PENITENTIAL SPIRITUALITY
IN THE FRANCISCAN SOURCES

Prayer in the Life of Penance. The penitential life is fed by persistent prayer which nourishes friendship and communion between God and man.

  | Back |

After the example of Christ, Francis considered prayer, both public and liturgical as very important (cf. Letter to a Minister General 12,I). The duty of public prayer is decreed in the legislation (Rule 1221,3,1-14; Rule 1223, 3,1-5; Rule of St. Clare 6,13) and reinforced on various occasions (cf. 2 Celano,197). In the "Letter to the General Chapter"(6,52-3), Francis exhorts the friars to pray "with devotion before God, not heeding the cadence of the voice, but understanding with the mind, so that the mind may be then one with God..."

Francis reminded the penitents of God's goodness and greatness (2 Faithful 10,62), inviting them to unite with all creatures in the song of praise, honor and benediction (2 Faithful, 10,61). In the very first rule (ch.4,1-5, he determined fixed prayers and the duty of participating in the public prayer of the Church, at the peak moments of its liturgical year (ch. 5, 1). The "brothers and sisters of penance" must pray day and night and not lose heart ( 2 Faithful 3,21).

Francis gave the example of being ahead of everyone in prayer. "Never trusting himself, he sought guidance from God in prayer for every decision" (I Celano,35). "I have received more the charism for prayer than for speaking, " the Poverello used to say (Letter to a Minister General, 12, 1). He never left his prayers: neither when travelling, nor when engaged in the apostolate or in social undertakings, nor for health reasons (cf. 2 Celano, 94, 96; Letter to a Minister General, 10, 6; cf. in 2 Celano, 96 the account of St. Francis praying in the rain on his return from Rome). He prayed "with intense concentration of mind and spirit" (Letter to a Minister General, 1 c.) that is, with such fervor and attention that he felt guilty for even the smallest distraction (2 Celano, 97). He met God in silence and, if at all possible, apart (2 Celano, 99). He often fell into ecstasy (2 Celano,98) and quite rightly, Celano confirmed the fact that Francis was not so much a man who prayed as a man become a living prayer (2 Celano: "totus non tan orans quam oratio factus ").

Through their prayer, the penitents humbly hold out their hand to God, begging Him to sustain them with His love on their journey to holiness. The singing of God's praises and the intimate friendship between God and man, anticipate and guarantee a future, eternal communion in the Kingdom of the elect.

(134) Rito della penitetiza, Roma 1974, p. 16.

Page 217

It is obvious how Francis can be a model for us in at least four ways:

1.) the need for and primacy of prayer.

2.) fidelity to prayer.

3.) manner of praying.

4.) the psychological and spiritual aspects of prayer. (135)

   | Back |