two charisms

[valoriuslobo]

Hey

Perhaps my question has been asked many a time before but please bear with me, but I intend to be ordained a priest (God willing!) in the future. My question is not a matter of “ought I be a priest” but “in which religious order ought I be a priest?”

I’ve talked to a few priests, and visited two orders. The issue that I am having is with my traditionalism. I feel strongly called to working with the poor (like the Franciscan charism) but also have a calling to the Church’s tradition, ie the Extraordinary Form etc. Does anyone know of any orders that blend these two charisms of service and sacred tradition?

I’ve looked into the Fransicans of the Immaculate (they often give Mass in the EF), but then I read that they’re heretical because they don’t accept the ex-cathedra dogma of Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus. If I am operating under misinformation in regards to that issue, do they work with the poor?

Beyond that, does anyone know of any other Traditionalist orders that work with the poor (doesn’t have to be just Franciscan…). I have my heart & soul open to what God’s telling me, but He’s telling me two things at once and I’ve been counseled by two priests to find a way to integrate those. Hence my quandary.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Saint_Macarius]

(1) Please look through the library of threads in this subforum, especially those posts from religious.
(2) If you haven’t done so already, you should contact your local VD (even if you are not going secular). If you live in the US, you can find him or her here: ncdvd.org/vocation_directors.asp.
(3) In most religious orders,you, as a postulant or novice, do not decide if you will be ordained. That decision is solely up to your superior. He may ask you of your preference though. Even those orders with many priests (like SJ or OP), the final decision is not yours. This is different for some congregations, which only allow priests or do not have any priests. There is a Franciscan who regularly posts on this subforum, and I am sure he will be able to inform you about their charisms, traditions, and ordination procedures.
(4) There are several ways to help the poor and needy. Are you more of a St Vincent de Paul or St. Francis type?
(5) There are several ways one can execute their priesthood in the religious life. Are you interested in becoming a Cannon Regular, Clerk Regular, Friar Priest, et cetera?
(6) Is your primary goal the poor, convince Catholics to use the EF, or practice the EF?
I am sure there is much more that you’ll need to learn, and questions to answer.
Once again, I strongly suggest you contact your vocations director of your local diocese. Secondly, look through the archives in this subforum, specifically searching for posts from current religious.
You should also note that this forum in general, whether it be in the vocations subforum or wherever else, has a lot of bad information on it. Any advice that you receive should be researched on your own for validation, and not taken as pure truth.
I wish you the best of luck on your discernment. I’ll pray for you. Please pray for me.

 

[Saint_Macarius]

The issue that I am having is with my traditionalism. I feel strongly called to working with the poor (like the Franciscan charism) but also have a calling to the Church’s tradition, ie the Extraordinary Form etc.

On a side note, do you prefer the EF to the NO? Why?
If you’re interested in assisting the poor, why does traditionalism matter to you?

Take care.

 

[valoriuslobo]

(1) Please look through the library of threads in this subforum, especially those posts from religious.
(2) If you haven’t done so already, you should contact your local VD (even if you are not going secular). If you live in the US, you can find him or her here: ncdvd.org/vocation_directors.asp.
(3) In most religious orders,you, as a postulant or novice, do not decide if you will be ordained. That decision is solely up to your superior. He may ask you of your preference though. Even those orders with many priests (like SJ or OP), the final decision is not yours. This is different for some congregations, which only allow priests or do not have any priests. There is a Franciscan who regularly posts on this subforum, and I am sure he will be able to inform you about their charisms, traditions, and ordination procedures.
(4) There are several ways to help the poor and needy. Are you more of a St Vincent de Paul or St. Francis type?
(5) There are several ways one can execute their priesthood in the religious life. Are you interested in becoming a Cannon Regular, Clerk Regular, Friar Priest, et cetera?
(6) Is your primary goal the poor, convince Catholics to use the EF, or practice the EF?
I am sure there is much more that you’ll need to learn, and questions to answer.
Once again, I strongly suggest you contact your vocations director of your local diocese. Secondly, look through the archives in this subforum, specifically searching for posts from current religious.
You should also note that this forum in general, whether it be in the vocations subforum or wherever else, has a lot of bad information on it. Any advice that you receive should be researched on your own for validation, and not taken as pure truth.
I wish you the best of luck on your discernment. I’ll pray for you. Please pray for me.

1. Thanks for the suggestion: will do. I’m not exactly the most tech savvy, so how do you suggest I best look for information? (ie search box, or merely browsing).
2. Didn’t even think about that. Thanks for the link. I was under the impression that the vocations director was only for the secular priesthood, a route I am not called to. Am I wrong?
3. I am aware that it’s not my choice. I’m just saying I feel called to be a priest within an order, if that happens is up to the Church and God. I have no choice in the matter, save for obeying both authorities.
4. I am more of a St. Francis type, but am not closed off from St. Vincent de Paul at all. Are there order(s) that follows his teachings?
5. I’ve visited a group of Canons, and if I joined the Franciscans then I’d be a friar priest. As for the others, I am not sure what they are.
6. My primary goals are to both help the poor and practise/disseminate the EF.

Thank you for the great advice. I’ve been discerning and am just overwhelmed with questions at this point. I’ll keep you, Michael, in my prayers as well.

 

[valoriuslobo]

On a side note, do you prefer the EF to the NO? Why?
If you’re interested in assisting the poor, why does traditionalism matter to you?

Take care.

Thanks for the question. I do prefer the EF to the NO, but by no means am I closed off to the NO as many traditionalist sometimes are IMHO.

Why is a question with many answers for me.

Without divulging too much personal info, let’s just say there was a time in my late teens that I wasn’t a practising Catholic and felt listless. It was attending the EF regularly that reawakened my faith and my calling. The EF, to me, is utterly timeless. It’s sublime, reverant, solemn, and Christocentric all in one. I am fond of rule and order and the strictness of the EF’s rubrics are thus appealing to me. I think the NO today has taken the vision of Vatican II much much much farther than that Council intended, especially after reading it’s documents on liturgy. I love the Latin language; it’s gorgeous. There’s a lot of I, I, I in this response but on a wider note, the EF, IMHO, is particularly useful for the Church as whether one were in Paris, Tokyo, New York or Buenos Aires, the Mass would be in the same language and thus truly universal. The absolute quiet on part of the faithful lends for a more solemn participation in Mass, in which we can feel actually united in one by the Holy Spirit.

As for the serving the poor while having an affinity for the EF, that’s my quandary. Is there a place to blend the two callings or are they in discord? I feel equally called to both. I realize the EF doesn’t exactly do anything for serving the poor, but perhaps I have yet to discover the connection. Traditionalism matters because it keeps the Church what it is, free from the infection of secularism, relativism and modernism. Tradition is a solid backbone.

 

[Saint_Macarius]

1. Thanks for the suggestion: will do. I’m not exactly the most tech savvy, so how do you suggest I best look for information? (ie search box, or merely browsing).
2. Didn’t even think about that. Thanks for the link. I was under the impression that the vocations director was only for the secular priesthood, a route I am not called to. Am I wrong?
3. I am aware that it’s not my choice. I’m just saying I feel called to be a priest within an order, if that happens is up to the Church and God. I have no choice in the matter, save for obeying both authorities.
4. I am more of a St. Francis type, but am not closed off from St. Vincent de Paul at all. Are there order(s) that follows his teachings?
5. I’ve visited a group of Canons, and if I joined the Franciscans then I’d be a friar priest. As for the others, I am not sure what they are.
6. My primary goals are to both help the poor and practise/disseminate the EF.

Thank you for the great advice. I’ve been discerning and am just overwhelmed with questions at this point. I’ll keep you, Michael, in my prayers as well.

(1) Choose any keywords you like. I think your best bet though would be to keep pressing the > button to see older threads. Hopefully something in the title catches your interest.
(2)Yes. A diocesan VD is there to assistant anyone in his/her diocese with their vocation. I’ve heard of one diocese VD that spends more time with those who have a calling to the single life than those who are called to the religious life! Now, don’t get me wrong though, the VD is also there to increase vocations to the secular priesthood. However, their primary goal is to help you discern God’s calling for you.
(3) Good.
(4) St Vincent de Paul founded a whole bunch of congregations. With one of his best friends, he established the first active women congregations. He initially founded the Congregation of the Mission (CM). As to my question, the best comparisson I’ve heard between the two is their viewpoint. According to a Vincentian Priest (part of the CM), Vincetians focus more on the community at large and Franciscans focus on the individual. However, before JR yells at me, please note this is poor analysis. One should point out that Vincentians are clerks and Franciscans are friars.
(5) Surprising, I’ve found Wikipedia to be more cannocially correct than many of the posters on this forum. It’s description is pretty good.
(6) Unfortunately (to finally answer your original question), I do not know of a single Catholic religious group that does this, accepts men, and also is in line with our pope. EF only would probably be CRNJ or SJC. For helping the poor, you can choose from a wide variety depending on your preferences (OFM, OSF, OdeM, CFA, FC, CM, SDB).
Best of luck to you.

 

[JReducation]

Hey

Perhaps my question has been asked many a time before but please bear with me, but I intend to be ordained a priest (God willing!) in the future. My question is not a matter of “ought I be a priest” but “in which religious order ought I be a priest?”

I’ve talked to a few priests, and visited two orders. The issue that I am having is with my traditionalism. I feel strongly called to working with the poor (like the Franciscan charism) but also have a calling to the Church’s tradition, ie the Extraordinary Form etc. Does anyone know of any orders that blend these two charisms of service and sacred tradition?

I’ve looked into the Fransicans of the Immaculate (they often give Mass in the EF), but then I read that they’re heretical because they don’t accept the ex-cathedra dogma of Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus. If I am operating under misinformation in regards to that issue, do they work with the poor?

WHOAH! The Franciscan family subscribes to the teaching of the Church as it has been taught and as it has been explained in these later years by Popes Pius XII, John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul II and Benedict XVI. There are people out there who believe that these interpretations of the EENS are incorrect and that those who follow them are wrong to do so.

If you have a problem following the teachings of the reigning pope, at any time during your religious life, then you do not have a vocation to be a Franciscan of any kind. The Rule of St. Francis, his Testament and his admonitions are very clear on blind obedience. We (Franciscans) obey, even when we believe that authority is wrong, unless authority commands sin. Everything else, we obey without murmuring, without thinking about, without asking questions, unless our spiritual director or superior give us permission to question.

As far as the EF, the Franciscans of the Immaculate and several other Franciscans obediences have been given permission to celebrate the EF. However, they may not refuse to celebrate the OF. It is totally up to the superior, not up to the individual. Remember, if you join the Franciscan family, you’re becoming a brother, not a priest. The priesthood is accidental to the Franciscan life. We admit men to ordination to meet the sacramental needs of the community and to meet the needs of the laity, when charity commands this of us. But we are not a family of priests. As brothers, we serve all men as their brothers.

The Friars of the Immaculate are assigned to those places that would most benefit from Marian spirituality, because this is their special ministry. All Franciscans follow the same rule and live the same life. What makes us different are local customs and ministries. We cannot change the rule. That’s set in stone. We can modify, add, and delete whatever was not in the writings of St. Francis.

But the most important thing to remember, if you want to be a Franciscan in any branch of the order is obedience. We vow to obey our superior, St. Francis, the local bishop and the pope. We’re one of the few orders that vows obedience to the local bishops. The Church, in turn, provides rules and guidelines that the bishops must follow in order to avoid conflicts. For example, a bishop may never order or require something that is in conflict with the superior. The superior trumps the bishop. St. Francis trumps all superiors. The pope trumps St. Francis, because St. Francis mandated this. That’s why we do not engage in the EF/OF debate, COTT/CITH, and traditionalism discussions. Those friars who have engaged, have been severely disciplined or even dismissed. It’s not a matter of being for one and against the other. It’s a matter of holding only those positions that the Pontiff and our superiors hold on these matters. What I think is not important. I don’t have a right to have an opinion on these matters, unless my superior asks me for it.

The best example of this was Padre Pio. He as asked to celebrate the OF. He did it. When the superior asked him about it, he answered, “Obedience, obedience, obedience.” The superior realized that Padr Pio was not happy with it. Since the law said that a man his age did not have to adopt the Novus Ordo, he never had him do it again; however, he did ask him to face the people. He was allowed to keep the entire Tridentine Form, just standing on the other side of the altar. Even there, it was not a regular thing. The point is that one obeys on these matters.

As for working with the poor, the mandate to the Franciscans is not to work with the poor. That’s a mandae to many other orders and congreagtions. The mandate to the Franciscans is to be poor. Most Francisan communities avoid serving the Middle Class, because of the great need among the poor and becaue the poor cannot pay for these services and the friars do not charge for them. It also helps protect the friars from contamination with middle class lifestyle.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[valoriuslobo]

WHOAH! The Franciscan family subscribes to the teaching of the Church as it has been taught and as it has been explained in these later years by Popes Pius XII, John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul II and Benedict XVI. There are people out there who believe that these interpretations of the EENS are incorrect and that those who follow them are wrong to do so.

If you have a problem following the teachings of the reigning pope, at any time during your religious life, then you do not have a vocation to be a Franciscan of any kind. The Rule of St. Francis, his Testament and his admonitions are very clear on blind obedience. We (Franciscans) obey, even when we believe that authority is wrong, unless authority commands sin. Everything else, we obey without murmuring, without thinking about, without asking questions, unless our spiritual director or superior give us permission to question.

As far as the EF, the Franciscans of the Immaculate and several other Franciscans obediences have been given permission to celebrate the EF. However, they may not refuse to celebrate the OF. It is totally up to the superior, not up to the individual. Remember, if you join the Franciscan family, you’re becoming a brother, not a priest. The priesthood is accidental to the Franciscan life. We admit men to ordination to meet the sacramental needs of the community and to meet the needs of the laity, when charity commands this of us. But we are not a family of priests. As brothers, we serve all men as their brothers.

The Friars of the Immaculate are assigned to those places that would most benefit from Marian spirituality, because this is their special ministry. All Franciscans follow the same rule and live the same life. What makes us different are local customs and ministries. We cannot change the rule. That’s set in stone. We can modify, add, and delete whatever was not in the writings of St. Francis.

But the most important thing to remember, if you want to be a Franciscan in any branch of the order is obedience. We vow to obey our superior, St. Francis, the local bishop and the pope. We’re one of the few orders that vows obedience to the local bishops. The Church, in turn, provides rules and guidelines that the bishops must follow in order to avoid conflicts. For example, a bishop may never order or require something that is in conflict with the superior. The superior trumps the bishop. St. Francis trumps all superiors. The pope trumps St. Francis, because St. Francis mandated this. That’s why we do not engage in the EF/OF debate, COTT/CITH, and traditionalism discussions. Those friars who have engaged, have been severely disciplined or even dismissed. It’s not a matter of being for one and against the other. It’s a matter of holding only those positions that the Pontiff and our superiors hold on these matters. What I think is not important. I don’t have a right to have an opinion on these matters, unless my superior asks me for it.

The best example of this was Padre Pio. He as asked to celebrate the OF. He did it. When the superior asked him about it, he answered, “Obedience, obedience, obedience.” The superior realized that Padr Pio was not happy with it. Since the law said that a man his age did not have to adopt the Novus Ordo, he never had him do it again; however, he did ask him to face the people. He was allowed to keep the entire Tridentine Form, just standing on the other side of the altar. Even there, it was not a regular thing. The point is that one obeys on these matters.

As for working with the poor, the mandate to the Franciscans is not to work with the poor. That’s a mandae to many other orders and congreagtions. The mandate to the Franciscans is to be poor. Most Francisan communities avoid serving the Middle Class, because of the great need among the poor and becaue the poor cannot pay for these services and the friars do not charge for them. It also helps protect the friars from contamination with middle class lifestyle.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

EEK! I may be going out on a limb here, but I don’t think you got what I was saying. “If you have a problem following the teachings of the reigning pope, at any time during your religious life, then you do not have a vocation to be a Franciscan of any kind.” Not sure what you were getting at with this, but I never said I had a problem with any teaching. I was referring to what I had read that stated the Immaculates were heretical in regards to EENS. I was merely asking for clarification if indeed they were heretical or not.

“As far as the EF, the Franciscans of the Immaculate and several other Franciscans obediences have been given permission to celebrate the EF” Can you please tell me what these are? I have had a hell of a time trying to find these! Thanks!

“As for working with the poor, the mandate to the Franciscans is not to work with the poor. That’s a mandae to many other orders and congreagtions. The mandate to the Franciscans is to be poor. Most Francisan communities avoid serving the Middle Class, because of the great need among the poor and becaue the poor cannot pay for these services and the friars do not charge for them.” I’m sorry you have me confused here. I get it that the Franciscans take the vow of poverty, but then you say working with the poor is the domain of other orders. Then you say the Franciscans do serve the poor. Can you please clarify this, and if so, provide me with some names of Franciscan orders that do work with the poor?

Thanks for answering my question and providing your insights, I appreciate it.

 

[JReducation]

Not sure what you were getting at with this, but I never said I had a problem with any teaching. I was referring to what I had read that stated the Immaculates were heretical in regards to EENS. I was merely asking for clarification if indeed they were heretical or not.

Thank you for the clarification. There have been many people who are upset becaue the Holy Fathers have said that it is possible for non-Catholics to be saved without ever joining the Catholic Church. That itself is a long list of wriings, not important to this thread. Bu the attitude of the Franciscan family is that if the Holy Father says so and the college of bishops accepts it, then it must be adhered to as it is said. It is not for the Francisan to question it, unless it’s part of your academic study where you’re trying to understand what the document means and how it reaches this explanation. But we do not question the veracity and authority of such a statement. We promised never to do this, until death. OK, we don’t suddenly challenge it after we die. I thought that you might be subscribing to those who want to challenge the teaching of the curren popes on this point. That’s why I responded this way. Sorry if I misunderstood.

“As far as the EF, the Franciscans of the Immaculate and several other Franciscans obediences have been given permission to celebrate the EF” Can you please tell me what these are? I have had a hell of a time trying to find these! Thanks!

We make it a habit not to make this a marketing point. The reason is simple. Even though we are about 100 branches of Franciscans. We are one family, all sons and daughters of the same Father. Therefore, we are brothers to each other. Our vocation it to obey our Holy Father Francis by following the Gospel in the manner that he prescribes for us. The fist thing that he tells us that we are to love every brother with a much greater love than we love our biological family. We avoid making any public comments about our life and work that people can use to say that one branch of the family is better than another. We want men to join us because they want to follow the Gospel by living as St. Francis lived and serving the Church according to the mission of each obedience. That’s why you don’t see publicity about the EF and OF. One has to observe the friars to see which use it. The general rule is that the friars may not use the EF in any house where the friars have voted against it or where the superior has forbidden it. The Franciscans of the Immaculate voted it into their constitutions to allow the friars in all of their houses to use it. Because they voted it in, it was not prescribed by the rule, it can also be voted out or modified by future generations of friars. The only thing that can never be changed is what St. Francis wrote about liturgy. That’s etched in stone. It is unlikely that that they will forbid it, but it is legal for them to do so. There were many rites during the life of Francis, but he had no preference. However, he did not allow the use of Gregorian Chant. This required an indult from Pope Paul VI, 700 years later.

The Franciscan Missioanries of the Eternal Wlord have been given permission by their superior to celebrate it on special occasions. My community uses it for special occasions, but it may never be the daily community mass. The reason why Francisans do not make it the daily community mass is because it singles out the priest from the rest of his brothers. Brotherhood is key to the existence of the Francisan charism. Without it, you’re not Franciscan. Other friars have also asked for permission to use it. Permission is always granted, provided that it does two things. It is celebrated appropriately. Second, it may not replace the community mass. Therefore, it cannot be the daily mass. If that happens, then it’s fnot extraordinary. It becomes the norm. In our fidelity to the pope, we try to preserve it as extraordinary, not the form for ordinary use.

I’m sorry you have me confused here. I get it that the Franciscans take the vow of poverty, but then you say working with the poor is the domain of other orders. Then you say the Franciscans do serve the poor. Can you please clarify this, and if so, provide me with some names of Franciscan orders that do work with the poor?

The Franciscan family was not founded to do any kind of ministry other than to live the Gospel in obedience to Francis, in prayer, in brotherhood with each other and withou property. That’s the ministry. Everything else, the work with the poor, the sick, teaching, parishes, missions, etc are not part of the intention of St. Francis. St. Francis was very spontaneous. He saw a need and he responded to it. Today, the friars of all the obediences continue to live by that spontaneity. Because we are poor, we live among them. That’s how we end up serving them.

Unlike the Vincentians to whom St. Vincent gave the command to go out and serve the poor. St. Francis never gave that as a mission to the friars or to his nuns. We work among them, because we live among them as their brothers. But some friars live among the poor without doing any apostolic work. Their life is one of presence. They are ther neighbors and do what neighbors do for each other.

In Florida, we’re gathering strong men to live and work among families that struggle with life issues to spread the Gospel of LIfe. This will grow into a new brotherhood of Franciscans who proclaim the Gospel of Life where ever that may be needed, which is everywhere.

As you can see, we rise to respond to the needs of the people around us, without stepping out of our call to live as poor brothers. Since we live among the poor, that’s whom we serve.

I hope this helps.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[valoriuslobo]

Thank you, JReducation, for your reply.

I see now the distinction that the Franciscans, according to you, make in regards to the EF and the NO. I wish you had been able to divulge the names of other orders, but I respect and understand your reasons why. It’s not a “selling point.”

" Since we live among the poor, that’s whom we serve." Thanks for the clarification; I see service is by default, rather than an expressly stated purpose.

Thanks again.

 

[JReducation]

Thank you, JReducation, for your reply.

I see now the distinction that the Franciscans, according to you, make in regards to the EF and the NO. I wish you had been able to divulge the names of other orders, but I respect and understand your reasons why. It’s not a “selling point.”

It’s very important for every reader to understand that Franciscans are not pro or contra EF or OF. Franciscan charism is Catholic. You will find Franciscans who celebrate the EF, OF or one of the Eastern Rites. The beauty of our family is that we were founded at a time when there were man rites in the Roman Church and some of them had an Eastern flavor. Just look at the cross of San Damiano. It’s an icon, but it was not Byzantine. It was Roman. At the time, it was very common for the rite that was in use in Umbria to use icons instead of statues, yet they were Roman Catholics. They had imported certain traits from the Oriental Churches and made them their own. The early Franciscan chapel did not have pews. You stood for the entire liturgy. This too was very Oriental.

That’s why great care is taken when presenting our different communities not to present the liturgical form as the selling point. There is a risk that the person who is discerning will be attracted to the form of the liturgy over the charism of St. Francis and the apostolic mission of the particular obedience.

" Since we live among the poor, that’s whom we serve." Thanks for the clarification; I see service is by default, rather than an expressly stated purpose.

Thanks again.

This is correct. Franciscan family was not founded to DO. It was founded to BE. We are to be a brotherhood as the Apostles and Jesus were a brotherhood. What we do, is by default.

For example, I came to Florida to found a new community. I was trained in the Capuchin tradition. However, the greatest need of the people around me is the need to hear the Gospel of Life. I live in an area where the number of abortions and euthanasia are the third highest in the nation. The apostolic mission of the new foundation is to proclaim the Gospel of Life, while preserving the manner of life that St. Francis commands in the rule.

This was also the case for the Franciscans of the Immaculate. They followed the example of St. Maximilian Kolbe who saw the need to preach and teach St. Francis’ great love for the Mother of the Lord. The message is very much needed by the people who with whom they live. But they preserve the manner of life in the rule.

The Capuchins do the same and so do the other branches of the family. Each lives among the poor and ministers to them according to the need. For example, the Franciscans of the Renewal live in the inner city. Their ministry is to respond to the needs of the people in those circumstances.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[valoriuslobo]

For example, I came to Florida to found a new community. I was trained in the Capuchin tradition. However, the greatest need of the people around me is the need to hear the Gospel of Life. I live in an area where the number of abortions and euthanasia are the third highest in the nation. The apostolic mission of the new foundation is to proclaim the Gospel of Life, while preserving the manner of life that St. Francis commands in the rule.Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

Wow, this is very interesting to me. Was it “easy” to start your own community? What was the process like behind doing something like this? Is this very common for friars to begin a new “branch” to address a particular need, as in the pro-life work your community is doing? Keep up the great work, you have a lot of courage to work toward a solution.

 

[JReducation]

Wow, this is very interesting to me. Was it “easy” to start your own community? What was the process like behind doing something like this? Is this very common for friars to begin a new “branch” to address a particular need, as in the pro-life work your community is doing? Keep up the great work, you have a lot of courage to work toward a solution.

Actually, it’s not easy. I came two-years ago. You know, I can’t really say how many Franciscans have been called to step outside of their community and go somewhere else and do something difficult for him. I can talk about the fact that many people have been called to do this. I can count myself among their numbers, but not at the same level of holiness. You may know some names.

Br. Charles de Facould – Little Brothers of Jesus
Fr. Richard Ho Lung – Missionaries of the Poor
Mother Teresa of Calcutta – Missionaries of Charity
Six Founders – Franciscans of the Renewal
Mother Angelica – Missionaries of the Eternal Word
Mother Assumpta Long – Dominican Sisters of Mary
That’s a short list.

To help you understand this, I’ll have to tell you about Jesus. Jesus doesn’t really pick the best people to start something. He takes whoever is available. I mean, just look at the apostles. The best-trained men among them were Judas (a traitor) and Matthew (a tax collector). Now give me a break! Sometimes you just have to sit there and laugh with the Lord and say, “You’re kidding me right?” Then you find out that he’s as serious as a heart attack.

He wants you to go out, leave behind everything that you know and everything that is secure, and take a walk into the Dark Night. I’m always amazed at how often we don’t pay attention to this other side of the coin. There is a Dark Night where the soul is so profoundly embedded in Christ’s passion, that it can feel nothing else, but Christ’s darkest moment on the cross, when he confronts the darkness of sin, head on.

However, there is another part to this concept. I believe this is where Jesus calls many of us. I feel that I was called to step out into the night. I have no idea where this is going and what God is planning. Nevertheless, he has some kind of plan for those of us who are discerning how to serve him in this work. I just walk along with him. He just leads, one-step at a time. It’s like walking down a very dark path, not knowing where I’m going, but knowing that my God will not lead me the wrong way.

He can’t possibly lead me the wrong way. First, it’s not possible for him to mislead us. I know this. Second, the Gospel of Life is very near and dear to his heart, because it’s rooted in the Incarnation. Christ becomes man, because the Father gifts him the greatest gift that he can give to his beloved son, human nature. God is so in love with our humanity that he not only created it according to his image and likeness, but he vested his eternally begotten son with our humanity. Even if Adam had not sinned, the Father would still have given him a human nature, as a pure gift of love from Father to Son.

To embark on a mission to proclaim the Gospel of Life is the most wonderful gift that God can give a man or woman. To call you to make this your life’s work is beyond wonderful. It’s humbling. How can God choose me, to tell people about the glory of human life? I have no idea.

It’s very hard to do, because most men are not interested in this kind of ministry. First, men are funny creatures. I’m talking about males. We like stability. We like security. We look for the company, organization or community that has a strong record of accomplishment. So when you walk up to a guy and say, “Hey, we’re gathering a few men to save the lives of the unborn, take care of these babies after they’re born, feed them and their parents until they can take care of themselves, pray the sick into heaven, guide their families in making the right moral decisions when the situation looks terminal or teach young people about chastity . . . when you say this to guys, the first thing that they want to know is where is your monastery.

Well, when I tell them that our monastery is a few rented rooms, because we are too poor to own a house, they go, “Oh well . . . no thanks.” But St. Francis was poor! Others come and ask you, are you approved by the pope. Of course, I always have to answer, “The pope is praying for us so that he can approve us. However, we do have the permission of the local bishop to go forward with this and he has assigned a priest to be our guide and supervisor. We also work very closely with the diocese and the bishops in this diocese.” Then they look at you and say, “Call me when you get everything signed.

I just go, “OK.” What else can I say? St. Francis did not have a charter from the pope when he started. He went off on his own and was joined by different men along the way. Every mission has to begin at the beginning. That’s the greatest challenge. Most men don’t like the beginning. They don’t want to be the pilots or the fathers. This is a challenge. However, I know that Jesus wants the Gospel of Life preached and he will send men who are in love with this work and are willing to take risks in faith. This is not the same as risking their faith.

The most important part of this is that those who come to this work must love the Gospel, want to be sons of St. Francis, be able to live together as brothers, cultivate their prayer life and be willing to be take the same risk that St. Francis took. Go out and repair the Church.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF