusion that I am called to work with women, because of my relationship with my mother. I have also come to conclusion that I was meant to engage in service to young children because of past relationships with them. So, that is pretty much in an extremely LARGE nutshell.

Oh? You become agnostic for a while? Wow, you went through the mill.
Don’t worry about being too talkative. It’s nice to see someone write how it would sound if I were speaking face to face to that person.

Well, that’s really interesting! I hope God leads you to the right order for what you were meant to do. Are you thinking missionary work to poor, single mothers or something of that sort?

Wonderful topic, I feel the calling as well. I’m looking into several orders, but I’m going to be somewhat limited by my age (I’m a widow and my children will still be dependent on me for another 5 or 6 years). Most orders won’t take women over 40.

Don’t worry about age. Look on this site.

Make sure you click the toggles for women’s vocation and late vocation at the very bottom. Also, you can pick what type of specific tradition you would like to join. I’d start with just women’s and late vocation, so you can see the different groups available to you.

You’ll find that there are quite a lot.

 

[Richard_James]

Oh? You become agnostic for a while? Wow, you went through the mill.
Don’t worry about being too talkative. It’s nice to see someone write how it would sound if I were speaking face to face to that person.

Well, that’s really interesting! I hope God leads you to the right order for what you were meant to do. Are you thinking missionary work to poor, single mothers or something of that sort?

Don’t worry about age. Look on this site.

Make sure you click the toggles for women’s vocation and late vocation at the very bottom. Also, you can pick what type of specific tradition you would like to join. I’d start with just women’s and late vocation, so you can see the different groups available to you.

You’ll find that there are quite a lot.

I am thinking of the Capuchin Friars of the Renewal for their general work with the poor, especially children and mothers. However, I have recently discovered the Franciscans of Life on here and their way of life seems nice.

 

[JReducation]

I am thinking of the Capuchin Friars of the Renewal for their general work with the poor, especially children and mothers. However, I have recently discovered the Franciscans of Life on here and their way of life seems nice.

The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and the Franciscan Brothers of Life have a common ancestry. Both are inspired by the Capuchin reform. That’s how the word Capuchin sneaks in there, LOL.

The difference is that the Franciscans of the Renewal work with a wide range of poor and the Franciscans of Life work strictly with unborn, children, expectant parents, the terminally ill, elderly and with Life issues, including healing ministry for those who have had abortions and the conversion of those who promote and support abortion. We’re the Francisan edition of the Sisters of Life. The Franciscans of the Renewal are the Franciscan edition of the early Vincentians.

But we’re both brothers to each other and part of the great Franciscan family.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Richard_James]

Br. JR, about how long will it take for your order to be fully established? Currently, are there any postulants?

 

[DihydrogenOxide]

I am thinking of the Capuchin Friars of the Renewal for their general work with the poor, especially children and mothers. However, I have recently discovered the Franciscans of Life on here and their way of life seems nice.

I’m a pro-life sidewalk counselor. Believe me, if you like to talk, it would be something you might like getting into.

 

[Miserys_Fence]

I really hope your not 40 now because come 46 I am not too sure how you will fair. Now I ask you a question. Are you sure that your role is not with your children now?

Richard, that’s what I meant–that right now, until they are out of school and on their own, I need to be here for my children. I figure that will be another 5 or 6 years, when the youngest is out of college.

I’m 48 now, so that will put me in my early to mid 50s by the time I’m ready to go.

Miz

 

[Miserys_Fence]

Don’t worry about age. Look on this site.

Make sure you click the toggles for women’s vocation and late vocation at the very bottom. Also, you can pick what type of specific tradition you would like to join. I’d start with just women’s and late vocation, so you can see the different groups available to you.

You’ll find that there are quite a lot.

Thanks, DhO! This is a great resource!

Miz

 

[JReducation]

Br. JR, about how long will it take for your order to be fully established? Currently, are there any postulants?

It took me a minute, but I think I just figured out what you mean by “fully established.”

• A community must get the permission of the local bishop to come together, which the Brothers have.
• The local bishop assigns a spiritual assistant to assist the founder(s) with the formation of the brothers, which the bishop has done.
• When the brothers are ready, they make their first vows. The constitution says that first vows may now be made until after three months candidacy, six months postulancy and one year novitiate. There are currently four candidates.

As you go through the stages of formation of your first generation of brothers the bishop watches the growth of the community. He grants the community different canonical status. These can be

Public association of the faithful, such as the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word (EWTN)
Diocesan Congregation

I’m not sure if the Franciscans of the Renewal are a Public Association or a Diocesan Congregation.

The canonical status can last for years. To become a Public Association of the Faithful. For that to happen you must be ready to profess at least four novices.

There are also congregations and orders of Pontifical Right, such as the Capuchins, Carmelites, Holy Cross Brothers, Christian Brothers, and so forth. But that is up to the Holy Father to grant that and there is no fixed amount of time. Some communities get it within three months others 30 years.

The issue with the Brothers of Life is not the canonical one. The community has been given a green light to proceed. The issue is the urgency of the people in need. Right now the number of abortions is on the rise. The number of people who are being told that their quality of life is lacking and that they should give up medical care and allow themselves to die is on the rise. People who are chronically ill and those who are depressed want to commit suicide and there is no one to answer to them.

The diocesan clergy and religious do not do this as full-time ministry. They are committed in too many areas at one time. These people need brothers who will care for them.

In the inner city and among the poorest people we know, men are about to become fathers. They are not married. They have no idea how to be men, much less fathers. They don’t know how to provide for their families, even when they have jobs. We have one brother takikng care of five training centers in one city. The other Franciscans are pulling out. This brother will remain alone.

I’m not looking at how long will it take for one piece of paper to move from one desk to another. All I asked for, when I heard that the friars were pulling out, all I asked for was for the permission to carve out a community of brothers to remain in the ministry of life. God granted it. The Archbishop said yes. At this point, we need men who can see Jesus in the face of those who feel helpless and hopeless. We need men who can see Jesus in the unborn. We need men who want to protect Jesus from the culture of death. We need men who want to provide a home for Jesus when he is born without a place to go.

The question that each of us must ask ourselves is whether we feel called to this way of life. I always look at people like Mother Teresa, Fr. Benedict, Mother Angelica, Cardinal O’Connor. They did not worry about how long it took to get a piece of paper. They heard Jesus’ voice and they answered. When they answered with all of their hearts, miracles began to happen. God is always very good.

Have a Blessed Christmas!

Br. JR, OSF :christmastree1: