Renewing religious life

[EcceAgnusDei]

EcceAgnusDei;9334269:

Ha! My beard grows faster than the hair on my head. It grows and never ever stops. It grows vertically and horizontally. It is quite its own beast and has been on my face for over 10 years.

(and yes, I’m trying to show how manly I am… grrrrr, I need my gun and some red meat!)

• PAX

OKayyyyy

I’m guessing the long yyyyyy’s mean that you wouldn’t accept me into your postulancy program. Was it the gun or the red meat?

(and in real life I do not own a gun and I rarely, if ever, eat red meat, ha!)

Just havin’ fun with you, Brother

• PAX

 

[triumphguy]

We’re you offering to enter?

go for it!

 

[EcceAgnusDei]

We’re you offering to enter?

go for it!

No, my spirituality is not really Franciscan, it is more aligned with contemplative orders. I’m much more interested in the Benedictines, the Cistercians, and (dare I say it?) the Carthusians.

Oh, reading about Charterhouses sometimes wounds my soul… Has anyone seen the documentary “Into Great Silence”?

Here’s the only Charterhouse in North America: The Charterhouse of the Transfiguration

God bless the Carthusian order and her monks that practice such heroic penance and exhibit such heroic virtue. I sometimes think that the Church has been saved many times over by the prayers and penances of these utterly hidden and unknown monks.

• PAX

ETA: and since the Carthusian liturgy pre-dates Pope Saint Pius V and his bull “Quo Primum” by almost 500 years, the OF/EF debate doesn’t apply to them.

 

[JReducation]

I’m guessing the long yyyyyy’s mean that you wouldn’t accept me into your postulancy program. Was it the gun or the red meat?

(and in real life I do not own a gun and I rarely, if ever, eat red meat, ha!)

Just havin’ fun with you, Brother

• PAX

Actually, it was the many man thing. Too much testosterone. LOL

No, my spirituality is not really Franciscan, it is more aligned with contemplative orders. I’m much more interested in the Benedictines, the Cistercians, and (dare I say it?) the Carthusians.

Oh, reading about Charterhouses sometimes wounds my soul… Has anyone seen the documentary “Into Great Silence”?

Great video

Here’s the only Charterhouse in North America: The Charterhouse of the Transfiguration

God bless the Carthusian order and her monks that practice such heroic penance and exhibit such heroic virtue. I sometimes think that the Church has been saved many times over by the prayers and penances of these utterly hidden and unknown monks.

That’s why the Church calls their vocation the highest calling in the Church and they’re considered to have the greatest dignity among all Catholics. It is believed and taught that they are few, because “few are chosen”. That’s how special their call is.

ETA: and since the Carthusian liturgy pre-dates Pope Saint Pius V and his bull “Quo Primum” by almost 500 years, the OF/EF debate doesn’t apply to them.

Actually, it has nothing to do with that. They and other orders were always exempt from Quo Primum, because we make solemn vows. Therefore, we are free to write out own liturgy.

The Carthusians have created several rites for themselves. They scrapt their old rite and replaced it with a new one in the year 2000.

We never created a rite for ourselves, but we never used Quo Primum either. We created our own version of the Tridentine mass. We call it a form. That’s where Pope Benedict got the term from. Benedictine, Augustinians, Jesuits and Franciscans have different forms of the Roman Rite.

Dominicans, Carthusians, and Carmelites abandoned the Roman Rite and created their own rites. So did Milan, Cataluna Spain, and one other diocese, that I can’t remember.

These are all Latin Catholics. It’s just that we don’t celebrate the EF as you do or don’t celebrate it at all.

That’s one benefit of having solemn vows over simple vows. Most of these rules do not apply to you or the people who attend your mass. Everything is decided by your superior, not Rome.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, FFV

 

[triumphguy]

No, my spirituality is not really Franciscan, it is more aligned with contemplative orders. I’m much more interested in the Benedictines, the Cistercians, and (dare I say it?) the Carthusians.

Franciscan spirituality moves between the mountain top and the marketplace, between contemplation and action. You can’t get much more contemplative than a Poor Clare!

God bless you wherever you are called.

 

[EcceAgnusDei]

Franciscan spirituality moves between the mountain top and the marketplace, between contemplation and action. You can’t get much more contemplative than a Poor Clare!

I’d like Brother JR weigh in on this, but my understanding is that Friars are called primarily to a life of action. Of course contemplation is part of that, as it should be a part of every Christian’s life, but I’ve never heard of Franciscans (or Poor Clare’s) being described as a contemplative order. There seems to be a very real and different focus between the Friars Minor and, say, the Benedictines, Cistercians, and Carthusians. Please, I’m not saying anything bad at all about the Franciscans, I’m just saying that I think we shouldn’t classify them as contemplatives.

• PAX

 

[triumphguy]

I’d like Brother JR weigh in on this, but my understanding is that Friars are called primarily to a life of action. Of course contemplation is part of that, as it should be a part of every Christian’s life, but I’ve never heard of Franciscans (or Poor Clare’s) being described as a contemplative order. There seems to be a very real and different focus between the Friars Minor and, say, the Benedictines, Cistercians, and Carthusians. Please, I’m not saying anything bad at all about the Franciscans, I’m just saying that I think we shouldn’t classify them as contemplatives.

• PAX

They classify themselves as contemplatives!

What do you think St. Francis was doing on Mount Alverna when he saw a vision of the Six Winged Seraph and the Crucified Lord? What was he doing when he received the stigmata? He was in deep and profound contemplation!

The action of Franciscans is so powerful precisely because they are called to be contemplatives!

If you are not sure about the Poor Clares and contemplation then read the writings of Clare!

Draw me after You!
We will run in the fragrance of Your perfumes,
O heavenly Spouse!
I will run and not tire,
until You bring me into the wine-cellar,
until Your left hand is under my head
and Your right hand will embrace me happily
and You will kiss me with the happiest kiss of Your mouth.

This is Clare as a virgin bride utterly in love with her Beloved Spouse. This love developed in mystical contemplation.

 

[JReducation]

I’d like Brother JR weigh in on this, but my understanding is that Friars are called primarily to a life of action. Of course contemplation is part of that, as it should be a part of every Christian’s life, but I’ve never heard of Franciscans (or Poor Clare’s) being described as a contemplative order. There seems to be a very real and different focus between the Friars Minor and, say, the Benedictines, Cistercians, and Carthusians. Please, I’m not saying anything bad at all about the Franciscans, I’m just saying that I think we shouldn’t classify them as contemplatives.

• PAX

Actually, the Rule of St. Francis describes the Franciscan life as contemplative. The priorities in the life of the friar are: obedience, prayer, fraternity, penance and service. Service is always the product.

Franciscans were not founded to be active in any particular ministry. We are to work for a living and serve those with whom we work, be we are not expected to take on any apostolate. Some friars don’t have any other apostolate except living in a neighborhood and being present for the local people to observe.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, FFV

 

[triumphguy]

The monastery of the Franciscan is the wide world

"For this reason James of Vitry can speak so significantly of the “spatiosi calustri amplitudo” in which this Order lived, How necessary was this new form of life for the sake of the apostolate is acknowledged by the Benedictine author of the Legenda Monacensis: “The solitary life teaches one to attend to oneself and to God; but the person who desires to edify others ,must of necessity live in the midst of thise he wishes to benefit.” Cajetan Esser OFM, Origins of the Franciscan Order, Franciscan Herald Press, 1970.

 

[TrueLight]

They classify themselves as contemplatives!

What do you think St. Francis was doing on Mount Alverna when he saw a vision of the Six Winged Seraph and the Crucified Lord? What was he doing when he received the stigmata? He was in deep and profound contemplation!

It seems to me all the ancient Saints were contemplative. It doesn’t mean that the current orders are necessarily.

 

[triumphguy]

The current Franciscans and Poor Clares are.

Cajetan Esser again on the origins of the Franciscans:

Although the apostolic life served greatly in the formation and shaping of the young Order, yet a tendency towards the contemplative life, towards solitude, can also be observed from the very beginning… "there are also those among the Friars that do not set out on the active preaching ministry, but stay behind and “by their tears and their prayers wash away the dirt from the active ones’ feet.”

This is reflected in the present:

OFM Plenary Council 1988

As we try to deepen the contemplative dimension of our lives we are challenged by three questions:

… does “the spirit of prayer and devotion” pervade the whole day?

To what extent are we itinerant contemplatives

Do we interpret what happens in everyday life in such as way as to help us live the experience of Francis: “What seemed bitter to me was changed into sweetness of body and soul.”…

 

[TrueLight]

The current Franciscans and Poor Clares are.

In what way, if you don’t mind?

 

[triumphguy]

Poor Clares…

a quick search of youtube:
youtube.com/watch?v=mYmi3Ut4LEc

 

[choliks]

It seems to me all the ancient Saints were contemplative. It doesn’t mean that the current orders are necessarily.

The Jesuits (until now) describe themselves as contemplatives in action.

 

[triumphguy]

Poor Clares…

a quick search of youtube:
youtube.com/watch?v=mYmi3Ut4LEc

I ran out of time!

The OFMs are a more “disorderly” bunch than the Poor Clares, however
Article 19 of the General Constitution requires that

…our rule demands that the friars set apart some time each day for mental prayer, each month for a day of recollection, and each year for a retreat.

Article 44:2

According to the norms set forth in the house chapter, silence should be kept at fitting times and places simply as a condition of encouraging prayer, a need for brotherly concern and a requirement of work an quiet.

And on p.67

By its very nature and by the consistent choice of St. Francis and his Order, the liturgy receives the place of eminence in life with God… continuous and strenuous effort to make the liturgy a personal prayer, a “prayerful” prayer… All this presupposes study, reflection, meditation, will to understand, personal and subjective penetration into the matter, and above all love.

And more…

especially devotion to Mary in the Franciscan tradition, a life of penance, and houses of prayer to be maintained by each province.

Many Franciscan retreat houses also have a hermitage and also a portiuncula - a “little portion,” where friars and others can spend time alone in adoration.

 

[JReducation]

In what way, if you don’t mind?

Very much so. Do not confuse contemplative with enclosed. They’re not the same thing. An enclosed religious is called to solitude and silence, because that’s the only way that he can contemplate.

However, it would be foolhardy to say that it’s the only way to contemplate or that only enclosed religious contemplate.

What Francis introduced into the Church was the monastery without the enclosure. We are not be enaged in corporate apostolic work and we were not until the bloody 1800s when we became slaves to parishes. Thank God those days are over and we’re back again to being contemplatives without an enclosure.

Our life is to be men of prayer who are itinerant.
**
From the Constitutions of the FFV

Chapter 8: Our life of prayer

1. Without prayer, our apostolic life becomes humanitarian social work. Conscious that the Christian life is lived in and through Christ in communion with the Church, our Holy Father Francis commanded his brothers and sisters to unite themselves to the life of prayer of the Church in the Holy Mass and the Divine Office.
2. Therefore, the brothers are to pray always. We are to unite our prayers to those of Christ and the Church first and foremost through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. When possible, each brother shall attend daily mass and receive the Holy Eucharist. He shall avail himself of the Sacrament of Reconciliation at least once a month to safeguard his soul.
3. The brothers are to celebrate the Liturgy of the Hours, which is an extension of the Eucharist. The mass is to be prayed without Gregorian Chant as directed by our Holy Mother Clare.
4. They shall pray Lauds and Vespers, Matins and Compline in common. Each hour gives glory and praise to God keeping holy the cycle of an entire day. They may never, under pain of grave disobedience use any form of Gregorian Chant to pray the Divine Office in keeping with the will of our holy father and mother, Francis and Clare.
5. When it becomes impossible for the brothers to pray the Divine Office, they should recur to the Office of the Paters praying seven Our Fathers and seven Glory Be . . . for Lauds, Vespers and Compline and 12 for Matins.
6. The brothers shall follow the Roman-Franciscan Liturgical Calendar making use of the Roman-Franciscan Breviary.
7. They shall all pray from the same edition of the Breviary to ensure the unity of the fraternity. Until further notice, the brothers shall use the 1970 edition of Liturgy of the Hours approved by the Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship (1971) and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops with the proper offices of the Franciscan saints and blessed approved by Franciscan Liturgical Commission and by the Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship (1973).
8. St. Francis reminds us that we see nothing of the Lord Jesus Christ except the sacred species consecrated by the priest. Keeping his promise, “Behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world,” (Mt. 28:20).
9. We too must remain with him until our earthly journey is over and lead others to do the same. The brothers shall make time to keep watch with Christ in the Most Blessed Sacrament, saying like the psalmist, “O LORD, I love the habitation of Your house And the place where Your glory dwells,” (Ps 26:8).
10. We must make it our special mission to bring before the Blessed Sacrament our prayers for the voiceless whom God has called us to serve. Without his help, we are nothing, but with his help, we can conquer all things. Let us make a special effort to devote time before the Blessed Sacrament for the unborn and their families, the sick and the dying, the elderly, those who do not understand the dignity of life and those who have sinned against life. Our apostolate is not our work, but the work of Christ. Therefore, we must meet him in silence and prayer to unite our wills to his will.
11. The brothers are to spend time together before the Blessed Sacrament at a time decided by the house chapter.

Chapter 9: The Immaculate

1. The Franciscan family reserves a special place for our Blessed Mother under the title of The Immaculate. She is the patron and protector of the Seraphic Family. St. Francis sang her praises and encouraged his sons and daughters to do the same.
2. Mary is the Mother of God, Mother of the Church, and Mother of the Franciscan family. As such, she is venerated and loved.
3. She is also the protector and patron of the unborn. In our daily prayer, we commend to her care the unborn child and his parents.
4. She is the Queen of Charity as evidenced in the visitation to Elizabeth. Therefore, we commend to her care the elderly and the sick and we encourage them to place themselves in the hands of the Immaculate who loves with without reservation and who never ceases interceding for us. Like our brother, St. Maximilian Kolbe, let us make the name of the Immaculate known to the voiceless and assure them that in her they have an advocate and a voice before the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us ask her to intercede on behalf of those who cannot intercede for themselves.
5. The rosary must hold a special place in our life of prayer. Through Holy Rosary we can say with Mary, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and rejoices in God my Savior,” (Lk 1:46-47) as we meditate on the work of the Most Holy Trinity in human history.

Chapter 10: Praying with scripture

1. The brothers must spend the first hour of the day in silence, together, praying with and through the scriptures. Lectio Divina is God’s way of speaking to the soul and the means through which the soul enters into the mind of God. Without such participation in the Divine Mind, it is impossible for the brothers to participate in the Redemptive work of God.**

Fraternally,

Br. JR, FFV

 

[TrueLight]

Our life is to be men of prayer who are itinerant.
**
From the Constitutions of the FFV

Fraternally,

Br. JR, FFV **

Thanks for posting this. Looks heavenly.

I am not confusing enclosed with contemplative.

When I think of contemplative I think of someone who spends time in prayer, in addition to the divine office, just silent before the Lord, open to whatever he wants to show him or her.

I am happy to see:

1. The brothers must spend the first hour of the day in silence, together, praying with and through the scriptures. Lectio Divina is God’s way of speaking to the soul and the means through which the soul enters into the mind of God. Without such participation in the Divine Mind, it is impossible for the brothers to participate in the Redemptive work of God

 

[JReducation]

Thanks for posting this. Looks heavenly.

I am not confusing enclosed with contemplative.

When I think of contemplative I think of someone who spends time in prayer, in addition to the divine office, just silent before the Lord, open to whatever he wants to show him or her.

I am happy to see:

And this:

In fact, I am happy to see everything you’re posted here.

Thank you. Can I add your name on the inside cover with the other people who approved the constitutions:

Archbishop

Chancellor

Vicar for Religious

Metropolitan Ecclesiastical Tribunal

General Chapter

TrueLight :extrahappy:

Speak now or hold your peace. It goes into effect Pentecost Sunday.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, FFV

 

[JReducation]

TrueLight actually looks impressive at the end of that list. It gives the list of signatories an ethereal conclusion, which is much more spiritual than a court and a chapter.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, FFV

 

[wasserfall]

Thank you. Can I add your name on the inside cover with the other people who approved the constitutions:

Archbishop

Chancellor

Vicar for Religious

Metropolitan Ecclesiastical Tribunal

General Chapter

TrueLight :extrahappy:

Speak now or hold your peace. It goes into effect Pentecost Sunday.

She has only approved part of the constitutions, so you should do it like this:

TrueLight #47-63]