FRANCISCAN FAMILY VOCATION AND CHARISM FRANCISCAN FAMILY one

FRANCISCAN FAMILY, VOCATION, AND CHARISM

FRANCISCAN FAMILY one Family, three Orders • First Order • Second Order • Third Order: • Secular, • Regular

ONE FAMILY • Complementary parts • in communion

SECULAR ORDER • Integral part • Close relations with First Order

SFO VOCATION • Live the Gospel • in fraternal communion • in a Fraternity

SFO FRATERNITY • Inspired by St Francis • Fraternity life is essential for belonging

SFO FORMATION begins with entrance into a local Fraternity Participate in: • meetings • prayer • fraternal life

FRANCISCAN FAMIILY UNION • Open to all Franciscans • Promotes Franciscan formation

FRANCISCAN FEDERATION OF AUSTRALIA • Members are Institutes • Catholic and non-Catholic

FRANCISCANS OF NSW, VIC Members are individuals Catholic and non-Catholic

FRANCISCAN VOCATION

FRANCISCAN VOCATION The call comes from God through: • the Church • St Francis • another

FRANCISCAN VOCATION • Live the Gospel like St Francis • Follow Christ, poor and crucified

FRANCISCAN VOCATION distinguish: • Secular vocation • Religious vocation

FRANCISCAN VOCATION requires: • adequate formation • approval of Fraternity • lifelong practice in a Fraternity

FRANCISCAN VOCATION is recognized when: • expressed in liturgy • publicly • before the Fraternity • through vows or promise

FRANCISCAN FORMATION initial and ongoing must be ensured • Francis of Assisi: Early Documents • FA: ED I, III • Omnibus of Sources

SFO VOCATION • Led by the Holy Spirit • Strive for charity • in the secular state

SFO VOCATION Seek the Kingdom of God in temporal affairs: • Family • Work • society

SFO VOCATION Intimate union with Christ • in others, • Sacred Scripture, • the Church, • worship

WHAT IS A CHARISM? A gift from Jesus to build his Church

CHARISMS St Paul’s Letters Double meaning: • gift of the Christian life at baptism • gift to an individual or group to build the Church

CHARISMS Romans 6: 23 Free gift • of Christian salvation • and eternal life

CHARISMS 1 Corinthians 12 Higher gifts: • prophecy • preaching • healing

CHARISMS 1 Corinthians 12 • For service of the Church: • teaching • assistance • government

CHARISMS 1 Corinthians 14 “ speaking in tongues” • Words or sounds • need an interpreter St Paul was wary

CHARISMS 1 Corinthians 14 Grading of value • Prophecy most important • Speaking in tongues least important

1 Corinthians 13 ABOVE ALL CHARISMS IS LOVE charisms cease, love remains

CHARISM OF RELIGIOUS FAMILY • Through the Founder • for a specific mission in the Church

CHARISM OF RELIGIOUS FAMILY gives • Reason for existing • Identity • Proper mission

CHARISM OF RELIGIOUS LIFE • spiritual energy • to be communicated • incorporates members • into a mission

CHARISM OF FOUNDER • not his works at the time • not repetition of the past

CHARISM OF FOUNDER adapt to: • times, places • societies, cultures • needs of the people

FRANCISCAN CHARISM • Gift of God to St Francis to “rebuild my Church”

FRANCISCAN CHARISM One only, shared by: • three branches of Friars • Poor Clares • Regular Third Orders • Secular Franciscan Order

FRANCISCAN CHARISM • Fraternity is essential • Given to a group • Has to adapt to needs of the Church

FRANCISCAN CHARISM Various ways and forms: • states of life • histories, laws • customs, habits • spiritual emphases

FRANCISCAN CHARISM ORIGIN OF RELIGIOUS MODE • In Century Church • a new approach to living the Gospel • approved by Pope th 13

FRANCISCAN CHARISM • ORIGIN OF SECULAR MODE St Francis inspired seculars by: • living Gospel life • restoring the Church

SECULAR FRANCISCAN PARTICIPATION Strengthen fraternity with religious, through: • prayer • apostolic activity

SECULAR FRANCISCAN PARTICIPATION In life-giving union • with Franciscan religious • in different ways • Combine contributions

SECULARS AND RELIGIOUS Serve the Church by: • fidelity to the charism • building fraternity

SECULARS AND RELIGIOUS Cooperate by: • Exchange of gifts • Sharing the charism

EXCHANGE OF GIFTS • what the other lacks • what is specific • what is different

SHARE THE CHARISM • in life • in mission

SECULAR MODE • one of “various ways and forms” • essential to SFO way of life

SECULAR MODE Distinct from religious mode: Build the secular world • fraternal • evangelical

SECULAR MODE requires: • specific spiritual formation • in secular circumstances

SECULAR STATE characterizes: • Spirituality • Apostolic life

SFO RULE Article 1 FRANCISCAN • FAMILY • VOCATION • CHARISM

FRANCISCAN FAMILY Unites all members of the People of God

FRANCISCAN VOCATION Follow Jesus Christ in the footsteps of St Francis

FRANCISCAN CHARISM God’s gift to St Francis of Assisi

SFO RULE Articles 1 and 2 • UNITY • SECULARITY • AUTONOMY

UNITY • of Catholic Fraternities • worldwide

SECULARITY • Strive for charity • In the secular state

AUTONOMY • a particular Franciscan mode • In life-giving union with other modes

SECULAR FRANCISCAN draw on experience of great figures: • contemplative • active

SECULAR FRANCISCAN Be creative • Meet modern demands of evangelization

SECULAR FRANCISCAN Know Saint Francis • SAINT • PROPHET • EXAMPLE