talkin about!
TRANSCRIPT
Are you SERIOUS
right now?
Honest. I’m listening.
I’ve got
news
For you.
Now That’s what I’m talkin about!
Who are we? Who are these people called Secular Franciscans?
“Who do you say that I am?”Mat 16:15, Mark 8:29, Luke 9:20
“Who do you make yourself out to be?”John 8:53
“We must have a clear vision about our
identity. It is much more important to
have a very clear knowledge on who we
are, than to know what we are to do. Our
identity is whom God wants us to see.
Without knowing who we are we will
never know what we shall do, “
Tibor Kauser CIOFS Minister General
Address to the OFS on Pentecost, 2017
Instrumentum Laboris makes the same observation.
Franciscan Identity
Article 4
To observe the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ by following the example of Saint Francis of Assisi
“St. Francis is occasionally used as a blank screen onto
which people project some favored image or agenda that he
would not recognize or endorse. Trying to separate Francis
from the Roman Catholic Church is a bit like trying to
separate Jesus from the cross: Both always go together.”
Fr. Pat McCloskey, OFM. St. Anthony Messenger, February 2020
How do we understand Francis?
How do we understand Francis?
Three-Legged Stool
Jesus is Divine, God,
2nd Person of the Trinity.
Scripture is the divinely inspired
Word of God
Jesus established a Church with authority
“we are bound to observe all of these
matter above all else according to the
precepts of the Lord and the
constitutions of holy Mother Church”
St. Francis, Letter to the Clergy
“Without faith, scripture itself is not scripture, but
rather an ill-assorted collection of literature that cannot
have any normative significance for today.”
Pope Benedict XVI
So Who Are we?
Our quest to find out who we are
is a lifelong pilgrimage
From being called
To being conformed to Christ
What did I promise “TO BE” when I made my profession?
What am I “BE-COMING during my ongoing pilgrimage?
Where am I on my journey from San Damiano to La Verna?
What does the Rite of Profession say about who I am and
where am I called to go?
The words we use are important
The Rite of Profession has at least 29 adjectives / descriptors of what is a
Secular Franciscan
Community Gift of grace
Consecrated Permanently committed
Strengthened for the journey Convicted
Called United in prayer
Confirmed by the Holy Spirit Witness
Faithful United more intimately to the Church
Missionary Visible sign of the Church
Pledged to the fraternity United in Christ
Servant Secular state of life
Observant to the rule A cause of Joy and Hope
Filled with heavenly blessings Continually encountering Christ
Conformed to Christ Brother / Sister of Penance
Light of Christ Life of Praise
Eucharistic Re-Builder of the Church
A Gift to the Church
Where did these words come from?
Promulgated the 1978 Rule
The final Papal mind
of Vatican Council II
Vatican II documents quoted in our G.C. / Rule / Statutes
Homework
Paragraph OFS Document
2 Rule 13, 14, 19, 6
3 Rule 8
4 Rule 8, 13, 10, 15, 11
5 Rite of Profession
6 G.C. 100, 101
8 Admonition VI / Rule 13
10 Rite of Profession / Rule 8, 11
11 Rule 17
12 Youfra
14 Rule 15 / Concept behind FAN
16 Pretty much the whole rule
17 Rule 8
18 Rule 20, 21, 22
19 Franciscans International
23 G.C. 100, 101
25 Altius Moderamen / Guarantee Fidelity to the
Franciscan Charism
28 Formation Profession vs. Enrollment
29 Formation based on “Who are we?”
30 Those who are formators. S.A. and CNSA
Homework
Paragraph OFS Document
2 Rule 13, 14, 19, 6
3 Rule 8
4 Rule 8, 13, 10, 15, 11
5 Rite of Profession
6 G.C. 100, 101
8 Admonition VI / Rule 13
10 Rite of Profession / Rule 8, 11
11 Rule 17
12 Youfra
14 Rule 15 / Concept behind FAN
16 Pretty much the whole rule
17 Rule 8
18 Rule 20, 21, 22
19 Franciscans International
23 G.C. 100, 101
25 Altius Moderamen / Guarantee Fidelity to the
Franciscan Charism
28 Formation Profession vs. Enrollment
29 Formation based on “Who are we?”
30 Those who are formators. S.A. and CNSA
As Jesus was the true worshiper of the Father, so let prayer
and contemplation be the soul of all they are and do.Article 8
Discussion Question
How has your vocation as a Secular Franciscan
formed you to be “who you are” today?
Do you have a sense of where this “who you are” is leading you?