| FRATERNAL LOVE On
this important element of religious life lived in community, the Rule proposes the
fundamental values of the Gospel and, at the same time, a few particular directives. The
first article describes the spiritual bases for such fraternal relations and the second
indicates some safeguards or remedies when those relations are threatened or have been
broken.
ARTICLE 23
Because God loves us, the brothers
and sisters should love each other, for the Lord says, < This is my commandment, that
you love one another as I have loved you>>. Let them manifest their love in deeds.
Also whenever they meet each other, they should show that they are members of the same
family. Let them make known their needs to one another.
Blessed are they who love another who is sick and
seemingly useless, as much as when that brother or sister is well and of service to them.
Whether in sickness or in health, they should only want what God wishes for them. For all
that happens to them let them give thanks to our Creator.
CONTENT:
a) the reason for fraternal love: because the Lord loves us
and wants us to love one another
b) fraternal love in all circumstance, especially in
situations of need.
ATTITUDES:
a) conquering love, demonstrated in deeds;
b) disinterested love; therefore, love for one's sick brothers or sisters;
c) spirit of thanksgiving to the Lord and acceptance of life's various
circumstances (sickness, failure, etc).
Evangelical poverty, freely chosen, places us in a situation of interdependence
with one another. Precisely because we are poor, we need one another. This fraternal love,
which is << translated>> into attention for others in need, finds its basis in
Christ who is the brother of each of us; we love one another as our Brother has loved us
and loves us.
Part of our << poverty>> consists in making our needs known to our
brother or sister, <<asking alms>> of them.
True fraternal love is not affected by a person's productivity, nor by the
productivity of your brother or sister.
For Francis the test of this openness is precisely how much love one has for the
brother or sister who is sick.
ARTICLE 24
If discord caused by word or deed
should occur among them, they should immediately ask forgiveness of one another even
before offering their gift of prayer before the Lord. And if anyone seriously neglects the
form of life all profess, the minister, or others who may know of it, are to admonish that
person. Those giving the admonition should neither embarrass nor speak evil of the other,
but show great kindness. Let all be careful of self righteousness, which causes anger and
annoyance because of another's sin. These in oneself or in another hinder living lovingly.
CONTENT:
a) The necessity of asking and granting pardon in case of
faults against charity;
b)the necessity of <<admonition>> in case of failings against the
Rule;
c) the necessity of avoiding anger or resentment in those cases.
ATTITUDES:
pardon and gentleness;
perseverance in peace.
From these suggestions we see all of Francis' human realism. He understood that
not everything in our fraternal living is ideal, that it is not always as it should be.
When fraternal relationships are weakened or threatened, we must repair them according to
the Gospel norms. Here we see the need for personal and shared responsibility, that is not
only of the superior, but of all the members of the fraternity, for their community life.
The minister cannot be the sole agent of reconciliation and pardon.
Given that, in concrete cases, feeling that one is right can endanger
<<poverty of spirit, and therefore, charity, the article does not point out who
should take the initiative. It will be the one who has learned more completely the Gospel
and Franciscan meaning of charity.
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