CHAPTER IV GUIDELINES TO INITIAL FORMATION

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CHAPTER IVGUIDELINES TO INITIAL FORMATION

• THE SFO RULE

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OUR RULE

• Source of inspiration for living
• Rich in Biblical elements
• Contains theology of earthly realities
• Full of Christian and Franciscan spirituality

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TEACHING THE RULE

• Dont present the 26 Articles separately.
• Important to develop
• The lines of strength in them
• The important ideas in each
• The dynamic of each Article
• Christ sends us into the world
• Action in the world sends us back to Christ.

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THE RULE CHAPTER 1The Spiritual Family of
Francis in the Church Article 1

• The Franciscan family, as one among many
  spiritual families raised up by the Holy Spirit
  in the Church, unites all members of the people
  of God - laity, religious, and priests - who
  recognize that they are called to follow Christ
  in the footsteps of Saint Francis of Assisi.

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Article 1

• In various ways and forms but in life-giving
  union with each other, they
• intend to make present the charism of their
  common Seraphic Father in
• the life and mission of the Church.

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HISTORICALLY

• Its good to place the Franciscan family in the
  history of the Church and society, thereby
  revealing the richness of the variety of the
  Orders, Congregations, and Institutes of
  Perfection generated by the Holy Spirit through
  the centuries.

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Art. 1

• Inspired by Vatican II documents.
• Lumen Gentium (Dogmatic Constitution on the
  Church) - the Church is the people of God,
  centered around Christ Jesus as its head, and
  sustained by the Holy Spirit as its soul.

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Lumen Gentium

• The Spirit is, for the Church and for each and
  every believer, the principle of their union and
  unity in the teaching of the apostles and
  fellowship, in the breaking of bread and prayer
  (cf. Acts 242 Gk.). All mankind is called to be
  part of Christs Church, that is, to be united
  with her.

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Lumen Gentium

• Speaks of the various gifts given to the laity,
  to religious, to priests many spiritual
  families, who are bound together in brotherly
  communion in the army of Christ.
• Read again the beginning of Article 1.

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Art. 1

• Apostolicam Actuositatem (Decree on the
  Apostolate of the Laity) said
• . . .The laity who have followed their
  vocation and have become members of one of the
  associations or institutes approved by the Church
  try faithfully to adopt the special
  characteristics of the spiritual life which are
  proper to them as well.

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Art. 1

• Perfectae Caritatis (The Decree on the
  Appropriate Renewal of Religious Life) said that
  the founders spirit and special aims should be
  faithfully held in honor.
• Introductory words to that Decree say it applied
  to both vowed religious and those without vows
  and in secular institutes.

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Apostolicam Actuositatem and Perfectae Caritatis

• Those words were the inspiration for the words in
  Art. 1 that the Secular Franciscans intend to
  make present the charism of their common Seraphic
  Father.
• Those Vatican II documents also made it clear
  that all institutes should share in the life of
  the Church.

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• In an address given by Pius XII to Seculars in
  1956, he asserted the great need of the Church
  for the distinctive Franciscan spirituality to
  reform the world and help in rebuilding the
  Church. He also placed emphasis on the fact that
  the Secular Franciscan Order is an order a lay
  order, but truly an order, quoting a statement
  to that effect made earlier (1921) by Benedict
  XV.
• (Pius XII, Allocution to Tertiaries July 1, 1956)

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WHO WAS FRANCIS?

• Called to follow Christ in the footsteps of
  St. Francis means we need to look at Francis.
• The first Life of Celano gives the importance
  of the conversion-vocation of the young Francis,
  and brings to mind the biblical elements of the
  vocation of Abraham.

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GENESIS 121-2

• The Lord said to Abram Go forth from the
  land of your kinsfolk and from your fathers
  house to a land that I will show you. I will make
  of you a great nation, and I will bless you I
  will make your name great, so that you will be a
  blessing.

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Who Was Francis?

• In a parallel way, we should take note how every
  vocation becomes a mission Abraham was called
  to be the father of a great people in order to
  give witness to the true and one God in the midst
  of the nations. Israel had a profound
  consciousness that she was a people, a real
  community. This awareness we discover again in
  the first Christian groups and in the Muslim
  world.

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Who Was Francis

• St. Francis has become the father of the
  Franciscan people. The Lord gave me brothers,
  Francis says in his Testament. These brothers
  are a little flock that the Son of God in these
  latter times has asked of his Father.
• (Legend of Perugia 67)

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WHO ARE THE FRANCISCAN PEOPLE/FAMILY?

• First Orders
• Order of Friars Minor, O.F.M.
• Order of Friars Minor, Conventual,
  O.F.M.Conv.
• Order of Friars Minor, Capuchins, O.F.M.Cap
• Second Order Poor Clares, P.C.

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Franciscan Family

• Third Orders
• Secular Franciscan Order, S.F.O.
• Third Order Regular, T.O.R.
• Third order sisters O.S.F. (and others)
• Anglican Third Order of St. Francis
• Ecumenical Franciscans

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THE CALL TO FOLLOW CHRIST

• Each person is called by God and sent.
• How were YOU called and sent?

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THE SECULAR FRANCISCAN ORDER ARTICLE 2

• The Secular Franciscan Order holds a special
  place in this family circle. It is an organic
  union of all Catholic fraternities scattered
  throughout the world and open to every group of
  the faithful.

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Art. 2

• In these fraternities the brothers and sisters,
  led by the Spirit, strive for perfect charity in
  their own secular state.
• By their profession they pledge themselves to
  live the gospel in the manner of Saint Francis by
  means of this rule approved by the Church.

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Art. 2

• The Secular Franciscan Fraternity is presented as
  an integral part of the Franciscan family. Much
  has been written about the origins of the
  Brothers and Sisters of Penance of St. Francis.
  To understand the SFO, you need to know its
  history and the contribution of the secular
  dimension toward the fullness of the Franciscan
  charism.

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THE EVOLUTION OF THE SECULAR FRANCISCAN RULE -
ARTICLE 3

• The present rule, succeeding Memoriale Propositi
  (1221) and the rules aproved by the Supreme
  Pontiffs Nicholas IV and Leo XIII, adapts the
  Secular Franciscan Order to the needs and
  expectations of the Holy Church in the conditions
  of changing times.

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Article 3

• Its interpretation belongs to the Holy See and
  its application will be made by the General
  Constitutions and particular statutes

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Evolution of the Rule

• It is important to study an overview of the four
  Rules that the S.F.O. has had since the time of
  Francis, as well as the Volterra Letter (Prologue
  to the Rule).
• Memoriale Propositi (1221)
• Rule of Nicholas IV (1289)
• Rule of Leo XIII (1883)
• Rule of Paul VI (1978)

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Evolution of the Rule

• It is necessary to know the evolution of the
  Secular Franciscan Order from Leo XIII to the
  present, paying attention to the renewal
  movements pre and post Vatican Council II. The
  unity of the Franciscan family with its dynamic
  interaction emerges from this historical
  reflection.

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1ST UNOFFICIAL RULE

• The first form of life Francis gave to the lay
  men and women who wished to follow the Gospel way
  of life was found in his First Letter to All the
  Faithful,1 often called the Earlier Exhortation
  to the Brothers and Sisters of Penance written
  between 1209 and 1215
• 1 Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Penance
  Resource Manual, 50.

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• Five elements set forth in that First Letter as
  directions for the penitents
• Love God
• Love ones neighbor
• Resist the sinful tendencies of our fallen
  nature
• Participate in the sacramental life, especially
  the Eucharist and
• Act in conformity with the conversion that the
  person has accepted.1
• 1 Raffaele Pazzelli, St. Francis and the Third
  Order 42.

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1st Rule

• That document is the Prologue to the Rule of the
  Secular Franciscan Order today.
• Followed in about 1221 by the Later Admonition
  and Exhortation to the Brothers and Sisters of
  Penance (Second Letter to the Faithful)
• Central theme in both love of God

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1st Rule

• Called those who would follow Francis to
• a radical Christianity that goes against our
  human nature where
• there could be no compromise.1
• 1 Esser, La Lettera, 73, quoted in Pazzelli

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Memoriale propositii -1221

• First official Rule of the Seculars.
• Probably a combined work of Francis and Cardinal
  Ugolino
• Contained specific requirements and prohibitions
• Based on an austere principle of personal
  sanctification, demanding a sincere vocation and
  total dedication

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Memoriale Propositii

• Showed how to live the Gospel in secular life
  based on the love taught by Jesus.
• Demanded a life of prayer and
• A more intense sacramental life than was expected
  of other Christians at the time.
• Contained instructions to be peaceful and to be
  charitable.

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Rule of Nicholas IV - 1289

• Had laws on dress, fasting, sacraments, etc.
• Required certain communal actions such as monthly
  meetings
• Communal life involved the minister, the
  visitator, and the suitable person for
  instruction.

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RULE OF NICHOLAS IV

• Affirmed that the present way of life had its
  beginning in blessed Francis.
• Had specific prohibitions and requirements on how
  to live life as a Secular following the
  Franciscan charism
• Contained all the basic Gospel elements of living
  a life of peace and love.

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Rule of Nicholas IV

• Specified how and when to fast, what to wear, and
  the color of clothing
• Provided for a monthly collection, to be used to
  first help those brothers and sisters in need,
  then other poor
• Required visiting the sick members once a week.
• Visitation was to be once a year.

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RULE OF LEO XIII 1883

• Shortened the Rule to three chapters
• Reception, Novitiate and Profession
• Rule of Life
• Offices, Visitation and the Rule itself.
• Core was based on the teachings of Christ and the
  Church love and peace.

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Rule of Leo XIII

• Habit was a small scapular and the cord, worn
  under outer clothing.
• 1st year in the Order was one of probation.
• Had two fast days Vigil of Immaculate
  Conception and Vigil of Feast of St. Francis
• Should receive Sacraments of Penance and
  Eucharist monthly

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Rule of Leo XIII

• Encouraged daily Mass.
• Term of office 3 years.
• Visitors came once a year.
• Visitors admonished those who had failed to live
  the Rule after 3 admonishments, members were
  dismissed from the Order.
• For good cause members could be dispensed.

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CONNECTION OF THE RULES

• A careful study of all the Rules will show some
  common threads running throughout them.
• Our Chapter 1 refers back to all the other Rules.
• The importance of the five elements set out in
  the Prologue have never changed. Present in
  various forms in every Rule.

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Connection

• Our Article 1 sets out this unity and continuity.
• It is essential to our Rule to give present day
  Seculars assurances of our continuous history
  since Francis.

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THE RULE -CHAPTER 2 THE WAY OF LIFE ARTICLES
4 - 19

• Introduction A Project of Life or Rule
• This theme should be unfolded in a dialogue
  with the candidates, starting with the question?
  What do you want to do with your life in
  response to the Divine call?

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The Way of Life

• Discuss with the candidates the human vocation as
  related in the Scriptures
• Adam and Eve are called to life to work together
  with God to develop all of the created world in
  accord with the plan of God, who entrusts the
  world to the human family
• Abraham is called to follow the Lord in a special
  way.

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The Way of Life

• Through the dialogue the candidates will be able
  to reflect upon the response to this divine call,
  and how they have responded to their own call to
  live the holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  This process will help them to discover sisters
  and brothers in the Fraternity who tend toward
  the same basic gospel experience, and who follow
  the Franciscan way, helping one another in turn.

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The Way of Life

• The candidate who wants to "follow Christ in
  the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi" (SFO RULE
  4) will gradually understand that the SFO Rule,
  the Project of Life, is the light and the help
  along the way toward Christ and is necessary as
  an inspiration and guide to live together in
  Fraternity according to the same ideal
  Franciscan gospel life.

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RULE ARTICLE 4

• The rule and life of the Secular Franciscans is
  this to observe the gospel of our Lord Jesus
  Christ by following the example of Saint Francis
  of Assisi, who made Christ the inspiration and
  the center of his life with God and people.

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2. The Focal Point Life in Christ, Through
Christ, With Christ

• In the Way of Life there exists a central
  reality, a constant presence brought to mind in
  almost every article Jesus Christ. There are
  other presences as well the laity, the
  fraternity, the Church and these cannot be
  detached from Christ

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Life in Christ

• The candidate must be presented with the central
  position that Christ occupies in the Rule. This
  is clearly indicated in Article 4, and is
  evident at the beginning of the conversion
  process of St. Francis (See also, I Celano 6 L3C
  8 and I Celano 115).

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Legend of Three Companions 8

• The reference is in Chapter III which is
  entitled How the Lord visited Franciss heart
  for the first time filling it with marvelous
  tenderness that gave him strength to begin to
  progress spiritually in looking down on himself
  and all vanities, in prayer, almsgiving, and
  poverty.

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Life in Christ

• The candidate's experience of Christ can vary
  greatly. It is a service in the formation of the
  candidate to help each become aware of his/her
  own unique encounter with Christ, to live it out,
  and to deepen it .
• Emphasis added

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Life in Christ

• The candidate is invited
• a) to become aware of his/her relationship with
  Christ, by responding to the question the Lord
  Jesus addressed to the Apostles
• "Who do you say that I am?"

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MARK 829

• Peter said to him in reply, You are the
  Messiah.

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Life in Christ

• Become aware of the responses to Jesus question
  of Who do you say that I am?
• --- in the response of the Apostles
• in the response of St. Francis
• in each one's personal response
• in what Jesus says of Himself.

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Life with Christ

• The candidate is invited to deepen the personal
  relationship with Christ
• in Fraternity with the sisters and brothers.
• in hearing the Word proclaimed
• in study and reflection of the Word
• in prayer and liturgical life

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Life in Christ

• The candidate is invited to have the sentiments
  and attitudes of Christ
• regarding the Father
• in caring for the marginalized after the
  example of St. Francis
• in service and ministry to all.

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Life in Christ

• The process of on-going conversion is dealt with
  as a growth in faith, in fidelity, in love. The
  Secular Franciscan, with all the baptized, knows
  he/she is "called to follow Christ." and prompted
  by the Holy Spirit, to grow in holiness.