St. Francis of Assisi - October 4th, 2002

Introduction

On the eighth of December of this year the Third Order Regular will celebrate the twentieth anniversary of our "new rule." It is an occasion which should not go unnoticed or uncelebrated. This Rule of 1982 was the fruit of many long years of prayer, reflection, and exhausting work and discussion. It is a milestone in the history of the Franciscan movement and the only rule for any part of the family which was written by the members, by our brothers and sisters. As we celebrate this important event we would like to invite each brother and sister in the Order to recommit him or herself to the ideals and challenges which are contained in the document. One way to do this is to read and reflect on the Rule on a regular basis during the upcoming year. As a way to encourage this reflection the letters we share with you during the next year will deal with important elements of our way of life as expressed in this important document. We would also like to urge all the Provinces, Vice Provinces and Delegations of the Order to include a discussion of the Rule and reflection of its practical application to our lives during the monthly house chapter meetings during the anniversary year (December 8, 2002 - December 8, 2003).

In September of this year the Minister General and General Council took part in a meeting of all the Ministers General and members of the general councils of the four Franciscan Orders at La Verna. During the meetings it was clear that the main strength of the Franciscan family is found in the bounds of fraternity we all share. The Lord has indeed gifted us with a call to be part of a family of brothers and sisters who play an integral role in our walk with God. As we celebrate the Feast of St. Francis this year, we would like to share some reflections on the place of our fraternal relationships as members of the Third Order Regular.

Francis’ Challenge

The last few years of his life St. Francis dictated the Testament, his personal reflection of his conversion experience and his strong conviction that everything in his life was given and directed by the Lord. He also challenged his followers to be true to their commitments, especially to the Divine Office, to do manual labor and to not be ashamed to beg when and if the need arises. One line of this document has fascinated Franciscans for centuries. He states that the revelation that he was to live according to the "pattern of the Holy Gospel" was given to him "after the Lord gave me some brothers" (Test 14). It is clear by this that the Saint is pointing out that it was precisely the crucible of his fraternal relationship with his early friars which provided the context in which the revelation of God’s will in his life took place. From this time to the moment of his death Francis was shaped by his interaction with those who embraced his example as the way to live out their own walk with God.

One indication of the importance of the presence of others in his life can be seen in the fact that it was a rare exception that the sources record that Francis ever went off by himself. Even when he left the bustle of the fraternity he is constantly portrayed as having at least one companion with him. One of his favorite companions was Bro. Leo, one of the few priests in the early community and the Saint’s personal secretary during the last years of his life. Leo was with Francis on La Verna in 1224 and participated in the forty days of prayer and penance in honor of St. Michael the Archangel. During the journey to the mountain Francis recognized that his friend was suffering from some sort of spiritual anxiety or depression. He wrote a short encouragement to him:

Brother Leo, health and peace from Brother Francis! I am speaking, my son, in this way - as a mother would - because I am putting everything we said on the road in this brief message and advice. If, afterwards, you need to come to me for counsel, I advise you thus: In whatever way it seems better to you to please the Lord God and follow his footprint and poverty, do it with the blessing of the Lord God and my obedience. And if you need and want to come to me for the sake of your soul or for some consolation, Leo, come (LtL 1-4).

In this short document Francis conveys his concern, understanding and loving care for Leo. He goes so far as tell him that he is writing "as a mother would" to a son.

The concern that Francis shows Leo during their time together on La Verna shows that the Saint had internalized the challenge he gave to his followers some three years previously. In Chapter IX of the Early Rule, entitled "Begging Alms," Francis states that the friars are "to follow the humility and poverty of our Lord Jesus Christ," rejoice when they are with the lowly and poor, and not be ashamed when they are begging alms (ER IX,1-9). They are also not to be ashamed in making their needs known to one another:

Let each one confidently make known his need to another that the other might discover what is needed and minister to him. Let each one love and care for his brother as a mother loves and cares for her son in those matters in which God has given him the grace (ER IX,10-11).

This exhortation is maintained in Chapter VI of the Later Rule but is expanded to more clearly highlight the familial relationship and duties that are incumbent on the friars.

Wherever the brothers my be and meet one another, let them show that they are members of the same family. Let each one confidently make known his need to the other, for if a mother loves and cares for her son according to the flesh, how much more diligently must someone love and care for his brother according to the Spirit (LR VI, 7-8)!

The friars are not only counseled to love and nurture one other, as members of the same family they have a duty to do so. Assumed in this injunction is the unstated admonition to the friars that they must all at times be "sons," that is, dependent on their brothers who have the role of "mother." This highlights Francis’ concern that religious life is not a private project, the friars are always part of the family of the community. Thus he makes manifest the responsibilities of a spiritual relationship in which all others are considered brothers because they share the same filial relationship with the one Father in heaven. In both rules Francis portrays a mother as one who loves and nourishes her children and presents this depiction as the model for the friars to emulate in their relationships with one another. They are not only to recognize their familial bond, they are to act accordingly.

The tremendous challenge that Francis presented to the brothers during his life has been captured our own TOR rule:

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" (Jn 15:12). Let them manifest their love in deeds (cf 1 Jn 3:18). 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. ....Let them neither dominate nor seek power over one another, but let them willingly serve and obey "one another with that genuine love which comes from each one's heart" (cf Gal 5:13) (TOR Rule Art 23, 25).

In a marvelous way the Rule reveals the heart of Francis’ understanding of what it means to be brother and sister to one another.

Some Practical Implications

According to the spirit of the Rule we are called to give real and concrete responses to the urgent needs which reflect the thirst of the world for authentic and meaningful relationships. In light of this we must flee from the temptation to evade the difficult task of confronting the dysfunctional elements present in the fabric of the culture of our times and the way they effect our religious life. It is necessary, therefore, for us to be witnesses to a different way of life, one that leads to the fullness of life - one that leads to Christ.

It is clear that the median age of all religious communities is increasing while the membership is decreasing. Nowhere is this more true than in the western world, the birthplace of many of the oldest communities. We also know that we have much work to do, especially in the internal life of our fraternities, with the mediocrity of spiritual life, with the proliferation of civilian dress and attitudes by our members, and by consumerism and individualism. We are also weighed down at times by our own projects and plans at the expense of the common life. In the meantime, the numbers of vocations to our fraternities continue to decrease as our religious life loses its attractiveness.

We must admit that we contribute to the mentality and culture of the modern world in which the ideal of personal fulfillment is exalted and that the goal of life is self sufficiency. In this world view others are used and undervalued, means only of personal aggrandizement. The fruit of this kind of mentality is isolationism and individualism. One consequence of this kind of perspective is that some young people who come to the Order have the impression that they are not understood or respected. As a result they ask for change and dialogue as they search for a place which respects and accepts the person as a primary value. When they do not find this kind of acceptance anxiety, depression and aggressive behaviors are the natural results.

As members of the modern world we are not immune to the forces which are at work in it. For example there appears to be a rapid increase of ambivalence in our modern society which demonstrates not only a globalization of technology and economy, but also of insecurity and fear, violence and criminality, injustice and war. In this reality we Franciscans continue to represent a great spiritual resource which can be brought to bear as an authentic force for the betterment of society. It is our duty as religious to share what we have as we confront issues of justice, the defense of human rights and the rights of the poor, the protection of the environment and of those who are disenfranchised. However, we can not do this in the world if we are not first able to do it in our own fraternities.

It is important for us to think about how we can get closer to the spirit of our Rule. We would like to challenge all the brothers and sisters to seriously consider the following themes which we consider crucial for our life together as brothers and sisters.

Confront Individualism

As was mentioned previously, it is clear in recent years that one of the forces at work in the weakening of religious life and commitment is an increasing individualism among its members. Our Order is certainly not immune from this trend and, if we are honest with ourselves, we do not have to look too far to see how it is effecting our relationships with one another. One way this can be kept in check in our lives is to respond to the challenge we have been given by our founder and by the rule of life which binds us together as a family.

Make Our Needs Known to One Another

Franciscan life and spirituality are not exercises in personal piety. They are rather invitations to become involved in the lives of our brothers and sisters. We have the right to be able to "make our needs" known to one another and we are also challenged to respond to the needs of others with love and compassion. There is nothing sadder in religious life than a friar or sister who feels alone and unloved. Each of us has a need and a desire to be loved, accepted and respected. The first place this can and should take place is in our local fraternities.

Be Attentive to "the signs of the time"

It would be foolish for us to think that we are somehow immune to the forces which shape our modern society, that we are not effected by attitudes and fads which erode love, commitment and respect. Our Christian world view and Franciscan vision should be the lenses through which we are attentive to and judge the currents of the world - otherwise we run the risk of being increasingly meaningless and incapable of providing an authentic alternative to the youth of today.

Give of Ourselves

Chapter eight of the Rule states that, following the example of Jesus, we are to give up our own wills, to seek for the kingdom of God, to exhort one another to observe the Rule, and to willingly serve and obey each other with genuine love. These challenges leave little room for us to hold back our time, energy and talents for the up-building of our brothers and sisters and of our fraternities. The more we give of ourselves for the good of the Order the stronger we all become. When we deprive the fraternity of our dedication and love we weaken the fabric of our religious life.

Conclusion

At the beginning of this letter it was pointed out that the context in which the revelation of God’s will in Francis’ life was the crucible of his fraternal relationship with his brothers. In our profession as members of the Third Order Regular we are stating that the same dynamic is an important part of our lives as well. Our commitment to one another, as brothers and sisters of Christ and of St. Francis, provides the forum in which our walk with God is directed and nurtured. The paradox is that the more we give of ourselves to the fraternity and to one another the more alive and vibrant we become. The more we give in to individualism the more we cut ourselves off from the life giving vine of fraternal love and concern - "for if a mother loves and cares for her son according to the flesh, how much more diligently must someone love and care for his brother according to the Spirit."

Let us take the time to recommit ourselves to one another.

We wish everyone a most Happy Feast!

Given in Rome on the Feast of St. Francis,

October 4, 2002

 Fr. Ilija Zivkovic, TOR
Ministro generale

Fr. Michael Higgins, TOR
Vicario generale

Fr. Corpus Izquierdo Barrero, TOR
1� General Councilor and General Secretary 

Fr. Matthew Puthenparambil, TOR
General Councilor

Fr. Fernando Scocca, TOR
General Councilor

Fr. Mark Fernando, TOR
General Councilor

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