Provincial Letter- Summer 2006

Dear Friars,

Peace and Good Things!

As I write this, we are on the eve of the Feast of the Portiuncula�the feast that recalls the humble first home of Francis and his brothers and celebrates the generous mercy of God manifested in the great indulgence associated with that place.� These twin commemorations have much to say to us as a community of Franciscans a few years into the 21^st century.

That Francis and his first companions rejoiced to call their home a building smaller than many contemporary suburban garages vividly reminds us of the simplicity and sense of gratitude that marked the life of our Seraphic Father and the early friars.� It was, in fact, this very simplicity that first attracted many of us in our idealistic youths and which continues to attract people today.� And yet, how far have we strayed from that pristine call?� When I was a postulant in the early 70�s Alan Polimine chided us by telling us, �When we enter religious life, we give it all up to follow Christ.� Then, little by little, we take it all back�and then some.�� The number of boxes, rented U-Haul vehicles, trunks, and shipped packages that have recently traversed the Province bear witness to the truth of Alan�s observation.� Although God has given us every reason to trust in his providence, we continue to rely on ourselves, surrounding ourselves with things to give us a sense of security.

Often in the Gospel Jesus tries to call the disciples to this same sense of greater trust in and reliance on God.� He constantly invites them to a deeper understanding of their mission and how it is to be carried out, speaking to them in the very words that inspired Francis at the Portiuncula in 1208:� �Go, sell what you have, give to the poor, and then come and follow me�take nothing for your journey�consider the lilies of the field��� When they are tired and hungry, Jesus does not set a banquet before them, but invites them to a deserted place where they must learn to be fed and nourished by the Father, just as he was when he spent 40 days in the wilderness after his baptism.� To come away to that place means to be nurtured by God, becoming more dependent on him for sustenance and security, and being content with �just enough.�

The resolutions and recommendations of the last Provincial Chapter offer us, like the great Portiuncula Pardon, an opportunity to move forward unencumbered by the past.� They call us to spiritual growth and conversion so that we�individually and collectively�might know the fullness of life the Gospel offers us.�� In the weeks ahead, we will be gathering in our respective regions to begin to address and give flesh to the work of the Chapter.� Some of the resolutions and recommendations have the capacity to renew the vitality of the Province in the hope of breathing new life into us, as well as attracting others to our Franciscan way of life.� However, if the potential contained in these documents is to be realized, it will require of all of us a change of heart and spirit�a willingness to let go of whatever it is that holds us back.� For some it may be a hurt or resentment over an assignment or not feeling appreciated for all one has done; for others it may be a longing for a time in the life of the Province that has long passed and that is not likely to come again.� Whatever it is, we are being invited to let go�to open our hands and our minds and our hearts�so that we might accept and realize the life that God desires for us.

May the remaining days of summer hold at least some peace and relaxation for each of you.� When we go back to the more normal routine of our lives and our ministries, may we do so with renewed trust and deep faith in God, and great love for the Church, the Province, and one another.

Fraternally in St. Francis,

�

������������������������������������� (Very Reverend) Anthony M. Criscitelli, TOR
Minister Provincial

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