PENITENTIAL SPIRITUALITY
IN THE FRANCISCAN SOURCES

The Ecclesial Dimension of the Life of Penance.

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The early Christian community with generous openness had welcomed the invitation of Jesus: "Be converted and believe in the Gospel"(Mk.1,15). The more spiritually sensitive members especially, found themselves in a state of "constant conversion" which involved their whole existence
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(139) You can usefully consult: K. ESSER. Temi spirituali, cit. pp. 93-118; K. ESSER - E.GRAU, Love's Reply, cit. pp. 219-252; AA.VV. L'obbedienza nella spiritualita francescana, Quademi di spir. francescana 16 (1968).
(140) For work in the thought of St. Francis, cf. K. ESSER - E.GRAU, Love's Reply, cit., pp. 323-335.

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in a fundamental way. This exhortation of Jesus had re-echoed from one conscience to another throughout the Middle Ages producing plentiful spiritual fruits.

The Franciscan movement welcomed into its very core this drive towards a continuous penance and reinterpreted it, giving it new impetus and vitality. For Francis, the penitential life was realized within the Church, with the Church and through the Church.

In the Poverello's time there were many Christians who sought to live according to the Gospel and in true penance, but not all felt themselves in agreement with the Church and often chose the sterile attitude of questioning its values in preference to the more difficult work of upbuilding it.

On the contrary, the life, the writings and the preaching of St. Francis are animated by profound ecclesial feeling. We think here especially of Francis as the Poor Man of Christ and humble servant of the Church. He understood that the life of penance is born, develops and comes to perfection within the Church. This life is not restricted exclusively to those individuals who actually live conversion, but is open to the evangelical development of the entire Christian community. By keeping alive its teachings and the work of Christ (cf.2 Celano 17), Francis daily converted himself and helped to sustain the Church which, as he saw her - is our Holy Mother whose arms are lovingly outstretched toward us (cf.2 Celano 24; The Legend of the Three Companions, 46ff; The Little Testament 5).

The point discussed in this section really deserves a much more ample treatment than can be given here. However, there are some fine studies available on the topic which can be consulted. (141)

The brothers and sisters of penance must realize their sanctification in the Church and through the Church as did St. Francis. They too must live "always subject and dependent at the feet of this same holy Church, firm in the Catholic faith" (Rule of 1223,12) as they have "flrmly promised" (ibid.).

They are to give witness within the Church by the quality of their penitential life ... a life which should be entirely directed toward God. In a wholesome way, they are to communicate this quality of life to the members of the Christian community, constantly exhorting "all who wish to serve the Lord God within the holy Catholic Church ... to pray humbly and persistently so that they may persevere in the true faith and in doing penance..." (Rule of 1221: 23, 16 and 22).

Their lives centered around Christ, must be an ever present witness in the world and in the Church. Their apostolate, dispensing the richness of the Gospel, must be for all men and women of our time a constant encouragement to follow the Lord through a continuous turning to Him.

The apostolic constitution Paenitemini states that there is an urgent need to recall today's men and women in a decisive way to penance and a sense of God. The Church itself "has become more aware of the fact that, although being by vocation divine, holy and perfect, nevertheless, in its members it is fallible and continually in need of conversion." (Prologue)

As members of the Franciscan Order of Penance we are called to put into action the invitation that the Church is making today. Innocent III gave the Poverello the mission to preach penance by word and deed (cf.The Legend of the Three Companions,12,9). We have the same mission to perform

(141) For example: l. FELDER, San Francesco e la chiesa, in ideale di San Francesco d'Assisi, florence 1944, pp. 77ff,- La chiesa e la spiritualita francescana, in Quaderni di spir.francescana 7 (1964); K.ESSER, Temi spirituali, cit., pp. 139-188; K.ESSER - E.GRAU,   Love's Reply, cit., pp. 139-154.

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within the Church of our time. We should consider also other involvements which are even more appropriate to modern needs and which offer a greater range for witness.

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